El rival más débil

El rival más debil (literally "The Weakest Rival") is the Spanish version of the international game show franchise Weakest Link. The show aired on La 1 and La 2 of Televisión Española between 2002 and 2004, presented by Nuria González and later Karmele Aranburu. The series was revived for Telecinco in 2024, with six celebrity specials presented by Luján Argüelles. These were cancelled after three episodes, with the remainder being aired a year later.

History

The international franchise Weakest Link began with British series The Weakest Link, and debuted in Spain on La 1 on 15 May 2002. The first season was presented by Nuria González, who left to act in Los Serrano and was replaced by Karmele Aranburu. The programme moved to La 2, also owned by Televisión Española, and aired its final episode on 1 October 2004.[1]

In March 2024, it was announced that the show would return to television, with a six-episode series on Telecinco to be presented by Luján Argüelles.[2] The episodes were celebrity specials, respectively for singers, politicians, comedians, journalists, actors and sportspeople.[3]

The first episode aired on 4 September with a 6.5% audience share, followed by 6.9% and 7.7% in the next two weeks, respectively.[4] The next two episodes were pre-empted for tabloid discussion show ¡De viernes!, due to the death of former Marbella mayor Julián Muñoz, and a historical affair of King Juan Carlos I.[4] By 9 October, the show had been cancelled, with 2003 film Bad Boys II airing in its place.[4] The final three episodes of the series aired from 14 August 2025, filling the time slot vacated by the conclusion of Volando voy, volando vengo.[3]

Format

Contestants answer general knowledge questions against the clock, aiming to bank as much money as possible. At the end of each round, the contestants name the player they wish to vote off, and the one with the most votes against is eliminated. When two contestants are left, they are each asked five questions and the one with the most correct answers wins; in the case of a draw, there is "sudden death" until one answers correctly and the other incorrectly.[1]

The 2024 revival had a maximum possible jackpot of €50,000, to be awarded to a charitable cause as all contestants were celebrities.[3]

References

  1. ^ a b Tapiador, María (17 August 2023). "Así era 'El rival más débil', el concurso en el que los concursantes se eliminaban unos a otros" [This was 'El rival más débil', the game show in which the contestanats eliminated each other]. 20 minutos (in Spanish). Retrieved 18 October 2025.
  2. ^ García, Ricky (14 March 2024). "Luján Argüelles vuelve al prime time de Telecinco para presentar el regreso de 'El rival más débil'" [Luján Argüelles returns to prime time on Telecinco to present the return of 'El rival más débil']. El Periódico de Catalunya (in Spanish). Retrieved 18 October 2025.
  3. ^ a b c "Telecinco saca 'El rival más débil' del cajón, un parche para la noche del jueves: los famosos que se enfrentarán a la afilada lengua de Luján" [Telecinco takes 'El rival más débil' out of storage, a patch for Thursday nights: famous people will take on each other and Luján's sharp tongue]. El Confidencial (in Spanish). 13 August 2025. Retrieved 18 October 2025.
  4. ^ a b c Costas, N. (7 October 2024). "Telecinco se deshace de 'El rival más débil': esto es lo que emitirá este miércoles, sin especial de '¡De viernes!'" [Telecinco does away with 'El rival más débil': this is what it will air on Wednesday, without a special of '¡De viernes!']. El Confidencial (in Spanish). Retrieved 18 October 2025.