"I Enjoy and Get Excited Competing with Someone Like Jorge Javier Vázquez"

Asegura María Patiño (Ferrol, 53 años) que a ella no le enfadó el cierre de 'Sálvame'. «Me fastidió la ausencia de hemeroteca, que nos vetaran, que nos pixelaran como si fuéramos menores de edad», sostiene quien se puso a los mandos del extinto formato durante su última temporada. Tras un año de travesía en el desierto en el que, de la mano de Fabricantes Studio, protagonizó 'realities' como 'Sálvese quien pueda', junto a sus compañeros de los últimos diez años, y presentó 'Ni que fuéramos Shhh...', una versión más barata pero también más valiente y creativa de 'Sálvame', salta a La 1 para conducir 'La familia de la tele' junto a Inés Hernand y Aitor Albizua. Belén Esteban, Kiko Matamoros, Lydia Lozano y un buen puñado de colaboradores de antaño formarán parte de este espacio que recupera el espíritu del programa de Telecinco, aunque en las notas de prensa de la corporación se evite el término 'corazón' y se hable siempre de magacine de entretenimiento con espacios dedicados a la salud o a la alimentación. Antes de que el espacio eche a andar, la comunicadora asegura en una entrevista concedida a varios periodistas que «de momento» no les han puesto ninguna línea roja.

-How are you and how do you face this new stage?

-Super nervous and with great anticipation because for me it is something new.

-You are moving to public television. Is it daunting?

-Well, obviously it is daunting, but I always say that I do not segment the audience for anything. For me, they have the same respect and I have the same way of giving myself to them.

-Are you worried about being more in the spotlight because of the public nature?

-I don't want to live with that limitation. I don't consider myself rude and, on the other hand, before they criticise me for doing anything wrong or mediocre, I am almost sure I will be the first to notice, because I am quite self-critical and although that leads me to suffer more than necessary, it also leads me to correct it.

-Have they set any red lines?

-No, nothing.

-Will you be able to maintain the freedom on La 1 that you had on 'Ni que fuéramos Shhh...'?

-Look, the editorial line is different, but María Patiño is María Patiño... If I had multiple personalities, I would have been deceiving the audience for years. I am always like this. Another thing is that age helps you to be more settled, to have more confidence in front of the screen, but I don't go to La 1 with those fears.

-'Sálvame' is still very present. Does it weigh on you?

-It doesn't weigh on me. It's another new programme, but with a concept and an essence... Many of us who were on 'Sálvame', who had a very particular way of relating and who are a very particular family, are going, and I hope that spirit doesn't go away because for me our way of arguing is entertainment. I think arguing is an art because it doesn't imply hurting.

-How are you getting along with your new colleagues?

-I've seen them twice: the day of the promo for 'The Wizard of Oz' and the day of the Aleti football match and the truth is that very well. I am very shy and Inés is very outgoing and pulls a lot from me and I like that and Aitor is very approachable.

-What will happen when you have to touch on topics like the Royal Family?

-I promise you that I have to see how far we have limitations. The editorial line does not imply censorship because I have worked at ABC, Antena 3, Telecinco, in the little flat... and whenever I go from one place to another they tell me "you'll see..." and then nothing ever happens. Anyway, I imagine that in the end they don't have to tell you anything to realise how far you can go or not. It's not the same to work for 'Diez minutos' as for '¡Hola!' magazine, it's not the same at all, and at the same time I didn't feel limited in '¡Hola!' when I wrote an article. The essence of a journalist, or at least mine, is to have a critical point of view on everything. I think that when the first five days pass I will have a clearer idea of the ground I am treading on. Right now, so far, I haven't had any warnings.

-What lessons have you learned from 'Ni que fuéramos Shhh...', a cheaper and more modest programme?

-It has been an absolutely renewing stage. I have believed in myself as a presenter, I have realised that the media is important but the most important thing is the content and I have regained the feeling I had when I was on the street, of ecstasy. It has been a very tiring programme, but it gave me a brutal satisfaction.

-You seemed very dedicated.

-Yes, because in the end it was my baby and as long as they give it to me, I raise it. I breastfed it every day (laughs).

-How did you handle the end of 'Sálvame'?

-The closure of the programme didn't bother me, what bothered me was the absence of archives and what has always been called vetoing, especially on a channel that is supposed to be progressive, liberal and open. That annoyed and hurt me. But I've had worse endings. I remember a programme I was on 'Abierto al anochecer' many years ago; they closed it with a burofax an hour before the programme started. I mean, 'Sálvame' annoys you, it bothers you, you call a friend to vent, but what bothered me was feeling that we were pixelated as if we were minors, especially because I haven't found out why and at this point I don't care anymore.

-How do you get along with Jorge Javier Vázquez? Now he will be your competition.

-I talk a lot with Jorge. I enjoy the confrontation and I like competing with someone so intelligent, it excites me.