Will Sanam and Kai defy the Love Island winners curse?

Sanam Harrinanan and Kai Fagan have been crowned winners of winter Love Island 2023 after viewers fell in love with their connection on-screen.

After eight weeks of drama, viewers picked the social worker and PE teacher – who fell for one another during Casa Amor – as their champions.  

But winning the show, and a cool £50k prize, doesn’t mean it will be smooth sailing for the couple.

In fact, of the eight couples who have won the programme, just three have remained together following their appearance (and one of those couples also split up for a brief time before reuniting). 

Among those who have broken up following the show are 2019’s Amber and Greg, who split weeks after they won, and 2018 winners Jack and Dani, who was seen kissing her ex-boyfriend less than a month after the split.

But is there a winners curse? Here FEMAIL reveals all the couples who have gone on to break up after winning the nation’s hearts on the programme. 

SEASON 7 – 2021

MILLIE COURT AND LIAM REARDON

RELATIONSHIP LENGTH AFTER LOVE ISLAND: One year

Millie Court and Leam Reardon scooped the 50K prize fund after viewers voted them favourites despite Liam playing away during the show’s Casa Amor twist.

Welshman Liam managed to win Millie back after he kissed and grew close to Casa Amor bombshell Lillie Haynes.

Millie was left stunned after she was confronted by the revelation during the dramatic Casa Amor recoupling, where Lillie exposed Liam for his wrongdoings.

Liam and Millie won the show with a massive 42 per cent of the vote and he asked her to be his girlfriend during the live final.

The couple even admitted they were thinking about wedding plans, as Millie said: ‘The proposal is going to have to be massive’, with Liam adding: ‘It’s going to be huge. I’m sure I can pull it out of the bag. I’m sure I can do it.’

And they seemed to go from strength to strength, as Liam revealed at the end of October that they had found the ‘perfect’ first home together.

However at the start of 2022, the couple were largely absent from each other’s social media pages.

The couple broke their silence after weeks of split rumours as they were seen together for the first time in an Instagram video.

But in March, Liam was nowhere to be seen as Millie attended her shoe launch with EGO alone.

2021: Millie Court and Leam Reardon scooped the 50K prize fund after viewers voted them favourites despite Liam playing away during the show’s Casa Amor twist. However they split a year later 

Shocking: Things took a dramatic turn for the couple after Casa Amor when Liam met bombshell Lillie Haynes – but the duo still managed to win the show 

Lillie appeared during the recoupling to share the details of her brief romance with the Welsh native, admitting she was shocked he hadn’t picked her to come back to the villa 

He also left fans confused when he said he had ‘nothing to wake up for’ following winning the ITV2 reality show.

‘I’ve been put into Essex, no family no friends. Obviously, I’m with Millie, which is good… I’d wake up, but have nothing to wake up for,’ he told Heat podcast.

They shared joint announcements in July 2022 to reveal they have decided to separate and have moved out of their shared home.

They called it quits after growing apart in recent months, while they both pursued individual work opportunities. 

A source close to the couple told MailOnline: ‘It’s been really hard for both Millie and Liam to come to this decision.

‘There has been no drama or wrongdoing and they both still fully support each other and will remain close friends.

‘They have moved out of the Essex home they shared together and are now looking forward to the future.’  

SEASON 5 – 2019

AMBER GILL AND GREG O’SHEA 

RELATIONSHIP LENGTH AFTER LOVE ISLAND: 39 days 

2019: Amber Gill and Greg O’Shea were crowned winners having only known one another for two weeks 

Amber Gill and Greg O’Shea met towards the end of the show after she was sidelined by her previous love interest, Michael Griffiths, who began dating Casa Amour newcomer, Joanna Chimonides. They have since split.

Greg appeared to be a true gentleman and a breath of fresh air for Amber which made him an instant fan favourite.

The couple – who got together just two weeks prior – beat Tommy Fury and Molly-Mae Hague, who had been seeing one another for 54 days. 

Days after winning, Amber spoke about the struggles she and Greg faced making their long-distance relationship work.

After the show, Amber flew to Ireland to visit her beau – but within a month, they had decided to call it quits 

Speaking on This Morning shortly after their win she admitted she was under no illusion that it’ll be easy to maintain her relationship with Greg once she returned home to Newcastle and he resides in Ireland.

However by September, the couple had split. Amber was said to be ‘devastated’ as the Irish hunk reportedly dumped her by text and she had no idea it was coming. 

She went on to claim Greg dumped her by text during an appearance on Loose Women in September 2019.

