Did you actually think that Spain taking their selection seriously would mean less drama? Haha! In a shocking move, Operación Triunfo’s producers have fired acting professor Itziar Castro just hours before Gala 6 as she “hadn’t met the expected goals”.

Itziar Castro jumped on the OT board this year as a replacement for last year’s professors Los Javis, who stepped down last minute because they wanted to start other projects. Apparently their shoes were very hard to fill, as Itziar hasn’t managed to make it through the season.

The decision was taken unilaterally by Gestmusic — the producer of the show — as Itziar explained on her Twitter account. In a quick thread, she explained how she had left other projects to devote her time fully to OT, but also says she’s thankful for the experience and that she’d accept the job if they’d offer it to her again.

Ms. Castro has worked as an actress for over 20 years, mostly in theatre and TV series. Until recently she starred on Fox’s Vis a vis — aka, Spain’s answer to Orange is the New Black — and on the film Pieles, a role which earned her a nomination in the Best New Actress category of the 2018 Goya Awards.

But apparently her CV wasn’t enough for OT’s producers, who decided that her classes didn’t meet the goals they had set. It’s a commonly held belief that this year’s Operación Triunfo contestants don’t have the same connection with the public as their predacessors from last year. But does that really all come down to Itziar’s classes?

The truth is that Itziar hasn’t been as popular as Los Javis were last year amongst the fans. One would like to believe that’s all up to her teaching methods, but let’s be completely honest: she has faced insults and mean comments from the beginning based on her body. Which only makes this story sadder, given that OT has been a leader in inclusion and diversity within the Spanish television.

Who will replace Itziar?

Now there are several questions: 1) how will the contestants react to Itziar’s firing and 2) Who will replace her? Operación Triunfo has confirmed the new acting professor will be revealed tomorrow, and fans are already busy guessing.

So far the most mentioned names are Los Javis, who would make a come back, and Macarena García, a well known actress for her role in La que se avecina, one of Spain’s most popular soap operas. Curiously she co-starred on Pieles with Itziar.

Macarena’s choice hasn’t been made official as of the publishing of this post, but she’s currently doing an Instagram Live on OT’s account where they are talking about her most recent work.

itziar castro

Update at 19:00 GMT on 31 October 2018: Shortly after publication of our story, Formula TV reported that Los Javis have been confirmed as the new professors. We are awaiting official confirmation.

What do you make of Itziar being fired? Did you like her classes? Do you agree that her lessons weren’t as good as those last year? Or is it more a problem of the contestants? Who would you like to replace her? Sound off in the comment section below!

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Efraim
Efraim
6 years ago

It’s official now: Los Javis are back

Vanuatu
Vanuatu
6 years ago

Shame on TVE and whoever makes that. They just used that professional until the Javis wanted to come back. Despicable.

Rose
Rose
6 years ago
Reply to  Vanuatu

Of course, they want someone to give them material and Itziar wasn’t doing that. The Javis will provide the drama in an effort to get the ratings up. Now they’ll try to force Albalia and Julright during their classes.

Jorge Velarde
Jorge Velarde
6 years ago

MACARENA GARCIA?? O MACARENA GOMEZ?

Miss Uncongeniality
Miss Uncongeniality
6 years ago

Itziar demonstrated that being a good professional in whatever you do, doesn’t mean that you are good teaching those knowledges… She is a great actress but as a teacher she sucked… hope to see her soon in a great movie or series

Vanuatu
Vanuatu
6 years ago

if someone deserves to be fired that is the one who made the castings. Cause if really the reason of firing the teacher is that the alumns are not good enough (reason that i doubt, saying all), then why is not fired the person who select those alumns? I strongly believe that they wanted los javis from the start, they hired this woman just a replacement, and as soon as the javis were willing to return, they ditched that poor woman and invented an excuse. As i said farther up: despicable.

Rose
Rose
6 years ago
Reply to  Vanuatu

That’s exactly what happened.

a n i a
a n i a
6 years ago
Reply to  Vanuatu

I agree

Efraim
Efraim
6 years ago

So… Itziar is now the first ever Operación Triunfo Academy teacher to be sacked in the middle of a season.