‘La ruleta de la suerte’ makes a historic decision: replaces Laura Moure with a man who will discover the letters

The Wheel of Fortune makes a historic decision in its long history in Spain. For the first time, the role of the co-host who reveals the letters on the board (previously referred to as hostess) will be filled by a man: former contestant Brian Pérez Casado will replace Laura Moure after she gives birth and during the time the Madrid native enjoys her maternity leave.

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Brian participated last Christmas in the contest, where he came close to winning the car in the final. The 31-year-old from Barcelona was at least able to fulfill another dream: helping Moure reveal the letters on the board. Something that will now become a job and places him in a historic position in the format, starting September 22, when his first appearance airs. For the first time since 1990, a man will be revealing the letters, a role that on Antena 3 (where it has aired continuously since 2006) has been fulfilled by Paloma López, Moure, and Bárbara González (substitute in 2016 and 2020).

Brian Pérez, born in Barcelona in 1995, was a television unknown until now. The new co-host of The Wheel of Fortune lives in Madrid and works as a beauty advisor for luxury brands, as well as a professional makeup artist. “I will be here for the time Laura is not, so I hope you enjoy it as much as I will,” he says in the announcement video.

The role of hostess on The Wheel of Fortune has been questioned for years, as a role from another era perhaps unjustified on a board that reveals itself. Last April, host Jorge Fernández defended it in an interview with EL PAÍS, where he explained that “Laura is a super important part of the show. She is a co-host, has a co-host contract. She has the microphone open, speaks when she wants, says goodbye, has her role. The show 20 years ago came imposed this way,” and elaborated: “I doubt the original American format would let us do this show without a person on the board. We have tried to integrate her so she is not a hostess, but a presenter and has an important presence on the show. I understand that some people may question it, and I know it’s a thornier issue, but doing without her would be a blow to the whole team, and to her, because, most importantly, she wants to be here.”

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The United States case is very particular. The contest still has a hostess solving the boards, yes, but she is one who has been allowed to age on screen. The person in charge is named Vanna White and from her board she has witnessed the evolution of television over the last four decades. She has been in her position since 1982 and has only missed 10 shows.

In 2015, Antena 3 introduced Laura Moure as a “hostess” in her first show in front of the board, but, aware that this position no longer has good acceptance and can be considered sexist (they have also been removed amid controversies from multiple sporting events), Atresmedia has presented her for four years always as a co-host. “Before, what was known as hostess had an auxiliary mission, to perform a specific task. Laura and Jorge maintain a complicity with the viewer and offer dynamism,” defended Esther Pérez, Entertainment Programs Manager at Atresmedia TV, in 2024 via questionnaire, detailing the specific tasks Moure has taken on: “Laura presents the beginning of the show and says goodbye, participates in the final challenge and reveals its prizes, comments on the boards and any anecdote or moment with Jorge. In short, she is an active and necessary member, with an essential role in the development of the contest. She brings dynamism and they form a tandem that delights the audience.”

Moure, who gave birth on September 2, will continue on screen in that tandem, for now, also in the prime time specials that Antena 3 will premiere on Saturday, September 12, and in weekend reruns. This summer, Moure’s pregnancy has appeared and disappeared, since Antena 3 decided to alternate old and new programs in the schedule.

What The Wheel of Fortune does not lose is an ounce of its audience, remaining one of the most-watched shows on television day by day. Its average this season is 1,564,000 viewers and a 21.6% share, while its nighttime version was leader almost every night with 1,143,000 viewers and an 11.2% average share. Now, the newly revealed Brian Pérez will join this successful adventure.

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