She told the panel: ‘From my point of view I kind of still wanted to make it work and there was a call a few days prior, just chatting not specifically to do with that but definitely on that day it was like a text.’

However making an appearance on The Late, Late Show, Greg broke his silence on his split from Amber, denying he dumped her over a text message and said the distance between them, as well as their busy careers, caused the separation. 

Five weeks after the finale, Love Island 2019 champions Amber and Greg announced they had broken up 

He said: ‘So we’re mad about each other, what’s not to be mad about? She’s gorgeous, smart, funny, she’s the Queen of Love Island for a reason but you need to be realistic about the situation.’

Greg added that both he and Amber have their hands full with work and as such don’t have time for a committed relationship.

He said: ‘She lives in the UK, every brand wants to work with her, every event wants her there, of course she deserves all of it and I decided to come back to Ireland and do my thing here.

‘I’m trying to get to the Olympics with the sevens team, I’ve got my law exams coming up so we’re both so jam-packed busy and you need to take these opportunities by the scruff of the neck.

‘So we’re kind of just being realistic about the situation and protecting our careers and that’s where we are at the moment.’

He later said he and Amber mutually agreed over FaceTime to end their relationship because he wanted to continue his career as a rugby player, while the Geordie aspired to move to London after she became inundated with clothing and endorsement deals.

They currently hold the record for the shortest ever relationship had from winning the show, as they split after just 39 days.  

SEASON 4 – 2018 

JACK FINCHAM AND DANI DYER  

RELATIONSHIP LENGTH AFTER LOVE ISLAND: Five months 

2018: Jack Fincham and Dani Dyer famously refrained from having sex in the Love Island villa and then went on to win the nation’s hearts as Jack sweetly asked her to be his girlfriend

Jack Fincham and Dani Dyer famously refrained from having sex in the Love Island villa and then went on to win the nation’s hearts as Jack sweetly asked her to be his girlfriend.

Days after leaving, Jack told The Sun: ‘We’re getting married next year, 100 per cent.

‘Like my mum said to me so many times, ‘When you know about someone, you just know.’ 

‘And now I know what she’s talking about. I just know that that’s what we want to do.’ 

They went on to move into their own flat in Canary Wharf in August 2018.

But according to The Sun, the reality stars were drawn apart by their hectic schedules.

A source told the publication: ‘When they left the villa they really thought they would stay together forever, but reality soon set in and things started to get strained.’

It continued: ‘They came out to a whirlwind of publicity and after a while, things started to get to them and the cracks appeared.

‘They are both incredibly busy and they have decided to call time on their romance.’

Jack hinted at strife in his relationship with Dani in an interview given to MailOnline in December 2018, before the split was announced.

He indicated the pair’s romance had entered choppy waters when he backtracked on his previous vow to wed the brunette beauty within a year.

He told MailOnline: ‘Marriage is not something we’ve thought about yet. Before we can even speak about that, we’d like to buy a house together first.

‘We haven’t really thought about kids either, but I’d like a boy and a girl, and I’d give them another little Sandy (their new bulldog) too.’  

And the next day, the couple had split. Dani announced the end of the couple’s relationship in an emotional Instagram post, admitting their romance ‘just wasn’t meant to be long-term.’

Jack and Dani announced they had split in December 2018, before getting back together – and splitting for a second time in April 2019 

Danny Dyer’s daughter wrote on social media: ‘Jack & I have sadly decided to part ways. It’s been an incredible six months, and we will always have a place in our hearts for each other, but sadly we’ve come to the realisation that it’s not meant to be long-term.’

Dani continued in her statement: ‘We both plan to stay friends. I hope you’ll all understand. Love Dani x.’

Days later, the couple insisted they were back together again as Dani put their split down to ‘being in the public eye’ as she told fans she was just ‘a normal girl trying to grow into a woman’.

Following the reunion Dani and Jack were hit by claims that their split was for commercial reasons, something they both strongly denied, as it was ahead of the Love Island Christmas Reunion, their own spin-off series and their joint hosting duties at the National Television Awards. 

By April, Jack revealed that they had split – and within weeks, Dani appeared to be over the breakup, as she was spotted kissing her stockbroker ex Sammy Kimmence in public

Two months later, the couple reportedly moved out of the luxury flat they had been sharing after Jack admitted to abusing cocaine. 

In an interview, Dani acknowledged the challenges when they first left the villa. 

She said: ‘When we first came out of Love Island, we moved into a flat together and we started filming [our own] show. 

