TVE, the Spanish national broadcaster, has unveiled the 18 candidates who will compete at the forthcoming edition of Operacion Triunfo. Next Wednesday the talent show will see its first gala from where only 16 hopefuls will proceed to the next stage of the competition. One of them will eventually represent Spain at the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest in Tel Aviv.
Spain is all set to kick off the 2019 Eurovision national selection season, being the first country to commence its quest to search its Eurovision hopeful.
TVE confirmed its participation at the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest in Tel Aviv and that OT 2018 would be the mechanism used to determine the 2019 Spanish Eurovision act and entry for Tel Aviv.
OT 2018 will be kicking off on Wednesday 19 September on TVE 1 at 22:30 CEST with a total of 18 young hopefuls battling to qualify to the next stage of the competition, only 16 will go through to the next show. TVE plans to run the talent show for circa 14 weeks.
Operacion Triunfo 2018 will hosted once again by Roberto Leal and will be held in Barcelona. OT 2018 will be co-produced by TVE and Gestmusic.
The Spanish broadcaster has revealed the names of the eighteen lucky OT 2018 candidates.
The OT 2018 candidates
- África
- Albra Reche
- Alfonso
- Carlos Right
- Damion
- Dave
- Famous
- Joan Garrido
- Julia
- Luis
- María
- Marilia
- Marta
- Miki
- Natalia
- Noelia
- Rodrigo
- Sabela
Operación Triunfo and Eurovision
Operación Triunfo kicked off in Spain in 2001 and TVE used it as the mechanism to select the 2002 Spanish Eurovision entry and act.
The first edition of the talent show was a massive hit in Spain, thus getting much exposure and mediatic coverage. Rosa Lopez was crowned the winner of OT 2001 and won the golden ticket to Tallinn with her song Europe’s living a celebration.
TVE used the same format for the following 2 years in order to select the Spanish Eurovision entry and act: Beth (2003) and Ramon (2004).
The Spanish national broadcaster axed the show after its third edition. In 2005, Spanish private television channel Tele Cinco revived the talent show and aired a total of 5 seasons and had no link to Eurovision.
We must not forget that 2 of the participants of the 4th edition of Operación Triunfo went on to represent Spain at the Eurovision Song Contest many after their participation: Soraya Arnelas (2009) and Edurne (2015).
The show was revived back in 2017 after a long break when it returned to TVE after a 13 year hiatus. Following the success of the show, the Spanish national broadcaster decided to use OT 2017 as the mechanism to select the 2018 Eurovision entry and act.
This year saw Alfred & Amaia from OT 2017 represent Spain at the 2017 Eurovision Song Contest in Lisbon with their entry Tu cancion.
Spain in Eurovision
Spain debuted at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1961 with Conchita Bautista and has won the competition twice in 1968 (Massiel) and 1969 (Salome). The country successfully hosted the 1969 Eurovision Song Contest in Madrid when four countries ended up winning the contest.
Spain has not missed a single contest since its debut in 1961 and has participated religiously in the competition every year.
The country has achieved poor results in the competition in recent years and has not achieved a top 5 placing since 1995 when Anabel Conde placed 2nd in Dublin.
