Operación Triunfo (Spanish TV series)


Operación Triunfo is a reality television talent show which first aired on Spain's TVE network in 2001. A music talent contest with viewer voting and reality show elements that originated Endemol's Star Academy franchise, the show aims to find the country's next solo singing sensation.
Operación Triunfo first aired in 2001. On its first run between 2001 and 2004, three series were aired on TVE, which also served as the national final to select the Spanish entry for the Eurovision Song Contest. The first series of OT was particularly successful in ratings, becoming one of the most popular shows in the history of Spanish television and featuring singers that went on to enjoy long-term recognition from the public: notably Rosa López, David Bisbal, David Bustamante or Chenoa. After the third series, TVE decided not to renew the show and its rights were acquired by Telecinco, which aired series 5–8 of the series. Series 8 in 2011 was cancelled due to poor ratings and its finale was rushed as a result.
On 26 April 2017, RTVE approved a new series of the talent show produced by Gestmusic Endemol, returning to TVE after 13 years. The total cost of the series was €10.2 million. Due to its ratings success, it was renewed for a further series. This was the second most successful edition of the program to date, artists like Aitana, Ana Guerra, Amaia, Alfred García, Luis Cepeda, Miriam Rodríguez or Lola Índigo have emerged from this edition.

Format

A selection of hopefuls is boarded in "The Academy", managed by a headmaster, where they are coached by various professionals in several artistic disciplines and are filmed with cameras. Once a week, the contestants have to face a prime time show, where they sing a cover version of a popular song they have prepared during the week before, as well as recapping their trials and tribulations at The Academy from the past week. The live show will often feature special guest stars, with whom some of the contestants have the opportunity to sing. Based on the judges' verdicts and viewer voting, the weakest contestant is dropped. The eventual winner is awarded a record deal and/or some amount of money.

Series overview

All contestants appearing above were born in Spain, except for Chenoa who is Argentinian-born, Moritz Weisskopf who is German, Chipper Cooke who is from the United States, Brenda Mau who is from Peru, Alexandra Masangkay who is from the Philippines, winner of series 8 Nahuel Sachak who is from Paraguay, and winner of series 10 Famous Oberogo who is Nigerian-born.

Series 1 (2001–02)

All three finalists of the inaugural series released debut albums, but while Rosa scored seventh place in the Eurovision Song Contest 2002 with the song "Europe's Living a Celebration", and had notable success with her albums, it was Bisbal who went on to international success, even winning a Latin Grammy Award for Best Newcomer for his album Corazón Latino.
Other participants of this first edition also launched successful solo careers. In addition, Gisela was hired by Disney Spain and started a career in musical theater; and represented Andorra in the Eurovision Song Contest 2008.
ContestantAgeResidenceEpisode of eliminationPlace finished
Rosa20GranadaGala FinalWinner
Bisbal22AlmeríaGala FinalRunner-up
Bustamante19San Vicente de la BarqueraGala Final3rd
Chenoa26Palma de MallorcaGala Final4th
Manu26SevilleGala Final5th
Verónica23ElcheGala Final6th
Nuria22NerjaGala 137th
Gisela22BarcelonaGala 128th
Naím21Premià de MarGala 119th
Àlex20Vilassar de MarGala 5 / Gala 1010th
Alejandro23ValenciaGala 811th
Juan28MadridGala 712th
Natalia18Sanlúcar de BarramedaGala 613th
Javián27Dos HermanasGala 414th
Mireia19Vila-secaGala 315th
Geno19Gran CanariaGala 216th

Series 2 (2002–03)

