What Happened to Love Island Hungary? We Find Out Where the Contestants are Now

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If you cast your mind back to 2019, you’ll remember the widely popular show Love Island making its debut in Hungary – presented by well-known Hungarian presenter Lali Csóró, and closely following the original Love Island UK format (in which young attractive people compete for love and a cash prize.)

Filmed in Cyprus and airing on Hungarian television for six weeks, the show was a great success according to Cyprus-based producer Valentine Nonyela, and fans were happy to see Zsófi Németh and Tícián Lakatos take home the 60,000 euro cash prize. But where are the contestants now, nearly two years after the show originally aired? And are the winning couple still together?

Photo: Pexels

Well, according to her Instagram, the 21-year-old horse riding instructor Zsófi Németh has been plenty busy since her TV debut in 2019, making it to the 2021 finale of Hungary’s TV program Survivor Hun — the survival reality show with seasons taking place all over the world, well known for its intense challenges and emotional toughness. And as for the boxer from Angvatold, Tícián Lakatos, he can be seen enjoying life with his family and friends, alongside spending some time in the boxing ring, according to his Instagram account. The couple does not appear to still be together, with Németh focusing on her TV career. However, they do look back on their time on Love Island fondly, as shown by its proud mention in Németh’s instagram bio.

And what about the show itself? Well, despite Valentine Nonyela’s glowing praise, Love Island Hungary did not see a second season. Nonetheless, despite originating in the UK, Love Island has been growing in popularity all over the world, with countries including Italy, Australia, and The United States now having their own iterations, according to a blog by ExpressVPN. Streaming services like Hulu, Amazon Prime, and ITV give you access to a variety of international versions, which means that viewers are able to universally appreciate the latest reality TV stars.

Talking about the success of Love Island, Professor Xavier L’Hoiry theorizes that the show’s watchability comes from audiences feeling involved through social media. And with constant Twitter debate and an endless supply of Instagram memes about the contestants, this isn’t hard to believe. Not only does this keep engagement for the show high, but it also fosters a sense of community among watchers who enjoy being in conversation with each other.

And likewise, there’s a large incentive for contestants to keep applying, with ex-contestants like Molly Mae (UK Love Island), going on to have millions of Instagram followers, brand deals, and professional opportunities stemming from the show. Alongside the obvious short-term fame, it is a great opportunity for young people to make a name for themselves, especially if aiming for online success.

So, although Love Island Hungary has no plans to return, it doesn’t look like the Love Island TV show is going anywhere, with 2.9 viewers on the UK’s ITV hub alone, making 2022 the biggest year so far since 2019 for UK watchers. With this in mind, it might be worth keeping an eye on where else the growing show expands to.