Spanish television was left without one of its most recognizable duos for several days. The legendary ants Trancas and Barrancas, an integral part of the evening show «El hormiguero», suddenly appeared before viewers incomplete. For three consecutive evenings, only one of the famous characters showed up in his usual spot under Pablo Motos’ table, sparking a wave of confusion and concern among millions of fans across the country.
The absence of Barrancas, the purple ant with a single tooth, did not go unnoticed. Social media was instantly flooded with questions: “Where is Barrancas?”, “Why is Trancas alone?” Loyal viewers, accustomed to the duo’s sharp humor and banter, were left puzzled. All the comic relief for these days fell on Juan Ibáñez, who had to voice not only his main character, Trancas, but also the occasional third ant, Petancas. This situation turned into a real challenge for the show’s creators, who maintained silence for the time being, only fueling the public’s curiosity.
The turning point came only on Thursday, when during a broadcast with actor Álex González, Barrancas triumphantly returned to his place. As later became known, his temporary absence was due to personal matters of Damián Mollà, the comedian who voices and brings character to this figure. Channel representatives assured viewers that there was no serious cause for concern and that Mollà will continue working on the project until the end of the season. This news brought relief to fans, who had already begun coming up with wild theories about the reasons behind the ‘split’ of the famous duo.
It is worth noting that throughout the long history of ‘El hormiguero,’ instances where the ants appeared on screen alone can be counted on one hand. This has only happened a few times. For example, in April 2020, during the height of the national lockdown, Trancas disappeared for a week—this was also due to personal matters of his ‘voice,’ Juan Ibáñez. A year later, the story repeated itself: Ibáñez was forced to self-isolate after contact with a COVID-19 case, and his colleague had to handle both roles. This latest incident marks the first time Barrancas left his partner alone.
This minor incident once again demonstrated just how deeply Trancas and Barrancas are rooted in Spanish pop culture. They have long ceased to be just puppets and have become true stars, whose lives and ‘relationships’ captivate the public as much as those of real celebrities. The duo’s brief separation became a small nationwide event, confirming their status as genuine icons of modern Spanish television.