The second series of Operación Triunfo became an anomaly in the category of popular reality TV music shows. First of all, the winner had very little success after the show. Second of all, many contestants who did not do well had massive success across Europe and Latin America, not just in Spain:
Beth was chosen to represent Spain in the Eurovision Song Contest 2003. She scored 8th place with the song "Dime".
The first person out of the show, Mai Meneses, rose to prominence in 2006 when herself and a childhood friend formed the band Nena Daconte. They released an album, He Perdido Los Zapatos, which was highly praised by critics. The album sold over 200,000 copies in Spain alone, an amazing feat as an average album to get to number 1 in Spain needs around 20,000 sales.
Vega, who came 9th, managed to release the best selling single of 2003 in Spain with her own composition, "iGrita!", with over one million copies sold.
ContestantAgeResidenceEpisode of eliminationPlace finished
Ainhoa22GaldakaoGala FinalWinner
Manuel21Isla CristinaGala FinalRunner-up
Beth20SúriaGala Final3rd
Nández24CádizGala Final4th
Hugo24SevilleGala Final5th
Joan25BarcelonaGala Final6th
Tony21TenerifeGala 137th
Nika22Torrejón de ArdozGala 128th
Vega23CórdobaGala 119th
Danni20JaénGala 1010th
Elena19BarcelonaGala 911th
Tessa20ValenciaGala 812th
Marey18CádizGala 713th
Cristie24FuengirolaGala 614th
Enrique27NavarraGala 515th
Miguel25IbizaGala 416th
Mai24MadridGala 317th
Saray18AlicanteGala 0Not selected
Marcos26BarcelonaGala 0Not selected
Jano25Palma de MallorcaGala 0Not selected

Series 3 (2003–04)

Series three runner-up Ramón was chosen to represent Spain in the Eurovision Song Contest 2004. He scored 10th place with the song "Para llenarme de ti".
This was the last series aired by TVE until 2017, and the one with the lowest ratings until 2011.
ContestantAgeResidenceEpisode of eliminationPlace finished
Vicente24VilamarxantGala FinalWinner
Ramón19Gran CanariaGala FinalRunner-up
Miguel22HuelvaGala Final3rd
Davinia18CádizGala Final4th
Mario19ZaragozaGala Final5th
Leticia26SevilleGala Final6th
Noelia18LugoGala 117th
Beatriz18PontevedraGala 108th
Nur20BarcelonaGala 109th
Borja19MadridGala 910th
Israel23MurciaGala 811th
Jorge25ZaragozaGala 712th
Sonia29BarcelonaGala 613th
Miriam22PontevedraGala 514th
José25Castellón de la PlanaGala 415th
Sonny23MadridGala 316th
Isabel20CádizGala 217th

Series 4 (2005)

TVE refused a fourth series, choosing to select its Eurovision Song Contest entry using a multi-artist national final. The show was then offered to Telecinco, who bought its rights. This fourth series started airing in June 2005 and got better ratings than the third one, but it never reached the results that the first series achieved. Runner-up Soraya Arnelas would represent Spain at the Eurovision Song Contest 2009 and sixth-placed Edurne would represent Spain at the Eurovision Song Contest 2015.
ContestantAgeResidenceEpisode of eliminationPlace finished
Sergio19Gran CanariaGala FinalWinner
Soraya23ValenciaGala FinalRunner-up
Víctor22BarcelonaGala Final3rd
Idaira20San Cristóbal de La LagunaGala 144th
Fran24GranadaGala 135th
Edurne20MadridGala 126th
Lidia20CórdobaGala 117th
Sandra17ValenciaGala 108th
Guille B.26CádizGala 99th
Guille M.28ValenciaGala 810th
Mónica21GijónGala 711th
Dani28SevilleGala 612th
Héctor16AlicanteGala 513th
Jesús24PuertollanoGala 414th
Trizia22SevilleGala 315th
Janina20Gran CanariaGala 216th
Migue23CuencaGala 0Not selected

Series 5 (2006–07)

Telecinco announced in May 2006 that the fifth series of the program was to be released in October 2006.
In July, 25 Telecinco aired a special show titled Operación Triunfo 2006: Otra Vez en Marcha. In this show some former OT artists performed and the new selection of contestants was introduced.
The fifth series started on Sunday 8 October 2006 with 18 finalists, but two finalists had to leave and they didn't enter the academy. It created some controversy as one of the first two people out that night was the first black person, Claritzel, ever to be on the show. She had to leave the show because of a heart intervention.
ContestantAgeResidenceEpisode of eliminationPlace finished
Lorena20LleidaGala FinalWinner
Daniel26ZaragozaGala FinalRunner-up
Leo25ValenciaGala 153rd
Saray25TuinejeGala 144th
Mortiz29MálagaGala 135th
José28ViladecansGala 126th
Ismael18MataróGala 117th
Jorge18Villarejo de SalvanésGala 108th
Eva26VigoGala 99th
Vanessa28Bigues i RiellsGala 810th
Mayte22MurciaGala 711th
Mercedes24ChiclanaGala 612th
Cristina16CuencaGala 513th
José Antonio22MéridaGala 414th
Xavier20VinaròsGala 315th
Encarna22AlmeríaGala 216th
Claritzell24TenerifeGala 0Not selected
Melissa18San Miguel de SalinasGala 0Not selected

