Operación Triunfo is a Spanish reality television music competition to find new singing talent. The tenth series, also known as Operación Triunfo 2018, began airing on La 1 on 19 September 2018, presented by Roberto Leal.
In addition to the Galas or weekly live shows on La 1, the side show El Chat aired on La 1 after each weekly Gala, hosted by Noemí Galera and Ricky Merino. The activities of the contestants at "The Academy" or La Academia were streamed live via YouTube.
Famous Oberogo was announced the winner on 19 December 2018. Alba Reche came second.
As in the previous season, the series served as the platform to select the Spanish entry at the Eurovision Song Contest 2019. A special live show of Operación Triunfo 2018 was held on 20 January 2019 to select the Spanish entrant and song for Eurovision. Miki Núñez was selected with the song "La venda".
Headmaster, judges and presenter
It was announced that Roberto Leal would continue as host when the series was renewed on 28 February 2018. Noemí Galera confirmed she would continue as the headmaster of the Academy on 13 July 2018. On 23 August 2018, Mónica Naranjo announced that she would be leaving the judging panel; the same day it was confirmed that marketing director Joe Pérez-Orive and music executive and producer Manuel Martos would return as judges. On 10 September 2018, it was announced that singer Ana Torroja would join Pérez-Orive and Martos on the judging panel. As in the previous season, the three regular judges were accompanied every week by a guest panelist from the music industry.
Auditions
Open casting auditions began on 30 May 2018 in Barcelona and concluded on 10 July 2018 in Madrid. The minimum age to audition was 18.
A total of 16,769 candidates participated in the open auditions. After the open auditions, 85 candidates were called for the final closed-door auditions that took place from 28 August 2018 to 30 August 2018 in Barcelona. 18 candidates advanced to the introduction live show or "Gala 0".
Contestants
The 18 contestants that appeared on the introduction live show or Gala 0 were announced on 14 September 2018.
Galas
The Galas or live shows began on 19 September 2018. In the introduction live show or Gala 0, 18 candidates were presented to enter the "Academy." Each contestant performed a cover version of a popular song of their choice, and two of the candidates were eliminated. For the regular galas, the contestants are assigned a popular song to perform in a duet or solo. The audience votes for their favourite performer, and the contestant with the most votes is exempt for nominations. The jury panel comments on the performances and nominates four contestants for elimination. The Academy's staff meeting saves one of the nominees, and the safe contestants save another of the nominees. The two remaining nominees prepare the performance of a song of their choice each for next week's live show, where one of the contestants is saved by the audience via televote, sms and app voting. Each gala features a guest judge and guest performers.
Results summary
Colour key
Gala 0 (19 September 2018) Musical guests: Contestants from Operación Triunfo 2017 ("Camina")
Gala 1 (26 September 2018) Group performance: "This Is Me" Musical guests: Malú ("Todos los secretos") Aitana ("Teléfono") Guest judge: Tony Aguilar
Gala 2 (3 October 2018) Group performance: "Bonito es" Musical guests: Lola Indigo ("Ya no quiero ná") Tequila (Greatest Hits' medley) Guest judges: Rosana (substituting Ana Torroja) Julia Gómez Cora
Gala 3 (10 October 2018) Group performance: "Viva la Vida" Musical guest: Blas Cantó ("Él no soy yo") Guest judge: Wally López
Gala 4 (17 October 2018) Group performance: "I Am What I Am" Musical guests: Mon Laferte ("Mi buen amor") Álvaro Soler ("La cintura") (with the contestants) Guest judge: David Otero
Gala 5 (24 October 2018) Group performance: "Me encanta" Musical guests: Vance Joy ("Riptide") Miriam Rodríguez & Pablo López ("No!") Guest judge: Javier Llano
Gala 6 (31 October 2018) Group performance: "Vivir así es morir de amor" Musical guest: Tom Walker ("Leave a Light On") Guest judge: Carlos Jean
Gala 7 (7 November 2018) Group performance: "Don't Stop Me Now" Musical guests: Eros Ramazzotti ("Hay vida") CNCO ("Llegaste Tú" / "Reggaetón Lento (Bailemos)") Guest judge: Brisa Fenoy
Gala 8 (14 November 2018) Group performance: "Enamorado de la moda juvenil" Musical guests: David Bisbal & Greeicy ("Perdón") James Arthur ("Empty Space") Carlos Baute & Marta Sánchez ("Te sigo pensando") Guest judge: Ruth Lorenzo