Oh Humberto

The water treading comes to an end.

For months you hung somewhere at the bottom of that ratings top 25.

Sometimes someone pushed your head underwater and you weren't even in the picture.

Then you surfaced again and sometimes you butterfly-stroked your way to the top 3.

You were there. You laughed. You shone. As if nothing was wrong.

Meanwhile, everyone was focused on you.

Media journalists discussing the expiration date. Of the show. Of you.

Was that in sight? Maybe even already exceeded?

Then the gossip magazines. About your private life. You could say it doesn't matter. After all, you're not the first presenter who seeks some fun outside. But you were criticized for it.

Just like the declining ratings. Many people are of course to blame for that. But if a team doesn't perform, the coach is the first to leave.

Yesterday what we all expected happened. The press release announcing your departure appeared. Not surprising. What was surprising was what happened before the employee of the RTL press service hit ‘send’. That happened live. In your studio. You announced your departure. With your head held high. Polite. Without anger and with understanding. That was brave, Humberto. Very brave.

Your guests were stunned. This was not in the script. And not on the autocue. You took your moment. It seemed as if your eyelashes were lighter. And then there was Frits Spits. Frits Spits who likes to voice his opinion when it comes to replacing presenters. Of course, he started complaining about letting the ratings rule. He finds it a disgrace. I think it's nonsense. Of course, ratings are important. It's RTL 4 that we are watching, Frits. RTL four here. In other words: commercial. In other words: no government money. If twice as many people ever watched this program, you can reasonably conclude that people no longer enjoy it. And read the reviews. And Twitter. The program had lost its mojo. And Humberto, let's be honest, you too.

Yet it was kind of Frits Spits. He was briefly the father figure, the shoulder, the pat on the back that you longed for. Someone who pointed out what was also good and special. And that touched. Suddenly I understood the light eyelashes. Tears.

Humberto, open suits you well.

Somewhere a coat awaits you that fits you better. I'm looking forward to that.