"I've Enjoyed Television Again, Had Fun, and Lost My Fear"

Paula Vázquez (50, Ferrol) says she has once again enjoyed her work on television. She returns tonight to TVE as one of the faces of the 'Gala Inocente, Inocente 2024' (La 1, 22:00), which aims to help hospitalized children, with special attention to those affected by the dana.

This edition's 'victims' include Olympic champion Carolina Marín, presenter Lara Álvarez, actress Belén Rueda, tennis coach Toni Nadal, singer India Martinez, and actor Manu Baqueira. The gala, which raised over two million euros last year for children with rare diseases, will also be presented by Juanma Iturriaga, Jacob Petrus, and Carolina Casado, with special collaboration from Juan y Medio.

-How do you approach Christmas?

-We've paused filming 'Bake off' and I'm taking the opportunity to present the 'Inocente, Inocente' gala, which I haven't hosted for 25 years. On January 2nd, I'll be back with 'Bake off'. I'm very happy at TVE, and also with the New Year's Eve show with Broncano and Lalachus, which I love. I love that it's making noise and that she's asserting herself as she is. On a personal level, I'll be in Valencia with my mother, brother, and nephew, and spending there. I think it's important to support areas that have been devastated, buy local products, visit shops and bars, and start spending in Valencia.

-You've also spent more than one New Year's Eve at Puerta del Sol.

-Yes, I presented the New Year's Eve show once on Antena 3, twice on Cuatro, and twice on Telecinco. The only thing that really surprised me during those New Year's Eves, apart from the nerves and the cold, is that when you look out from the balcony, it seems like an advent calendar, because you have colleagues from other channels on each balcony. And then you don't eat the grapes, which no one tells you about. You see the sound guy, the cameraman, and everyone with grapes, and you think, "Am I going to be the only one with bad luck this year?"

-You also start 2025 with a new phase at RTVE. What would you ask of the new bosses?

-To eat my 'Bake off' contestants' desserts without gaining weight, as I gained four and a half kilos last year (laughs). I'd like to do a travel show about luxury hotels. I'm getting older, I just want to rest. I just want to film where I'm going to sleep.

-Do you see yourself at 'Benidorm Fest'?

-Of course! I also have a house in Benidorm. I would like to, but I feel it's a festival for a younger crowd.

-In an interview, you mentioned that period of your life with such a heavy workload, which led to anxiety attacks and depression. How do you face your work now?

-Yes, that was 17 years ago or more. I never completely disconnected from television, but now I'm in a different phase of my life. Before, I constantly had anxiety attacks. I'd leave an event or presentation, and I knew that night in the hotel would be tough. It's been many years of taking care of myself, and now other things matter more than work. It was a time when I prioritized work because there were many opportunities. But I've enjoyed television again, had fun, and lost my fear. It was a moment when you'd ask yourself, "I'm calm, why am I having an anxiety attack?" Well, the brain works that way. There's no reason, nothing's happening with anyone, it just hits you. And now I really like being able to talk about this because I want people going through it, which I didn't see, to know that it can be overcome with the right tools, asking for help, and surrounding yourself with people who understand you, without having to constantly explain yourself.

-What advice would you give to those presenters riding the wave of success?

-They don't have to go through the same thing; these are personal experiences. Everyone experiences it differently, and some people go through success without any issues. In my case, it wasn't so much about success, as I'd been on TV for many years when it happened. It was different personal issues that threw me off balance.