The Spanish Head of Delegation has denied speculation that Operación Triunfo will be used as the Spanish selection process for Eurovision 2018.
Over the weekend reports emerged in the Spanish media that RTVE would be returning to using Operación Triunfo as the countries selection process for the Eurovision Song Contest. The format which was first broadcast in 2001 was used as the Spanish selection process for a period of three years. The show was incredibly popular in the first season when Rosa Lopez was selected to represent Spain in Tallinn, with expectations of a Spanish victory.
Singers who competed in Operación Triunfo who went on to compete at Eurovision:
- Rosa López – Eurovision 2002 – Spain – “Europe’s Living a Celebration” – 7th – 81 points
- Beth Rodergas – Eurovision 2003 – Spain – “Dime” – 8th – 81 points
- Ramón del Castillo – Eurovision 2004 – Spain – “Para llenarme de ti” – 10th – 84 points
- Gisela – Eurovision 2008 – Andorra – 16th (SF) – 22 points
- Soraya Arnelas – Eurovision 2009 – Spain – “La noche es para mí” – 24th – 23 points
At the end of last month it was announced that the show would be returning to RTVE after a period of 12 years, with over 10 million Euro’s being spent on the new revamped show. The shows return to RTVE was signaled by a series looking back at former participants which was watched by over 4 million people.
At yesterday’s Spanish press conference the Head of Delegation for Spain, Ana María Bordás confirmed that no decision had been taken as to whether Operación Triunfo would be used as the countries selection process for 2018.
Source: ABC.es
[tw-accordion class=””] [tw-accordion-section title=”Spain in the Eurovision Song Contest”] Spain debuted in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1961 and has competed annually since. Spain has won the contest on two occasions the first being in 1968 and the second time in 1969. 1969 is the only year where more than one song has won the contest, the 1969 contest saw a four-way tie between Spain, France, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. Since 2000 Spain has only managed to finish in the top.10 on five occasions, the last time being in 2014 with Ruth Lorenzo. However, the country has finished 20th or below on eight occasions, the worst placement being 25th in 2013.[/tw-accordion-section] [/tw-accordion]
