Aquí no hay quien viva (English: No One Could Live Here) is a Spanish comedy television series focusing on the inhabitants of the fictional building at the address Desengaño 21 in central Madrid. The series debuted on the Antena 3 network in 2003, and was later rerun by the same network as well as cable/satellite channels Neox and Paramount Comedy. Antena 3 Internacional satellite channel broadcasts the series to Latin America. The series debuted in 2003 and became popular thanks to its amusing characters, witty script, and capacity to integrate and poke fun at contemporary issues; the program presents a caustic satire of many of the archetypes found in Spanish society.
In 2006, Antena 3's rival Telecinco acquired a 15% stake in Miramón Mendi, the company that produces the series. Miramón's contract with Antena 3 expired in June 2006 and was not renewed, bringing the series to an end, since the actors' contracts bind them to the production company and not to the network. Miramón Mendi then rebooted the concept for Telecinco with a similar cast, a suburban setting, and brand-new characters and storyline. La que se avecina debuted 22 April 2007. On 15 October 2021, the series was added to Netflix.
Characters
Porter's lodge Emilio Delgado Martín (Fernando Tejero) – The building's porter. He is in his mid-thirties and lives in the porter's lodge with his father, Mariano. He is an unambitious man who just wants to live without worries and have a steady girlfriend. Unluckily, he is in the wrong building for that. He always has a comeback for everything. He was in college for a while, until he got kicked out. He has had three girlfriends so far: Rocío (a mailwoman with a young son whom he almost married), Belén (a complicated relationship where they have broken up and gotten together several times) and Carmen (his college professor). His most well known catchphrase, "un poquito de por favor" (a little bit of please), has quickly become an everyday use idiom around Spain. It has even been parodied in other shows, and not only at the show's own station, Antena 3. Mariano Delgado (Eduardo Gómez) – Emilio's father, though not exactly a model one. He is separated from Emilio's mother and, since he has no place to live, he made himself one with his son. He has a lot of nerve, is a womanizer without much luck, and is always concocting one money scheme or another. It won't be the first time Emilio has kicked him out, but he always takes him back. His catchphrase is ignorante de la vida, criticizing the younger generation for being ignorant about life. He enjoys a brief career as a comedian with his performance being called Crónicas Marianas, "The Mariano Chronicles", a reference to the Spanish late-night TV show Crónicas Marcianas. In spite of his unstylish look, he considers himself a metrosexual, much to the amusement of his neighbours and son.
1-A Radiopatio (roughly translated into "gossip yard") headquarters, as they call their "gossip agency", home of three old ladies nicknamed las Supernenas (The Powerpuff Girls), las tres mellizas (The Triplets), and las brujas de Eastwick (The Witches of Eastwick), among others. Their common hobbies are gossip, bingo and shoplifting.
Vicenta Benito Valbuena (Gemma Cuervo) – Lives in flat 1-A. She's a retired woman that has never married and who's still a virgin. She's really naive (to the point that she seems dumb) and polite but also very optimistic. Her dog Valentin is the most important thing for her. Alongside her sister Marisa and her friend Concha, they're the source of all gossiping in the building. She's got a crush on Andrés. When Marisa's husband gets back they end up together to everyone's amazement. She is still waiting for her true love. At first it seems that she is silly but in fact is very clever when she wants. Maria Luisa "Marisa" Benito Valbuena (Mariví Bilbao) – Vicenta's older sister. After her husband Manolo left her, Vicenta took her in her home. She's the polar opposite of her sister, a harsh, ironic chain-smoker, "chinchón" (anisette)-drinking who always speaks her mind. She would like to retire to Benidorm with a handsome German. Alongside her sister and her friend Concha, they like to spy on others in the building and spread gossip. Marisa is often seen smoking and carries a large bottle of Chinchón liquor in her purse and wearing teen clothes. Concepción "Concha" de la Fuente García (Emma Penella) – In the first season, she lives in flat 2-B with her son Armando and her grandson Dani. Afterwards, they move out and she sells the flat to the Guerra family. But her son puts her in a retirement home because the woman he moved in with doesn't like her, which angers Concha. She went to live with her friends Vicenta and Marisa. She still has another flat in the building, which she rents to Belén without a contract. In later seasons, she decides to sell it, and Belén buys it using a plot that Concha doesn't like one bit.
