Rumors resurfaced this year about the summer Grand Prix returning to television. For eight years negotiations have kicked off again, with networks like RTVE, Antena 3, Telecinco, Movistar, Amazon, and Netflix often mentioned in industry chatter. Insiders describe the information as a familiar classic. This week Digital Confidential confirmed that the new RTVE board, led by Elena Sánchez, held discussions with Europroducciones, the owner of the format.
The head of the public broadcaster, together with FORTA (Federation of Radio and Autonomous Television), appears keen to revive the historic program that once drew massive audiences for TVE and later for several regional channels. Elena Sánchez is pursuing a strategy different from that of her predecessor. José Luis Pérez Tornero had said he would not pursue the format due to content selection and offerings, not feasibility.
Nonetheless the original concept conceived by Europroducciones in 1995 would need modernization. Trusted sources suggest that potential hosts could include Ibai Llanos, though the proposal is described as highly complex. One source notes that Ibai is a pivotal figure in the digital world and has ongoing projects, making participation uncertain.
Last year Ibai Llanos and Ramón García discussed moving Grand Prix to Twitch, with both his team and the streamer facing their own commitments even if the plan seemed difficult. If circumstances allowed, a more modern approach could be taken. Since then, details of this idea have faded from the public eye.
Some concerns center on whether the show would permit elements like heifers, a hallmark of Ramón García’s era. A source points out that bringing back such features would be impractical or nearly illegal today. The revamped concept would likely appeal to co-host Mar Regueras, who shared many episodes with García, potentially increasing her involvement beyond earlier seasons. The idea of including animals, even in a nonharmful way, raises questions about contemporary sensitivities.
Regueras would assume a role akin to a bridge between generations, following a persona of both performer and observer after a career as a dancer and presenter alongside Chicho Ibáñez Serrador. She argues that animal testing could be replaced by other entertaining methods, noting that Grand Prix was a beloved program for a time and could be revived in a more modern light. The transition marks a shift in history toward less animal-centric entertainment and a gentler feminist perspective.
Grand Prix had two principal hosts, Ramón García on TVE and Bertín Osborne on regional stations. Between 1995 and 2009, twenty-one different anchors shared hosting duties, and a large ensemble of performers rotated through the show each season. In the summer of 2004 there were as many as seven hosts. Notably, the ensemble of dancers, later known as the corps de ballet, consisted almost entirely of women with traditional profiles. In its first two seasons, with twenty-six programs, Mar Regueras recalled being given more space at length, starting with test segments and later receiving a doubled salary in the third episode as Europroducciones expanded her role.
This actress is determined to take on new roles within the spectacle and is open to presenting the show. If a revival happens, she hopes to be part of it, and she is currently preparing and training for possible calls. She acknowledges that Ramón García is a familiar face for the format should rotation of hosts be needed, while recognizing that a new presenter could be introduced to refresh the show. A television expert, Sonia Mangas, notes that Grand Prix could welcome a new host if plans move forward, signaling a fresh approach while honoring the show’s legacy.
Bertin Osborne scene and ending
In 2006 RTVE did not respond to requests for information and signaled a willingness to extend the private rivalry between towns for another summer without Ramón García. Some media outlets floated Miriam Díaz-Aroca as a potential successor at a moment when the actress enjoyed success on Look Who’s Dancing. A representative from Belle Epoque, the translator of the era, offered no knowledge of this information.
During the summers, Grand Prix remained accessible to dedicated viewers through regional and local channels. It aired on TeleMadrid, Channel 9 in Valenican Community, Castilla-La Mancha TV, Canal Extremadura, Canal Sur, Aragón TV, 7RM in the Region of Murcia, Castilla y León Television, IB3 in the Balearic Islands, and other FORTA networks, as well as Televisión Canaria, Sevilla TV, Palencia TV, and Segovia TV. Bertín Osborne was selected to present, accompanied by Cristina Urgel in early seasons and Natalie Rodriguez in later ones.
The show delivered strong viewership, yet after years on air, it began to wear on audiences. Official comments from Forta described the production as a viable regional product with double-digit success during its peak. Yet over time changing tastes and rising costs diminished its appeal. Forta staff explained that the audience evolved and the format aged, with diminishing returns on investment.
Industry observers recall early formats from the 90s such as Night of Castles and Goose Game, noting they were produced with a robust studio structure and high advertising value. Today, with fewer ad breaks, the economics of reviving such programs look less favorable, according to expert commentary. A revival would demand careful alignment with current viewing habits and advertising models, which may complicate a reimagining of the classic show. The sentiment remains mixed: cherished memories endure, but nostalgia does not guarantee a successful modern remake.
Industry voices agree that reviving Grand Prix would need a careful reboot that respects the past while embracing contemporary audience expectations. Some recall beloved moments fondly but warn against overreaching. If a comeback is planned, many acknowledge it could be a transformative project capable of reigniting interest while inviting new generations to rediscover a classic.