Anne Igartiburu presented his latest book Life begins every day on November 26 and told Europa Press that he has not decided whether he will ring the bells this year. I don t know, they will tell us at the end of November, he said. If you trust me, I am happy and satisfied, but it has been almost 20 years. If someone else is involved, I will look after the house, he added.
The Basque presenter seemed content with RTVE s decisions. Whatever happens, we will see, he concluded. I can t say anything because I don t know, he added.
Maybe he was a bit evasive, hinting at a possible relocation. Less than two weeks later, with 23 days to Christmas, for the first time in 17 years the host of Corazón will not ring in the New Year from Plaza del Sol in Madrid. RTVE chose not to renew Igartiburu s contract and instead signed Ana Obregón and the humorist duo Los Morancos, who had to withdraw last year because of a positive covid test and were replaced by climatologist Jacob Petrus. Yet despite the surprise of that last-minute change on New Year s Eve, it is clear that Igartiburu has a long and rich professional career that goes beyond the bells.
TV debuts
The first job was in a small engineering company in Mondragón, but very soon he realized that his strength lay in communication rather than numbers.
He gradually pursued acting studies at the University of the Basque Country and began contributing to Mondragón s local television station, Arraste Telebista, until he joined Euskal Telebista in 1993. For several years he did face-to-face work as a presenter on a children s program and interviewed figures from Basque politics and cultural life. He also appeared on entertainment programs, gradually building a national profile.
Transition from Telecinco to RTVE
It did not take long for his profile to rise on the Basque regional channel Euskal Telebista, where he hosted The Boulevard. In 1995 his name began to appear on Tele 5 presenting A Star is Born and A Happy Couple, with Antonio Hidalgo. Two years later, in 1997, he became the new face of Corazón de Verano, a seasonal program that adapted for year-round broadcasting and remained in that role until 2012.
He also worked with La 2 hosting the magazine El imperdible, Look Who s Dancing, and +Contacts. He became a common face at galas for Eurovision selections and has broadcast year-end chimes for TVE since 2005.
Interviú cover, wedding, divorce and celebrity loves
Igartiburu appeared on the cover of Interviú in 2002 and was connected with dancer Igor Yebra after famous romances with businesspeople and public figures. A childhood friend became her husband on September 10, 2004, but the couple separated after a year and a half. Adoption proceedings for a child named Noa began during a single life stage but did not join them.
After separating, Igartiburu began dating Álvaro Fuster, but that relationship ended in 2007. A later relationship with bullfighter Israel Lancho lasted longer, followed by a romance with businessman Daniel Alcaraz that lasted until 2012, the year she received an industry award. A few months later, she adopted a second daughter, Carmen, who was born in Vietnam in 2011.
Second wedding and a son
Her passion for classical music led Igartiburu to interview conductor Pablo Heras-Casado. The two began courting in 2014, and after a relationship marked by distance because of demanding schedules, the couple welcomed their son Nicolas in June 2016. In September 2017 they made things official in a private ceremony. Four years later they separated and finalized their divorce in February 2021. Since then, Igartiburu has been focused on her three children and her professional work.
TVE takes Corazón off its grid
In July, RTVE removed the daily version of Corazón from its schedule, keeping the weekend editions on Saturdays and Sundays. The program, on air since July 1997, was superseded by a new magazine, Hablando Claro, which occupied the space once dedicated to the tabloids. Despite canceling the daily version, Igartiburu continues to host Corazón on weekends, yet her future with the public broadcaster began to look uncertain.
Seeking opportunities in other chains
Igartiburu saw her presence at TVE wane, with screen time dropping during the season. After canceling the daily show, she sought opportunities elsewhere, signing with Telemadrid to host a short program and surprising viewers by joining Tu cara me suena, entering its tenth season on Atresmedia. This won t be her first appearance on a high-rated comedy and entertainment format, having previously taken part in Mask Singer, when she appeared in disguise before revealing her identity.