Chilean comedian Edmundo "Bigote" Arrocet is undergoing medical examinations in Spain after doctors discovered a spot and a lump on one of his kidneys.
The entertainer confirmed the health scare after being photographed leaving a hospital carrying a medical report, with physicians instructing him not to leave Spain while awaiting diagnostic results.
The situation was revealed on Tuesday afternoon during the broadcast of the television programme El Verano Se Mueve on Spanish channel Telecinco, presented by Ion Aramendi.
Producers on the programme displayed a preview of the cover of Spanish celebrity magazine Semana, which goes on sale at national newsstands on Wednesday.
Semana director Jorge Borrajo provided additional details about the images, explaining that they showed Arrocet exiting the hospital while escorted to the door by a doctor.
Borrajo noted that Arrocet was carrying a folder containing his medical report and sat down on a bench near the hospital to inspect the documents with a visibly anxious expression.
Hospital visit and diagnostic testing
Following the concern generated by the photographs, representatives from Semana contacted Arrocet directly to clarify his health status.
Arrocet confirmed to the magazine that medical staff had detected a spot and a lump on a kidney, requiring him to undergo multiple blood analyses and diagnostic tests.
The comedian stated that he could guess what the testing was designed to check for, adding that he is currently waiting for doctors to deliver the final findings.
Arrocet explained that he had originally planned to travel abroad, but medical staff instructed him to remain in Spain until the results are evaluated and further decisions can be made.
Although attending medical professionals have not formally confirmed any specific disease, concern regarding Arrocet's health has grown among television commentators and colleagues.
Months of media absence and delayed projects
The health battle accounts for Arrocet's complete retreat from public life and television appearances throughout the summer of 2026.
Before his disappearance from the media, Arrocet had spent months promoting an upcoming memoir about his past romantic relationship with Spanish television presenter María Teresa Campos.
The publication of the memoir faced continuous delays, leading media commentators to suggest that the manuscript had never actually been written.
Arrocet had also asserted that he had finalized deals with television networks to produce documentary series and was actively drafting scripts for the project.
Media disputes and broadcasting career
During recent years, Arrocet was involved in public disputes with Campos's daughters, Spanish media personalities Terelu Campos and Carmen Borrego.
Arrocet accused the sisters of repeatedly invoking his name during their television appearances to maintain their own media prominence, while claiming he was falling into obscurity alongside occasional media setups involving alleged romances abroad.
Arrocet first built a prominent career in Spain as a comedic performer and actor, becoming a staple of prime-time television broadcasts in the 1970s and 1980s.
His relationship with María Teresa Campos, an iconic Spanish journalist and broadcaster who passed away in September 2023, made him a constant subject of Spanish entertainment reporting.
Next steps for medical diagnosis
Arrocet remains in Spain awaiting his final test results, which will determine his next medical steps and any future travel plans.
