Cătălin Măruță to host Antena 1 show ‘Furnicuțele’

Cătălin Măruță is set to join Antena 1 this autumn as the new presenter of the entertainment show ‘Furnicuțele’, replacing Denise Rifai. This move marks Măruță’s return to television following an 18-year career at PRO TV and a recent hiatus intended for family time and personal projects.

While Rifai is leaving the ‘Furnicuțele’ format, she will remain with the Antena 1 network to work on new, undisclosed projects. The second season of ‘Furnicuțele’ will feature Măruță alongside the existing team, including Scamă, Blană, Ciucă, and Oase.

Media reactions have been mixed; while Măruță expressed excitement about the new adventure and the show's format, commentator Mircea Badea expressed skepticism regarding the transition. The show previously saw significant audience growth during Rifai’s tenure, with peak viewership reaching nearly 500,000 Romanian viewers.