For the first time in its history, Spain’s most talked-about reality show, produced by Mediaset, has taken an unprecedented step by holding an open casting call for its ninth season. Instead of the usual closed selection process, producers gave thousands of hopefuls a chance to compete for the right to become the main players in television’s most intense social experiment. Among the hundreds of candidates who made it to the in-person interviews, one figure suddenly emerged, instantly capturing everyone’s attention.
That person turned out to be Ismael Nicolas, one of the standout contestants from the premiere season. He is the young man who, back in 2020, faced his partner Andrea Gasqui’s infidelity during one of the most memorable bonfire scenes in the show’s history. Now, he finds himself at the starting line again, but with a completely different attitude. His return to the auditions was met with smiles, greetings, and a sense of nostalgia. He admitted that being there triggered a flood of memories of a show that profoundly changed his life.
Surrounded by new contestants, Ismael has unintentionally become an impromptu mentor for those who dream of making it to the famous Dominican villa. He advised the newcomers to be themselves, go with the flow, relax, and enjoy the experience, sharing the wisdom of someone who has already faced all the challenges of this game. Five years after his public split with Andrea, Ismael says his current appearance on the show comes at a completely different stage in his life. He admitted that the first season brought him a lot of pain and suffering, but now he sees everything from a new perspective. According to him, he is eager to enjoy the moment, loosen up, and have a good time.
Although Mediaset has not yet officially confirmed whether Ismael passed the casting, his presence has not gone unnoticed. If he does join the show, he could become one of the so-called ‘VIP tempters,’ a surprise organizers often introduce for both couples and viewers. In doing so, he would follow in the footsteps of his ex-girlfriend, Andrea, who previously took on this role. Ismael himself is openly enthusiastic about the idea. Smiling, he said that, for him, it is not a problem but a true blessing. However, he believes the male contestants may face challenges when they see him at the villa, since no one will be expecting this turn of events.
The change in the selection process is more than just a formality. For the first time, over 2,000 couples applied to participate, an absolute record for the Spanish version of the format. The production company Cuarzo aims to revitalize the reality show’s dynamics and attract new generations of contestants who see the project as more than just a showcase of love and passion. For them, it’s an emotional and television challenge with a million-strong audience. Since its debut in 2020, the program has established itself as one of Telecinco’s main phenomena, trending after each episode and making its participants famous. The upcoming season promises to stir up interest with new rules, new faces, and perhaps a completely unexpected guest from the very first cast.
