In the fast-paced and sometimes ruthless world of Spanish television, some projects soar while others burn out before they’ve even taken off. Such was the fate of one of last season’s most talked-about and controversial premieres – “La familia de la tele.” This ambitious attempt by the state broadcaster Televisión Española to bring the “Sálvame” phenomenon to its daytime lineup ended in spectacular failure. The program lasted just a month and a half on air before being quietly cancelled.
Four months later, one of its presenters, Aitor Albizua, who is currently riding a wave of success with a completely different show, decided to look back and reflect on what had happened. In a recent interview with the press, he described the experience with complete honesty, calling it, without mincing words, a total failure. According to him, he has already developed an immunity to memories of that period. The host admitted that the atmosphere on set was one of confusion. No one on the team, including his co-hosts María Patiño and Inés Hernand, as well as guest stars like Belén Esteban and Kiko Matamoros, understood which direction they should take. This internal insecurity and discomfort, Albizua believes, were clearly visible to viewers as well.
He also touched on external factors that complicated work from the very beginning. The very news about launching such a show on the main state channel sparked a storm of criticism and debate in society. This “strong background noise,” as the host puts it, created immense pressure on the team working live on air. Under such circumstances, it was nearly impossible to create a relaxed and easy-going atmosphere. Therefore, he considers the channel management’s decision to end the experiment absolutely correct and timely. After all, it was just an entertainment TV show, and the scale of the reaction to it was clearly exaggerated.
For Aitor, those events are now in the past. He is enjoying the success of the intellectual quiz “Cifras y letras,” which airs on La 2. The host openly admits how pleasantly surprised he is by the warm reception the project has received from the audience. He believes the secret lies in a combination of factors: viewers missed simple and straightforward formats like this, and nostalgia for the classic show played its part. The success is further supported by the channel’s trust—new episodes are scheduled to be filmed up to the summer of 2026, indicating long-term plans and stability, something his previous high-profile but short-lived project lacked.
