Spanish broadcaster Antena 3 will premiere its new drama series Las hijas de la criada in prime time on Thursday, September 3. The announcement was made by television presenter Pepa Romero during the final segment of the broadcast of YAS Verano. The eight-part series, directed by Menna Fité and Alejo Flah, brings the bestselling historical novel by journalist Sonsoles Ónega to free-to-air television.
The Thursday night placement sets up a direct ratings clash with public broadcaster La 1, which scheduled the second season premiere of El perro andaluz, hosted by Manu Sánchez, for the same evening. La 1 promoted the return of the show with the slogan stating new legislature, same dog.
Production and Streaming Performance
Las hijas de la criada arrives on Antena 3 following its initial debut on Atresmedia's streaming platform, atresplayer. The show achieved the highest viewership for any original series premiere on atresplayer in three years and earned widespread acclaim from television critics.
Produced by Buendía Estudios Canarias, the series consists of eight episodes running 50 minutes each. Filming took place across location sites in Galicia, Madrid, and the Canary Islands. Antena 3 serves as the flagship free-to-air television network of Atresmedia, one of Spain's primary commercial media groups operating major nationwide broadcasting channels.
Historical Drama and Plot Premise
The drama is set at the turn of the 20th century and chronicles the turbulent history of the Valdés family saga across settings in northwestern Spain and colonial-era Cuba. The narrative explores themes of forbidden romance, betrayal, class conflict, jealousy, and family secrets.
The story opens in Galicia in the year 1900 at the Espíritu Santo manor house, known locally as a pazo. Two infant girls, Clara and Catalina, are born on the same estate. Clara is the daughter of a household maid named Renata, while Catalina is born to the wealthy estate owners, Don Gustavo and Doña Inés Valdés.
An unexpected act of vengeance alters the destinies of both infants and their families. Doña Inés is forced to navigate the emotional pain of abandonment and heartbreak while engaging in intense power struggles to secure her biological daughter's position as the rightful heir to a vast maritime empire, during a period when societal rules denied women autonomy over their own lives.
Ensemble Cast and Characters
The series features an ensemble cast headed by Spanish actors Verónica Sánchez, Carlota Baró, and Alain Hernández in leading roles.
The main cast is supported by Martina Cariddi, Judith Fernández, Álex Villazán, Tomy Aguilera, Álex Gadea, Xoel Fernández, Fede Pérez, Alicia Armenteros, Iolanda Muíños, Roque Ruiz, Fran Nortes, Adrián Ríos, Carlos Villarino, Camila Bossa, Alba Loureiro, and Alejandro Vergara.
Literary Origins and Award Recognition
The series is based on the novel of the same name by author and journalist Sonsoles Ónega, which depicts a family building a maritime trading empire almost entirely from scratch. The book won the Premio Planeta in 2023, one of the most prominent literary awards in the Spanish-speaking publishing industry.
The novel became the single best-selling literary title in Spain during 2023, surpassing half a million copies sold and running through 20 published editions. The television screen adaptation was developed through a formal rights agreement with Planeta Book & Film Rights. Foreign translation rights for the book have already been secured in eight international territories, including Italy, France, Portugal, Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Mongolia, and Russia.
Additional Spanish Network Programming Updates
The scheduling strategy announcement coincides with wider programming adjustments across Spanish television networks. Reality television series Supervivientes All Stars 3 confirmed Alma Bollo as the third contestant added to its upcoming casting lineup.
Meanwhile, host Paz Padilla addressed viewers following the official cancellation of El Show de Paz. Padilla stated that the underlying goal of the production had been to try to do a little bit of good for the audience.
