Jorge Javier Opens His Diary on Telecinco: "I Advocate for Author-Driven Shows"

Jorge Javier Vázquez (Badalona, 54 years old) says that one cannot make plans in life. After the abrupt end of the short-lived 'Cuentos chinos', the program that Telecinco pitted against Pablo Motos' 'El hormiguero' with little success, the Catalan presenter halted his omnipresence on television and stayed home for an extended period. He took the opportunity to travel and contemplate his professional future. Without appearances on the small screen, many believed his future lay outside Mediaset. The media group had changed and attempted to shift towards more family-friendly television, where content and faces reminiscent of 'Sálvame' had no place. But Jorge Javier was much more than just the master of that domain which occupied the afternoon slot for fourteen years.

After two consecutive successful editions of 'Supervivientes', which the presenter once again hosted masterfully with audience support, Jorge Javier returns to afternoons. "I was at home without working. I would have my coffee after lunch, feel sleepy around siesta time, and think: my goodness, I won't get caught up in this again. How did I manage to do it for fourteen years? But life has a way of surprising you for the better. It felt like coming home, and that's how I experience it," Vázquez revealed a day before his return to Telecinco's afternoon programming. He will do so with 'El diario de Jorge', a talk show produced by Boomerang TV (the same company that handled 'El diario de Patricia' on Antena 3), airing Monday to Friday from 4:00 PM to 5:30 PM on Mediaset's main channel. The primary goal of this new venture is to boost viewership, which has been at its lowest since the cancellation of 'Sálvame', and also to help Ana Rosa Quintana improve the ratings of 'TardeAR'.

A return to daily work that Jorge Javier eagerly anticipates. "It comes at a point in my career when it seemed there would be no surprises. And when they proposed it to me, I said: 'Really?'" stated the Catalan, who nonetheless feared similarities with the format led by Patricia Gaztañaga, a show that marked a generation but premiered over twenty years ago. "The challenge is how we tell the stories, and I believe the team has found a way to surprise viewers," emphasized the presenter. Because life's stories, as Jorge Javier explained by quoting Wilkie Collins' book 'The Woman in White', can be told through different characters' eyes: "When you think you have the story, there's a perspective that dismantles what you've been told. I believe 'The Diary' is somewhat like 'The Woman in White'. A story can be understood and seen from various viewpoints."

In its previous iteration, Antena 3's format had comedic moments we all remember today but also controversial ones typical of television at the time. However, Jorge Javier emphasized that his diary adapts to the social reality of 2024: "Television is the medium that best adjusts to what happens in reality. In entertainment shows, we even did things that wouldn't be possible now. Every societal step has been instantly reflected on TV," he reiterated before firmly stating that his diary will not feature famous collaborators. "I advocate for presenter-driven, author-driven television. I've worked with the best collaborators, and now I like facing it alone. That's why this program excites me so much; it's facing something new, which is what brings excitement. It's an absolute challenge I'm committed to," defended the presenter and writer, who recently renewed his long-term contract with Mediaset until 2027.

Mediaset promises stories that are funny, touching, curious, or emotional but all share a common denominator: they won't leave anyone indifferent. To achieve this, the group has prepared a set featuring a main stage and various alternative spaces to address stories in parallel.

There will be a 'panic button' to clarify, contrast, or confront testimonies shared by protagonists with Jorge Javier. Fridays, the last day of the week, will be dedicated to love, where the host will act as a matchmaker helping people find partners.