Series 6 (2008)

Castings started in Barcelona for the new series on 18 February 2008. The sixth series began on 8 April 2008, with 18 candidates to enter the academy. This series has been the most controversial because many critics pointed that the series centered more on the reality show aspect than on the contestants' performing talent. Runner-up Pablo López went on to launch a successful recording career in 2014.
ContestantAgeResidenceEpisode of eliminationPlace finished
Virginia25JaénGala FinalWinner
Pablo24MálagaGala FinalRunner-up
Chipper34New York CityGala Final3rd
Manu17CórdobaGala 144th
Sandra24CórdobaGala 135th
Mimi26MelillaGala 126th
Iván24MadridGala 117th
Noelia23ValenciaGala 108th
Anabel22CórdobaGala 99th
Tania S.18SevilleGala 810th
Reke22MurciaGala 711th
Esther20MálagaGala 612th
Tania G.25BarcelonaGala 513th
Rubén21BarcelonaGala 414th
Paula23SevilleGala 315th
Ros16BarcelonaGala 216th
Patty24SantanderGala 117th
Jorge23ValenciaGala 0Not selected
Juanjo28MurciaGala 0Not selected

Series 7 (2009)

The castings were made on March and April 2009 in all Spain. The first gala from OT 2009 was televised on 29 April 2009. Once again, Risto Mejide was a part of the jury pannel, along with Noemí Galera, Coco Comín and Ramoncín.
ContestantAgeResidenceEpisode of eliminationPlace finished
Mario23OviedoGala FinalWinner
Brenda20BarcelonaGala FinalRunner-up
Jon23BaracaldoGala Final3rd
Ángel22AlboxGala 124th
Patricia21LeganésGala 125th
Silvia17BarcelonaGala 116th
Cristina16MarbellaGala 107th
Samuel19La Cañada de San UrbanoGala 98th
Rafa21Vall de UxóGala 99th
Alba Lucía18MurciaGala 810th
Elías22AlmendralejoGala 711th
Diana20BurgosGala 612th
Maxi25ReusGala 513th
Nazaret19Camarma de EsteruelasGala 414th
Pedro20Jerez de la FronteraGala 315th
Guadiana22BadajozGala 216th
Púa18Sant Vicents dels HortsGala 117th
Patty26Barrio de las LetrasGala 118th

Series 8 (2011)

This was the last series aired by Telecinco. The show was cancelled after 35 days due to poor ratings. It ended with a rushed finale featuring contestants from previous series. Despite the low ratings, fans of the show made the Twitter hashtag #VivaOT, which went on to be the highest trending topic during the airing of the finale.
ContestantAgeResidenceEpisode of eliminationPlace finished
Nahuel19CastellóGala FinalWinner
Álex26ValenciaGala FinalRunner-up
Jefferson19FuengirolaGala Final3rd
Alexandra19BarcelonaGala Final4th
Niccó20TenerifeGala Final5th
Josh27MelillaGala Final6th
Roxio21MadridGala Final7th
Naxxo26BarcelonaGala Final8th
Coraluna21JaénGala Final9th
Nirah28BarcelonaGala Final10th
Juan24BarcelonaGala Final11th
Moneiba28Gran CanariaGala Final12th
Geno29Gran CanariaGala Final13th
Ramil28AresGala 314th
Charlie17TenerifeGala 215th
Silvia20JaénGala 116th
Sira19TenerifeGala 117th
Alexxa20GijónGala 0Not selected
Miguel26AlmeríaGala 0Not selected

Series 9 (2017–18)