1-B Mauricio "Mauri" Hidalgo Torres (Luis Merlo) – A gay journalist who used to work for a Cosmopolitan-type magazine. He's unstable, hypochondriac, has many obsessions and he's pretty insecure. Mauri frequently finds himself not sure as to whether or not his potential love's interests are gay. During the first season, he lived with his boyfriend Fernando, but he left to work in London. Later he had a son, Ezequiel, by artificial insemination with his lesbian roommate Bea. He also had an affair with Lucia's brother Diego, which ended when Diego got involved with Abel, his baby son's nanny. Fernando has since returned and they're living together again. Recently, Mauri decided to write a book at Fernando's urging and his own lack of fulfillment with his career. After suffering from severe writer's block, he was helped by Mariano to write an action novel featuring a truck driver who is struck by lightning and gains precognition powers. Although he found the story ridiculous, he went with the idea. The book became a best-seller. Fernando Navarro Sánchez (Adrià Collado) – Mauri's lawyer boyfriend during season 1. After he lost his job when he came out, he got a very good job offer at London and finally decided to take it. They did the long-distance relationship thing for a while, but they finally broke up as friends. He has since returned and, after a bit of fumbling, he and Mauri are living together again. He has decided to start his own practice, and him and Mauri have just married.
2-A Juan Cuesta (José Luis Gil) – A middle-aged high school teacher and long time homeowners council president, a position that defines who he is. He's a very grey man, completely controlled by his wife, he's a born worrier and nobody respects him. But, as president of this building, he always sees himself in the middle of some big messy affairs. He's married to Paloma, until she ends up in coma. He then starts an affair with his new neighbour, Isabel and, after a spectacular coming out, they move in together. He has divorced his wife, but has not yet married Isabel. He lost his job and his position as strata council president in later seasons, and with them his purpose in life. He has since then found a new job and recovered the strata council presidency. Natalia Cuesta (Sofía Nieto) – Juan and Paloma's teen daughter. She's got a lot more freedom since her mother is in coma. She's had several boyfriends, among them Pablo, with whom she lived under her aunt's roof for a while. She moved out to live on her own, but soon returned and she's now studying psychology. She got pregnant as a surrogate mother for a couple that soon backed out of the deal; she still carries on with her pregnancy. She has started a relationship with Yago. José Miguel "Josemi" Cuesta (Eduardo García Martínez) – Juan and Paloma's son, who is in his early teens. A lazy but gifted boy, always quick to take advantage of opportunities. José Miguel has the IQ of a genius, and was offered a chance to study abroad in Canada, but opted to stay in Spain. He's in love with Candela, in 2-B. Isabel Ruiz (Isabel Ordaz) – Called La Hierbas (herb-woman or "pot head") by her neighbours, she moves in with her family after buying flat 2-B from Concha. A neurotic hypochondriac with a laisser-faire attitude, she's big time into natural therapy, herbal remedies and yoga. After her husband gets jailed, she starts an affair with Juan, which eventually leads to the end of her marriage. She moves in with Juan and his children and eventually sells her flat. After Juan loses his job, she is forced to return to work as a nurse, to her chagrin. Yago (Roberto San Martin) – Nicknamed el Sabrosón (the babbler) by the neighbours, is Lucía's Cuban ex-boyfriend, whom she met while on holidays when she was still engaged to Carlos. He's an ecology nut, very active in his NGO Aldeas Verdes (Green Villages) and Lucía adopts his principles to get along with him. They've had several crisis when he caught her with Carlos and Roberto. After she leaves for Somalia, he moves into the attic and starts a relationship with Natalia. He now lives with her in the 2-A.
2-B Higinio (Ricardo Arroyo) – used to be building's plumber and building worker until he bought the 2-B flat from Carlos. He's a laid-back man, who doesn't want problems in life. He started renovating 2-A, but then his wife Mamen got angry at them and told him to stop. He now has to work secretly at night. Mamen (Emma Ozores) – Higinio's wife. She likes to have all perfect at home. She is angry with Cuesta family because their son Josemi touched Candela's breast while she was sleeping. Candela (Denise Maestre) – Called Candy-Candy by their neighbours. Higinio and Mamen's 14-year-old daughter. She's interested in Pablo, who treats her like a child. Raquel (Elena Lombao) – Mamen's sister, a female-identifying transgender. Her brother in law Higinio insists on calling her Raúl, her birth name. She briefly dated Emilio, but he wasn't able to get over the fact she has male genitalia. Moncho (Pablo Chiapella) – Higinio and Mamen's oldest son, who has just returned home after his business venture collapsed.
3-A The former home of Lucía, who now has moved to Somalia (see former characters below). It still belongs to her, and her father lived there for a while with his butler and cook while he's having his house refurbished. Natalia and Yago have rented it while the 2-A is undergoing renovations.
3-B Belén López Vázquez (Malena Alterio) – She's nicknamed la Golfa (the Tart) by her landlady. She rents flat 3-B from Concha, without a contract (a fact she reminds her landlady often). Harsh and fussy, she's very bitter because of her lack of success with men. She doesn't have a steady job and has worked in a lot of occupations (waitress in a burger restaurant and in Lucia's restaurant, receptionist in an undertakers, shop assistant and parking meter controller, among others). She eventually gets together with Emilio, to the point of living together, but they finally break up. Since then, they have broken up and gotten together again several times, including an affair while he was dating Carmen. She had a one night stand with Roberto. She just got a mortgage to buy the flat from Concha. She was also Paco's girlfriend, but not for a long time.