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Keeping the torch burning for series of a Jeux Sans
Frontières flavour, the Spanish channel TVE La 1's revival of Grand
Prix continued into 2024 after a successful return in 2023.
Grand Prix had originally run on TVE from 1995, when it debuted as
Cuando Calienta el Sol, assuming the regular title Grand Prix del
Verano from the following year. Presented by Ramón García, the series
returned to Spanish television each summer until 2005. It took a year's
sabbatical in 2006 before returning for three further summers on FORTA TV in
2007, 2008 and 2009, with Bertín Osborne taking over as host and commentator.
The final edition of the original run was transmitted on 14th September 2009.
It was 14 years before the series was relaunched, returnining to its original
home on TVE La 1 on Monday 24th July 2023. In a nod to its past,
original host Ramón García returned to present the new series. It was a
ratings success and news of a 2024 return came soon.
For 2024, most of
the presentation team from 2023 returned, with only Michelle Calvó absent from
the new programmes. This was due to the presenter being contracted to another
project. Series talisman Ramón García returned to present his thirteenth
season of Grand Prix and at 62 years of age showed no sign of slowing
down. The games that he introduced in the 2024 series included 14 that were
newly devised and these were played in addition to the 17 that featured in the
2023 series. Once again, celebrity patrons were involved, but this time they
would take a more active part in the programmes, participating in several
games each week.
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The Grand Prix mascot has been
immortalised as a Famosa pop vinyl figure
Image © David Alain
Laich Ruiz, 2024 |
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The
series' return coincided with a huge merchandising campaign that witnessed the release of a Grand Prix board game,
based upon the programme's format. Also marketed were soft toys and a Famosa pop
vinyl figure of the trademark
Grand Prix vachette ('María Fernanda'), t-shirts, sweaters, backpacks and
mobile phone cases. These items reportedly sold very well, a further sign of
the popular appeal of Grand Prix del Verano! Interestingly, the Famosa
pop vinyl vachette toys also served as Jokers in this season of the games. The
Joker games were played similarly to the 2023 season, other than that the vachette only
played for 30 seconds in the games in which it was selected.
by Alan Hayes
with thanks to David Laich Ruiz |
