Spanish public broadcaster Televisión Española has launched the promotional campaign for its new prime-time weekly entertainment series La cena de los idiotas on La 1.
The programme, presented by Gonzalo Miró, brings together public figures from sharply contrasting political, cultural and social backgrounds to prepare a meal and debate contentious topics without shouting.
The state network confirmed that the opening roster of diners includes former president of the Community of Madrid Cristina Cifuentes, veteran singer and television presenter Bertín Osborne, and former Podemos politician Pablo Echenique.
A second high-profile pairing will feature former deputy prime minister Pablo Iglesias alongside aristocrat Cayetano Martínez de Irujo. Miró disclosed the encounter during an appearance on the television broadcast El perro andaluz.
Format and residential setting
The series takes place within a private residential setting where Miró acts as host. Each episode begins in the kitchen, where Miró involves his guests in cooking the evening meal to prompt candid reflections and informal conversation before dinner is served.
The participants then move into the main dining room, which centres on an interactive dining table equipped to project archival footage from the vaults of Televisión Española. The table also introduces knowledge games and administers a questionnaire intended to test the sincerity of each participant.
Production track record at RTVE
The weekly show is produced by Proamagna, an Andalusian production company based in southern Spain with extensive experience creating entertainment programmes for the public broadcaster.
Proamagna previously developed several high-profile series for state television, including the interview format En la tuya o en la mía, the travel show Dos parejas y un destino, and the lockdown programme Todos en casa. The company has also overseen television projects starring former Real Betis footballer Joaquín Sánchez across regional and national networks.
The prime-time commission represents an expanded presence on La 1 for Miró, who is the son of the late Spanish film director Pilar Miró. The broadcaster and sports commentator will combine his hosting duties on the dinner series with presenting the programme Malas lenguas, where he also contributes as a regular studio analyst.
Opposing guests across Spanish public life
The confirmed guests represent some of the most recognisable and politically opposed figures in modern Spanish public life. Cifuentes served as the regional president of Madrid for the conservative Partido Popular between 2015 and 2018, having previously held the role of government delegate in the capital.
Echenique, a theoretical physicist, served as the parliamentary spokesman and organisation secretary for the left-wing party Podemos during years of sharp political polarisation in Spain. His former party colleague Iglesias founded Podemos in 2014, led the party into a national coalition government, and served as Spain's second deputy prime minister before stepping away from frontline politics to establish his own media ventures.
Iglesias will share a table with Martínez de Irujo, the Duke of Arjona and Count of Salvatierra. The equestrian champion is the fourth son of the late Cayetana Fitz-James Stuart, the 18th Duchess of Alba, whose aristocratic house is among the oldest and wealthiest in Spain.
Osborne, who built a long career as a romantic crooner before becoming one of Spain's most recognisable television interviewers, is known for his conservative viewpoints and has previously fronted successful conversational shows filmed in domestic kitchens and living rooms.
Broadcast schedule on La 1
La 1 is the flagship channel of Televisión Española, which forms the television arm of Spain's national state-owned public broadcaster RTVE. The network has positioned the weekly entertainment series for a major evening slot.
Network officials have not yet confirmed the specific calendar date or day of the week for the programme's television debut. Televisión Española stated that the definitive premiere date will be announced in the coming days.
