When he was a child, Albert Espinoza spent a decade in hospitals battling cancer, starting at age fourteen. The program, known as Vermelles Bracelets and The Forth Floor, followed his journey as he gradually regained his ability to walk to school. A drive to reclaim those early steps inspired the show The Road Home, where the writer, director, screenwriter and presenter accompanies celebrities along the same route they once took from school to home. The second season premieres on Tuesday, February 13 at 22:30, with new guests including Máximo Huerta, Alaska, Norma Duval, David Bustamante, Manuel Díaz El Cordobés, and Roberto Leal (ATRESMEDIA).
Espinosa notes that last year earned a great deal of trust from potential guests, and this year demand was even higher. His days have been among his busiest, with nominations for the Goya Awards and screenwriting credits on a film about “Saben That,” along with the release of a new book this week. He adds that he loves the chaos and friction of living anew (ATRESMEDIA).
The new participants in The Road Home are the heroes from the first episode, and they are expected to be quite emotional by the end. The bestselling author behind Yellow World and other works says yes to revisiting those memories, acknowledging that his process often touches the most sensitive threads of people’s lives, describing himself as an “emotional triggers” in the conversation (ATRESMEDIA).
As a fresh twist this season, the show will include playful segments with children, offering a glimpse of what the guests were like as youngsters. Espinosa explains that any time someone returns to their old school and sees people from the past, emotions tend to surface. He describes optimism as a throughline that fuels all of his projects (ATRESMEDIA).
Espinosa reflects on a near-death experience at fifteen when doctors gave him only a 3% chance of survival after cancer. He witnessed many friends lose their battles, which shaped his stance on worry and sorrow. Rather than dwelling on fear, he chooses to pursue joy and keep himself actively engaged in diverse ventures to avoid boredom (ATRESMEDIA).
“I have three books left”
Despite turning fifty, Espinosa remains relentlessly productive. He has written fourteen books, directed films, scripted television series and plays, and acted in various roles. He reveals that three books still linger on his list, but his present focus is on television and its evolving landscape (ATRESMEDIA).
Máximo Huerta and Albert Espinosa appear together in The Way Home, a program seen on ATRESMEDIA. The collaboration highlights the shared journey of hosts and guests as they traverse familiar routes from school to home (ATRESMEDIA).
The intention behind the show is not merely nostalgia. Espinosa hopes to save the routes he can no longer walk and to provide guests with a folder containing photographs of their idols for each episode. He recalls his fascination with cinema since childhood, citing instances like the film Rain Man as a source of inspiration. He also recalls playing as a goalkeeper for a Barça youth team until illness cut his sports career short, claiming a leg, lung, and part of the liver were affected (ATRESMEDIA).
“I cut my leg about 50 times”
The series has even featured moments dealing with prosthetics, including instances where Espinosa handles a prosthetic leg in the same way others might remove an item of daily wear. He notes that removing the prosthetic throughout the day becomes almost second nature, just as some people adjust their glasses. This candid routine underscores a broader message about resilience and adaptability in the face of lasting injuries (ATRESMEDIA).