Future of Italy’s ‘Chi l’ha visto?’ program debated after Federica Sciarelli’s exit

Federica Sciarelli has left the long‑running Rai 3 show Chi l’ha visto?, a programme that began in 1989 and has become a staple of Italian television for locating missing persons. Her departure creates a vacancy and sparks discussion about the show’s direction. Analysts consider two paths: a return to the original focus on missing‑person appeals and rapid alerts, or an expanded format that also tackles fraud, cold cases and broader investigations. No official successor has been announced; speculation includes appointing an internal journalist or adopting a team‑led presentation to preserve continuity.

Journalist Sigfrido Ranucci praised Sciarelli as the best host, citing her measured handling of sensitive cases such as the Garlasco murder. He argued that the programme’s strength lies in its editorial team rather than any single presenter and suggested that an internal staff member would be the most suitable heir. The debate continues over both the format and the next anchor, underscoring the show’s cultural importance in Italy.