Love Island's Ovie Soko opens up about friend's tragic death
His close friend tragically passed away
Basketball player Ovie Soko was a breath of fresh air when he entered the Love Island villa as a bombshell earlier this year, stealing the heart of India Reynolds, and let's face it, the entire nation.
Despite being the joker of the group with his iconic sayings, most notably "MESSAGE", Ovie's reasoning for applying for the show is actual heartbreaking.
Ovie, who was signed for a basketball team in Spain, bravely opened up in an interview with The Guardian's G2 magazine, where he revealed one of his close friends tragically passed away from a heart attack while training in Macedonia.
He said, "That year, I did a lot of thinking; there was a long time to collect my thoughts and reassess everything."
Following his devastating loss, and a little prompt from his brother, Ovie decided to apply for the show, and now he's one of the most memorable Love Island contestants of all time!
Meanwhile, after finishing the show in third place alongside India Reynolds, it sounds like the pair's romance is going VERY well.
Admitting they are enjoying time together but taking things slow, Ovie told the publication, "I cannot say love. Love is a thing that takes time to develop. We're in a good place, we're just putting one foot in front of the other. We've spent quite a bit of time together."
Awww!
You have to see what the Love Island 2018 cast are up to now:
Jack Fincham
Pen salesman Jack Fincham won the show in 2018 alongside Dani Dyer, the pair coupled up together in the first show and the rest was history.
Jack Fincham
After leaving the villa, Jack landed himself a TV show alongside Dani Dyer, appeared on the Celebrity version of Gogglebox and even hosted the NTA red carpet with Dani.
After the pair split up in April 2019, Jack has gone on to be involved in a number of sponsorship deals, as well as TV shows like The All New Full Monty and Celebs Go Dating.
Jack became a dad in January 2020 when his long-term pal Casey Ranger gave birth to their daughter Blossom after a brief romance. He has dated TOWIE stars Chloe Brockett and Frankie Sims and even appeared on the show in 2021.
Dani Dyer
Despite already having some fame (due to her famous dad, Danny Dyer) before entering the villa, Love Island certainly catapulted Dani Dyer into the limelight when she won the show with Jack.
Dani Dyer
After leaving the villa, Dani was in demand, landing her own clothing brand with In The Style, appearing on more or less EVERY TV show, climbing Mount Kilimanjaro for Red Nose Day, and releasing her own book.
Following her split from Jack, Dani was accused of 'cheating' with her ex-boyfriend Sammy Kimmence, after snaps of them kissing emerged. However, the Love Island winner totally denied the rumours.
Dani and Sammy went on to welcome their first child - a baby boy called Santiago - in January 2021, before splitting in July 2021. Dani is now in a relationship with West Ham footballer Jarrod Bowen.
Laura Anderson
Despite her turbulent time in the Love Island villa, Scottish beauty Laura Anderson finished in second place with hunky model Paul Knops.
Laura Anderson
Despite her relationship with Paul not lasting, Laura has kept herself busy and launched her own fitness and lifestyle website called So-LA after leaving the villa.
Laura lived in Dubai before finding fame and relocated there at the end of 2020. It recently came to light that she's reunited with Another Level singer Dane Bowers and the loved-up pair are planning marriage and kids.
Paul Knops
Paul Knops was VERY popular with the ladies when he was a late arrival into the villa (probably due to fact he'd appeared in Britney Spears video), but it was Laura who he coupled up with, finishing in second place.
Paul Knopps
After splitting with Laura just weeks after leaving the villa, Paul has continued to work as a model, showing off his good looks on his Instagram page.
We wonder if he features in any more of Britney Spears' music videos?
Kaz Crossley
After coupling up with Josh Denzel on the show, Kaz made it all the way to the final, with many fans wanting the couple to win ahead of Jack and Dani.
Kaz Crossley
Following her split from Josh, Kaz is well and truly living her best life, touring the world on modelling and clothing shoots. Just check out her Instagram to make yourself VERY jealous of her lifestyle.
Kaz revealed she was dating 2017 Islander Theo Campbell in April 2019, although he announced they'd split in February 2020. They later came face to face again on 2022's Celebrity Ex On The Beach.
Megan Barton-Hanson
Despite being unpopular when she first entered the Love Island villa, Megan Barton-Hanson was able to turn public perception around, leaving as one of the favourites alongside Wes Nelson.
Megan Barton-Hanson
Megan went on to bcomee a brand ambassador for PrettyLittleThing and took part on E4's Celebs Go Dating in 2019. She's also launched her own podcast called You Come First.
Following her split from Wes in January 2019, Megan came out as bisexual and has dated Demi Sims and Chelcee Grimes. She most recently dated TOWIE star James Lock after they met on Celebrity Ex On The Beach. They split after just a few months together.
Wes Nelson
It took him a while to settle during his time in the villa, but Wes Nelson eventually seemed smitten when he coupled up with Megan, with the pair making it to the final.
Wes Nelson
Wes was in demand when he left the Love Island villa, landing a spot on Dancing On Ice in January 2019. Despite impressing with his moves (and being linked to his partner Vanessa Bauer following his split from Megan), the star finished in second place. Wes dated 2019 Islander Arabella Chi after splitting from Megan, although they called it quits in in April 2020.
After appearing on The X Factor: Celebrity in a Love Island supergroup made up of Samira Mighty, Eyal Booker and Zara McDermott, Wes went solo and has become a fully-fledged popstar with major hits like See Nobody and Nice To Meet Ya.
Dr Alex George
Aww, Dr Alex! He stole the nation's hearts when he tried and continued to be pied in the villa, ending in him leaving the show as 'friends' with Alexandra Cane.
