Spanish television presenter Santi Acosta has split from his partner, journalist Maria Ruiz, ending a discreet year-and-a-half relationship that included living together in recent months, according to reports in Spanish media.
The host of the Telecinco entertainment show De Viernes has experienced a personal setback despite enjoying strong audience figures on national television. News of the separation was first reported by Spanish digital news outlet Informalia and later expanded by celebrity magazine Hola.
Discreet romance behind the cameras
The couple maintained a quiet relationship for approximately 18 months, keeping their romance out of public view and avoiding headline coverage throughout their time together. Reports indicate that their relationship began in 2024, though the couple kept their connection private so their personal lives would not become a topic of public discussion.
Their romantic involvement first became public knowledge in late 2025 after media reports revealed their relationship. Despite working in the entertainment news industry, where both journalists cover celebrity news and social affairs, Acosta and Ruiz carefully managed their public steps to protect their privacy.
As their relationship progressed, the couple took the step of moving in together to form a shared home. However, day-to-day coexistence eventually became complicated, leading both parties to agree to separate and follow independent paths.
Informalia and Hola reported that the end of their relationship was handled with the same discretion that characterized their courtship. Neither Acosta nor Ruiz sought to attract public attention when they began dating, and both now wish to avoid public commentary regarding their split.
Shared history on Madrid television
The relationship between Acosta and Ruiz did not begin in the studios of national network Telecinco. Instead, the pair first met while working together on the regional television channel Telemadrid during their tenure on the program Ruta 179.
Working on the regional travel series allowed the two broadcast journalists to build a close professional bond that eventually turned into a private romance off screen. They chose to keep their attachment quiet from the start to prevent media scrutiny during the early stages of their courtship.
Telemadrid serves as the regional public broadcaster for the Community of Madrid, airing local current affairs, culture, and travel programming. The channel's production Ruta 179 focuses on exploring each of the 179 municipalities across the Madrid region, bringing presenters into close collaboration during filming.
Ruiz later served as a co-presenter on the Telecinco magazine show El Tiempo Justo alongside television hosts Joaquin Prat and Cesar Munoz. Her time on the show ended after Mediaset Espana restructured the format, dropping her from the broadcast lineup following the network's renewal of the program.
Professional success and broadcast silence
Acosta continues to lead prime-time broadcasts for Telecinco as host of De Viernes. The flagship Friday night celebrity talk show has recorded high audience numbers across Spanish commercial television, boosted in part by the return of television personality Belen Esteban to Mediaset Espana productions.
Telecinco is one of Spain's primary terrestrial television networks, operated by media group Mediaset Espana. Its prime-time programming relies heavily on entertainment and celebrity news formats, where presenter performances drive significant audience engagement.
Despite their public roles in Spanish media, neither Acosta nor Ruiz has issued public statements detailing the specific reasons for their separation. Telecinco has also maintained silence regarding the private lives of its presenters, with the network choosing not to address the breakup during its on-air broadcasts.
Both journalists appear focused on their respective television careers as they move forward separately. Industry reports indicate that the former couple intends to keep the details of their split private, avoiding television studio discussions regarding their past relationship.
