As the summer holidays come to an end, Spain’s television schedule returns to its usual pace, with evening shows once again drawing viewers to their screens. The new season of “Y ahora Sonsoles” on Antena 3 has brought a few surprises, but the main event, without a doubt, was the studio appearance of Begoña Villacís. The former Deputy Mayor of Madrid, who represented Ciudadanos, decided to try herself in an entirely new role after leaving city hall in 2023, aiming for a spot as a key commentator on Sonsoles Ónega’s popular talk show.
Villacís’s debut on air, where she immediately impressed everyone with her freshness, style, and confidence in front of the cameras, coincided with the arrival of other new faces. The expert team was joined by writer and journalist Carmen Ro, as well as well-known celebrity representative Susana Uribarri. Interestingly, the latter will now be working on the same set as one of her most famous clients, Ana Obregón. Meanwhile, the move of former politicians to television is becoming something of a trend for the network. For example, on the morning show “Espejo Público” hosted by Susanna Griso, former Ciudadanos leader Albert Rivera and ex-head of European diplomacy Josep Borrell now have their own segments, with Borrell commenting on international politics.
For Begoña Villais, this is not her first experience working on television—she has previously appeared as a legal analyst on the programs “España Directo” and “La mañana de La 1.” However, joining one of Atresmedia’s flagship projects as a regular contributor marks a significant step in strengthening her reputation as a leading television commentator. Host Sonsoles Ónega welcomed her new colleague warmly, embracing her live on air and assuring her that she would always be welcome in the studio. Ónega expressed great enthusiasm about the opportunity to hear Villais’s perspectives.
In her very first appearance, the former official showed both determination and a direct approach. During a discussion about the recent increase in railway incidents across the country, she clearly stated her position, pointing to management failures by the authorities. According to her, the issue is not about building new high-speed AVE lines that score political points, but rather about the need to maintain and upgrade the existing infrastructure. Villais emphasized that Spanish trains were once a luxury and a source of pride, but without proper maintenance, any system will deteriorate.
This new professional chapter in Begoña Villacís’s life follows an extremely challenging period filled with personal and career upheaval. In May 2023, her party failed in the municipal elections, losing all eleven seats on the Madrid City Council, which forced her to step down. This was preceded by her separation from her husband, Antonio Suárez-Valdés, after fifteen years of marriage, just a year after the birth of their third daughter. The divorce was amicable, with no financial disputes. The hardest blow, however, was the tragic death of her brother, Borja Villacís, who was killed in June 2024. It was on the program “Y ahora Sonsoles” that she previously shared how that day forever changed her family’s life. She revealed that it was Mayor Almeida who informed her of the tragedy, and that she herself had to break the news to her parents. Villacís also explained that she deliberately refused therapy and painkillers, believing that sometimes one must endure pain fully, and for her, it became a sort of “tribute to her brother.”
