"I Have Enough Money to Stop Working, But Less Than People Think"

Jorge Javier Vázquez, the presenter from Badalona, Barcelona, aged 54, is currently experiencing one of his best professional moments. He successfully hosts the galas of 'Survivors' and 'There's Something I Want to Tell You', while 'El Diario de Jorge' is achieving its best historical ratings on Telecinco, awaiting the arrival of 'The Family of TV' on TVE. Regarding his clash with former 'Sálvame' colleagues, he doesn't see it as a confrontation. "All I wish is that we could coexist. They were my colleagues for fifteen years," he asserts.

–Did you expect the renewal of 'El Diario de Jorge'?

–Since we started, we've always lived under the black cloud of cancellation, but what gets published is different from the information we have. Yet, here we are, holding on, and it's been eight months. We're now adjusting to the new schedule, which I believe suits the program. The audience from 16:00 to 17:00 was entirely different. It was an absolutely impossible, very complicated time slot.

–You'll have your former 'Sálvame' colleagues as rivals in the afternoon. How will you handle it?

–My only aspiration now is for the program to continue. I read an interview with Paula Vázquez, with whom I identified, as she said that being number one or a ratings leader isn't essential. She valued the personal aspect much more, having experienced sacrificing many things for work. At a certain age, you want to look elsewhere, and I've approached work differently. Honestly, my only goal is for the programs to be renewed.

–Do you find this rivalry with 'The Family of TV' a bit thrilling?

–I don't see it as a rivalry. I understand that people might find it intriguing, but not at all. All I wish is that we could coexist. They were my colleagues for fifteen years.

–Would you like to work again with Óscar Cornejo and Adrián Madrid, creators of 'Sálvame' and producers at La Osa Producciones?

–I've worked with them for twenty years. I'd like to work with people I haven't worked with before, mainly for a change. There comes a point in life when you want to meet new people and work with other production companies. I've spent two significant decades of my professional life with them.

–Has your life changed since you stopped hosting gossip shows?

–I've thought about it a lot. It was a period of my life that I lived, squeezed, enjoyed, and suffered to the fullest. 'Sálvame' is spoken of with nostalgia, but I'd like to remember what was written about 'Sálvame'. Rightly or wrongly, it doesn't matter, but it's talked about as if we were 'Little House on the Prairie', and we weren't. Having lived through it, I wouldn't want to experience such a phase again, because mentally I'm in a different place. Moreover, I wouldn't be good at hosting gossip shows now because social chronicles are entertaining if done with scandal and being very black-and-white, with good and bad sides, and with collaborators who take strong stances.

–Would you refuse to do a gossip show if the network proposed it?

–In television, you always have to be ready to accept that what you say today might not hold tomorrow. I have a contract until 2027, and if the network decides I have to do a gossip show, I'll have to do it because I'm under contract. Would I want to? Not at this moment. We're also at an interesting point where we need to ask ourselves where we're heading. Where are the characters to talk about? I think we're not integrating influencers and social media personalities into television to make them subjects of gossip. How is it done? I don't know, but that's where the potential lies.

–Have you been contacted by 'El Hormiguero' or 'La Revuelta'?

–Neither of them. I don't watch them because most nights by 10:00 PM I'm already in bed, although sometimes I think I need to hit the streets again to update the photos that came out of me (laughs). Everything starts too late. On Friday, my mother made me watch 'Cifras y Letras', and I didn't like it because I didn't get anything right. I'd only go to promote something.

–Would you answer Broncano's classic questions?

–I've thought about it, and it's quite unfortunate. Regarding money, I have enough to stop working for the rest of my life, but I have to be careful not to squander it. Much less than people think because I'm not a producer, and the salary is much lower. And sex, frankly, is bad. I can't remember the last guy I spent a whole night with, which is quite sad.

–If the series about Belén Esteban's life goes ahead, which actor would you like to play you?

–Considering Belén wants Ester Expósito, I'd like Quim Gutiérrez to play me, which is the same level of resemblance. And for the younger version, Manu Ríos.