Madrid (EFE).- The “Grand Prix” returns to La 1 de Televisión Española with a summer edition eighteen years later, with a format headed by Ramón García and that maintains the aesthetics and some of the classic tests, although with modifications like a new fake version of the famous heifer from the first edition.
Both García and the producer, Carlo Boserman, have sought to maintain “the balance between the historical memory that people have and the present” with seven programs in which they have maintained games such as hot potato or crazy trunks, as well as characters known as the runner Wilbur or the heifer, this time played by a disguised actor, explained the presenter at a press conference.
No heifers for animal protection
This new version of one of the icons of the program, which García has assured that “it will annoy, as the heifers did”, is due to the requirements of the new animal protection law that prohibits the presence of animals on television.
Among the novelties, the inclusion of games such as “El perrito piloto” or “Escala como podas”, new characters such as the Tyrannosaurus Nico, destined to surprise the little ones, or the presence of the co-presenters Michelle Calvó, who will closely accompany the contestants from the different towns, and the “streamer” Cristinini as a commentator on the tests.
“We are girls who have grown up with the Grand Prix as a family, seeing it, living it a lot. I put myself in the bag of the people who asked for it, I was very sorry when it ended”, Cristinini stated, adding that, with this new edition, its younger version “is born again, to grow and enjoy”.
In the words of García, the new Grand Prix “wants to bring RTVE closer to the smallest towns”, for which all municipalities with between 5,000 and 10,000 inhabitants have been invited, as in previous editions, of which eight have result chosen by draw.
The new version of the Grand Prix, without a release date
The first program, with an unknown premiere date, will face the towns of Alfacar (Granada) and Colmenarejo (Madrid) for two and a half hours, the estimated duration of all the episodes, and will have the presence of Miguel Ángel Muñoz as guests. and Lolita.
The contest will consist of a general competition after which, for the first time in the contest, two semifinals will be held that will lead to the grand final. The winning town of the edition will have the obligation that the economic prize obtained be invested in improvements for the municipality.
In addition to Alfacar and Colmenareño, the towns of Aguilar de Campoo (Palencia), Brión (Coruña), Cervelló (Barcelona), Los Montesinos (Alicante), Tineo (Asturias) and Yepes (Toledo) will participate.
Excited, Ramón García recalled that “this program is sewn to the life of each one, each season of the Grand Prix has been a life in parallel to the life we have had with our family and friends” and has celebrated the return of the format after the refusal of previous TVE directors “who did not see this return as a possibility.”
“When I did the first Grand Prix I was single, I had no daughters. I am now divorced and have two daughters who have seen very little Grand Prix. One of the reasons I wanted to do the Grand Prix again was for my daughters to see their father having fun doing this,” the presenter concluded.