Six years after the show was discontinued and thirteen years after it last aired on TVE, RTVE approved to revive the contest. The total cost of the new series was €10,2 million. Casting auditions for the ninth series were held from 14 June 2017 to 18 July 2017 in Barcelona, Las Palmas, Palma, Valencia, Santiago de Compostela, Bilbao, Granada, Seville, and Madrid. The minimum age to compete was raised to 18. On 18 July 2017, Noemí Galera, a member of the jury panel on previous series, was announced as the new "headmaster" of the Academy. On 28 August 2017, it was revealed that the jury panel would consists of singer, songwriter and producer Mónica Naranjo, marketing director Joe Pérez-Orive and music executive and producer Manuel Martos, who would be accompanied every week by a fourth guest juror. On 30 August 2017, Roberto Leal was announced as the new host. The series premiered on 23 October 2017. The final took place on 5 February 2018, and Amaia Romero was announced the winner. In addition, Amaia and Alfred were selected to represent Spain in the Eurovision Song Contest 2018 with "Tu canción", and finished in twenty-third place out of 26 countries.
ContestantAgeResidenceEpisode of eliminationPlace finished
Amaia18PamplonaGala FinalWinner
Aitana18BarcelonaGala FinalRunner-up
Miriam21A CoruñaGala Final3rd
Alfred20BarcelonaGala Final4th
Ana Guerra23TenerifeGala Final5th
Agoney21TenerifeGala 126th
Roi24Santiago de CompostelaGala 117th
Nerea18BarcelonaGala 108th
Cepeda28OurenseGala 99th
Raoul20BarcelonaGala 810th
Mireya20MálagaGala 711th
Ricky31PalmaGala 612th
Marina19SevilleGala 513th
Thalía18CáceresGala 414th
Juan Antonio23BilbaoGala 315th
Mimi25GranadaGala 216th
João21MadridGala 0Not selected
Mario21MadridGala 0Not selected

Series 10 (2018)

On 28 February 2018, RTVE's Governing Board approved the renewal of Operación Triunfo for a tenth series. Casting auditions for the tenth series were held from 30 May 2018 to 10 July 2018 in Barcelona, Alicante, Valencia, Majorca, San Sebastián, Vigo, Tenerife, Málaga, Seville and Madrid. The series premiered on 19 September 2018 and ended on 19 December 2018.
The 18 contestants that appeared on the introduction live show or Gala 0 were announced on 14 September 2018.
ContestantAgeResidenceEpisode of eliminationPlace finished
Famous19SevilleGala FinalWinner
Alba Reche20AlicanteGala FinalRunner-up
Natalia19PamplonaGala Final3rd
Sabela24A CoruñaGala Final4th
Julia23CádizGala Final5th
Miki22BarcelonaGala 126th
Marta18MálagaGala 117th
María26MadridGala 108th
Marilia18Las PalmasGala 99th
Carlos Right25BarcelonaGala 810th
Noelia22MálagaGala 711th
Damion21TenerifeGala 612th
Dave20CádizGala 513th
Joan Garrido22PalmaGala 414th
África22MadridGala 315th
Alfonso22MadridGala 216th
Rodrigo25HuelvaGala 0Not selected
Luis19BarcelonaGala 0Not selected

As in the previous season, the series served as the platform to select the Spanish entry at the Eurovision Song Contest 2019. A special live show was held on 20 January 2019 to select the Spanish entrant and song for Eurovision.

Series 11 (2020)

In January 2019, TVE confirmed an eleventh series. Casting auditions for the eleventh series were held from 7 October 2019 to 6 November 2019 in Barcelona, Las Palmas, Valencia, Palma de Mallorca, Málaga, Seville, Bilbao, Santiago de Compostela and Madrid. The series premiered on 12 January 2020.
ContestantAgeResidenceEpisode of eliminationPlace finished
Nía26Gran CanariaGala FinalWinner
Flavio19MurciaGala FinalRunner-up
Eva19A CoruñaGala Final3rd
Anaju26AlcañizGala Final4th
Hugo20CórdobaGala Final5th
Maialen25PamplonaGala 126th
Samantha25AlicanteGala 127th
Bruno25MadridGala 118th
Gèrard20CeutaGala 109th
Jesús24CádizGala 810th
Rafa23CórdobaGala 711th
Anne18PamplonaGala 612th
Javy21CádizGala 513th
Nick19BarcelonaGala 414th
Eli19Gran CanariaGala 315th
Ariadna18BarcelonaGala 216th
Valery22AlicanteGala 0Not selected
Adri23PalmaGala 0Not selected

Series 12 (2021)

A twelfth series was confirmed in June 2020.