Dr Alex George
Dr Alex returned to his job at a London hospital, saving lives every day, and worked on the frontline of the NHS during the coronavirus pandemic.
After the tragic death of his younger brother Llŷr in July 2020, Alex began to campaign for mental health awareness and was appointed as a Mental Health Ambassador by the Prime Minister Boris Johnson. In May 2021, Dr Alex released his first self-help book called Live Well Every Day.
Jack Fowler
Despite leaving the villa with surfer girl Laura Crane, things fizzled out for Jack Fowler very quickly when they returned to the real world.
Jack Fowler
Jack appeared on Celebs Go Dating in 2019, although he was unable to find love. He regularly models for the likes of boohooMAN and ASOS and revealed in 2021 that he was launching a career as a DJ.
The former semi-pro footballer broke hearts across the nation in 2021 when he went public with girlfriend Joanna Baban Morales, although they've since quietly split with Jack confirming he's now single on Instagram.
Georgia Steel
Georgia Steel was like Marmite on the show, and eventually left the villa with Sam Bird, before their very sour split just months after the show ended.
Georgia Steel
After her sour split from Sam Bird, Georgia signed up to Celebs Go Dating (on the same series as Jack Fowler). Despite taking a very handsome man to the final show in Tenerife, nothing seemed to happen after the show. Georgia's also appeared on Celebrity Coach Trip and Ex on the Beach: Peak of Love.
During her time on the show, Georgia struck up a relationship with Ibiza Weekender star Callum Izzard and the pair got engaged after a whirlwind romance. Sadly, things just weren't meant to be and they split in April 2020 after just seven months.
Charlie Brake
Millionaire Charlie Brake swept Geordie girl Ellie Brown off her feet during his time in the villa, with the pair enjoying a number of luxurious holidays in the months following.
Charlie Brake
Just months later, Charlie was accused of 'cheating' on Ellie, and was also linked to TOWIE stars Ferne McCann and Amber Turner.
In other news, he's still a millionaire and appeared alongside his ex Ellie on Ex on the Beach in 2020.
Ellie Brown
Following her heartbreak after her romance with Charlie ended, Ellie Brown found comfort in her Love Island besties, including the likes of Zara McDermott, Adam Collard and Kaz Crossley.
Ellie Brown
She's now involved in a number of endorsements on her Instagram page, as well as attending events with her co-stars.
Ellie struck up an on/off romance with 2019 Islander Michael Griffiths after appearing on Celebrity Ex on the Beach, which reportedly caused a rift with her former friend and Michael's ex Amber Gill. In January 2021, Ellie received a six-month driving ban after pleading guilty to speeding at 101mph.
Samira Mighty
It took her a few weeks, but eventually Samira Mighty seemed to find happiness with late arrival Frankie Foster, with Samira leaving the villa after her man was dumped from the show.
Samira Mighty
Despite this, just weeks later, Samira dumped Frankie after he was caught cheating on her.
Now, Samira is still best friends with a number of her co-stars including Adam Collard and Dani Dyer, and she often posts super sizzling snaps of herself modelling on her Instagram page.
In 2019, Samira appeared on The X Factor: Celebrity in a Love Island supergroup made up of Zara McDermott, Eyal Booker and Wes Nelson.
Adam Collard
He was the heartbreak kid at the beginning of the series, gaining the 'player' title, but the public's view of Geordie boy Adam Collard soon changed when he turned smitten with Zara McDermott.
Adam Collard
Although they lasted nearly a year, Adam and Zara announced they'd split before Valentine's Day (brutal). The PT has been linked to a number of other woman since, including Harley Brash and Delilah Belle Hamlin, but he appears to be single right now.
Adam is keeping himself busy on modelling shoots at stunning destinations across the world, as well as promotional deals and his PT business.
Zara McDermott
She was the one girl who seemed to 'tame' Adam when she arrived in the villa, and despite leaving before her beau, Adam and Zara McDermott reunited when he left.
Zara McDermott
Zara is very active on her Instagram page, landing clothing deals with the likes of Missy Empire, AX Paris and Lasula.
In 2019, Zara appeared on The X Factor: Celebrity in a Love Island supergroup made up of Samira Mighty, Eyal Booker and Wes Nelson. It later came to light that she'd cheated on her boyfriend Sam Thompson during her time on the show and they briefly split before reuniting at the end of 2020.
After appearing on Made in Chelsea alongside Sam, Zara quit the E4 show in 2020 and wants to focus her efforts on other TV work after the success of her revenge porn documentary.
Eyal Booker
Despite having one of the best haircuts to ever grace the Love Island villa, poor old Eyal Booker left the show without finding love.
Eyal Booker
Don't feel too sorry for him though, as well as THAT snog with Kendall Rae-Knight at the Love Island Christmas reunion, Eyal appeared on Celebs Go Dating and dated American model Delilah Belle Hamlin for two years.
Work-wise, Eyal continues to use his handsome face and unreal physique to his advantage, picking up modelling deals left, right and centre.
In 2019, Eyal appeared on The X Factor: Celebrity in a Love Island supergroup made up of Samira Mighty, Zara McDermott and Wes Nelson.
Rosie Williams
Poor old Rosie Williams had her heart broken by Adam in the villa, resulting in her being dumped from the show far too early.
Rosie Williams
After failing to find love in the villa, Rosie was linked to footballer Harry Winks. She later went public with banker boyfriend Wayne Davies but they split after two years in December 2020.
Looking for a date? Why not give new dating site Coupling Up a go and say hello to date night quicker than you thought!
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