The behind-the-scenes of Nico Mereles's dismissal: Coco Carreño reopened the controversy

The chef Coco Carreño brought back to the table the conflict that marked the departure of Nicolás Mereles from Escuela de Cocina, the show hosted by Jimena Monteverde on El Nueve.

In an interview with Pablo Montagna on Pasa Montagna (Radio Rivadavia), Carreño not only reviewed the show but also revealed internal aspects about what the original announcer's departure from the program meant.

"The show has been on air for two years and we've almost reached 500 episodes. It's like a two-hour cooking diary," commented Coco, highlighting the growth of the proposal in a time slot unusual for the genre.

The chef stated that the show's arrival on the channel helped change the audience profile:  "We changed the afternoon target. Why does a cooking show only have to be in the morning?" he questioned.

Monteverde, he said, knew how to adapt to all kinds of challenges: "Jimena is an all-terrain host. We started live, then recorded... and we continued."

Mereles's departure: a conflict that wasn't closed

Regarding the changes in the team, Carreño confirmed that they no longer had the original announcer. "Nico was very important in the team. I think he had differences with the people at Kuarzo, but it wasn't that someone said 'take him out.' That didn't happen," he clarified.

Nico Mereles, meanwhile, had remained silent after his dismissal in September 2024. He communicated it briefly on social media, without getting into controversies. However, over time he decided to break the silence.

In an interview with Exitoína, he revealed that he never received a formal explanation or a call from the production. "Since it all happened, no one has contacted me. Only Renzo, the reporter, wrote to me because he found out while traveling," he said.

Regarding the statement Monteverde made on air, the announcer opined: "She used words that backfired. People want real people. I'm still the same guy who left Varela ten years ago. I work and I'm authentic."

Nico expressed that he didn't want to take advantage of the conflict to gain exposure: "They called me from LAM and other shows, but I didn't want to go. I'm not interested in being in the media. It's not my path."

He emphasized that he preferred a low profile, following the advice of figures he admires in the industry: "Several mentors recommended not getting into the game. I kept working and let everything fall into place."

Stress, silence, and a personal closure

The announcer also shared details of his personal situation before the dismissal. "Two weeks before the dismissal I suffered a stress attack. I lost my voice. It wasn't that I went on vacation. I spent 72 hours without speaking, with medical treatment."

That episode marked a turning point. "It affected what I love most: my voice. They took the opportunity to make changes at that moment. But I decided to look forward," he added.

Mereles explained that he no longer felt comfortable on the show: "I saw a direction I didn't share, but I continued so as not to leave the team hanging. The show worked because of the chemistry between us."

Finally, he reflected on the world of television: "I had been working nonstop for eight years. This was my first time off the air. That's when you realize who was there for you and who was only there for interest."

Despite everything, Nico Mereles chose not to create a scandal. He closed his testimony with a phrase Ricky Pashkus told him that remained etched in his memory:  "When the industry doesn't want you, it takes care of getting rid of you."