Carlos Latre has spoken out about his short time at Telecinco, describing the harsh treatment he faced and why he left El Hormiguero. His return to Antena 3 marks a new phase in the ongoing rivalry between Spanish TV networks.
Carlos Latre’s return to El Hormiguero was anything but ordinary. The comedian, once a regular on the show, used his appearance to talk openly about the personal cost of his failed move to Telecinco. Latre described the "cruelty" he faced there and made it clear that his decision to leave wasn’t about rivalry, but about wanting to grow professionally—a risk that played out in public and didn’t go as planned.
Latre’s switch to Telecinco was billed as a bold move. Babylon Show was meant to compete with El Hormiguero and La Revuelta in the prime access slot, hoping to bring back some of the energy of Crónicas Marcianas. Instead, the show was cancelled after just two weeks, leaving Latre to face criticism and a sudden end to the project. He admitted the experience left him feeling "sunk."
Babylon Show was pulled from Telecinco’s schedule after barely three weeks on air due to low ratings, making it one of the shortest-lived bets in Carlos Latre’s career.
On air with Pablo Motos, Latre insisted he never meant to undermine El Hormiguero. He wanted to move from "imitator to entertainer," but the chance disappeared almost as soon as it started. Motos recalled the call when Latre announced he was leaving, describing a mix of respect and disappointment. The host’s reaction—part joke, part genuine—showed how much was at stake behind the scenes.
The new season of El Hormiguero is already drawing attention with guests like journalists Carlos Alsina and Rafa Latorre, national coach Luis de la Fuente, and actresses Paula Echevarría and Ester Expósito. Still, it was Latre’s honest account that set the tone for the show’s return, shifting focus from celebrity interviews to the realities of working in television. The quick end of Babylon Show is a warning for anyone tempted by the idea of reinventing themselves in such a competitive business.
According to several Spanish media outlets, Latre left Atresmedia and El Hormiguero at the end of the 2023/2024 season to lead Babylon Show on Telecinco, aiming to directly compete with Pablo Motos and La Revuelta in the highly contested access prime time slot. After Babylon Show’s cancellation, Latre quickly found new roles within the group and has now returned to El Hormiguero as a familiar and in-demand collaborator.
Spanish television has seen plenty of dramatic exits and failed experiments, as covered before in other high-profile cases. Latre’s story is a reminder that behind every on-screen rivalry are personal risks and tough decisions. The speed with which networks cancel shows and move on from talent shows the constant pressure for quick results, often at the cost of creative ideas and personal well-being.
Latre’s return to El Hormiguero isn’t a triumphant comeback, but a clear example of what it costs to try to reinvent yourself on Spanish TV. The industry always wants something new, but has little patience for failure. For viewers, these public confessions and sudden changes might be entertaining, but for those working in television, the consequences are real and lasting.