‘It was sort of way too much and our flat became a work home. It was really hard because we weren’t having those exciting times where you miss each other…’

By April, Jack revealed that they had split – and within weeks, Dani appeared to be over the breakup, as she was spotted kissing her stockbroker ex Sammy Kimmence in public.  

Jack later said he ‘didn’t know’ if he’d ever been in love with Dani during an appearance on Celebs Go Dating. 

He said: ‘If we had lived in Love Island forever, we’d have been fine. We rushed it straight away, we moved in together. I did want to [move in with her] but I wish we had waited.

‘I let her rush me a little bit. We had a genuine connection in there and I think anyone can see that. Honestly, and I mean this, I wish her all the happiness in the world.’

SEASON 3 – 2017 

AMBER DAVIES AND KEM CETINAY 

RELATIONSHIP LENGTH AFTER LOVE ISLAND: Four months 

Amber Davies and Kem Cetinay were crowned the winners of the third season and at the time spoke of their desire to marry one another 

Amber Davies, who was previously a dancer, entered the house in the first instance and was paired with Kem Cetinay straight away, although their relationship was marred with ups and downs when new stars entered the show.

The couple were crowned the winners of the third season and at the time, Amber said: ‘When you get to know someone it’s so different.

‘Type is nothing now. Paper means nothing.’ 

The Essex boy went on: ‘We were rocky at that point and we weren’t really together. I was pushing everything away’, before Amber said: ‘I was so happy to see him.’

However it wasn’t to be, and as soon as they left the villa, their romance was rocked by reports of arguments prompted by their hectic work schedules

Meanwhile Kem insisted: ‘I’ve found my future wife.’

SEASON 2 – 2016  

CARA DE LA HOYDE AND NATHAN MASSEY  

RELATIONSHIP LENGTH AFTER LOVE ISLAND: 10 months (before getting back together) 

Cara De La Hoyde and Nathan Massey split 10 months after winning the reality show – but later got back together 

Having set eyes on one another in the very first episode of the second season, Cara De La Hoyde and Nathan Massey were instantly connected and remained the longest standing couple in the series – leading to their win of the show and a whopping £50,000.

However it was less than a year later that rumours began to swirl that they were on the rocks. 

In January 2017, Cara was snapped throwing a glass of water into Nathan’s face while on holiday in Gran Canaria. 

Sources at the time told The Sun: ‘Nathan and Cara have always had a fiery relationship with plenty of ups and downs. But their latest bust-up is their biggest yet and it’ll be tough for them to come back from this.’ 

Two months later, Cara was forced to quash reports stemming from ‘a close friend’ stating that the pair had parted away shortly after they spoke to this week’s Ok! Magazine about their union, admitting while they are ‘not perfect’ they are very happy.

She said: ‘People scrutinise us and sometimes you feel the pressure to be a perfect couple. But we are just two people who have been thrust into the spotlight and, like any couple, we do argue; we’re not perfect.’ 

In April, the couple confirmed they had split. A source told The Sun, the former lovebirds were rowing over ‘silly things’, with an insider revealing: ‘They’ve both mutually agreed to call it quits.’ 

‘It hasn’t been an easy decision but in the end they decided things would be better apart,’ the source continued about the pair who reigned victorious on the dating show with their playful banter and fiery passion.

However, it wasn’t long before romance appeared to blossom between the two once more. 

Cara revealed they were expecting a baby together in the summer. 

And they announced they had got back together in November 2017. 

They welcomed a son, Freddie, and a daughter, Delilah and have since tied-the-knot. 

They are now one of the longest standing couples from the show.  

However it wasn’t to be, and as soon as they left the villa, their romance was rocked by reports of arguments prompted by their hectic work schedules. 

Insiders revealed Kem – who was busy training for the upcoming new series of Dancing on Ice, and Amber had had a string of furious rows, made worse by the fact they were living together in Essex. 

They even blocked one another on social media following an argument. 

A source told The Sun at The Time: ‘They have been arguing a lot recently and things finally came to a head.

‘Amber was out with some of the girls from ‘Love Island’ — Olivia Attwood and Georgia Harrison — so blocked Kem on social media to try and enjoy a stress free evening.

‘It was just a silly argument — Kem even sent Amber some flowers to make things right again between them. 

They continued: ‘They’ve been at each other’s necks for the past month. 

‘They’ve been living on top of each other and clashed over the smallest things.

‘They’ve been at each other’s necks for the past month. They’ve been living on top of each other and clashed over the smallest things.

‘It’s also been very hard for them to see each other with their hectic schedules. They tried to make it work but realised they want different things and being together was too tough.’

They ended up splitting four months after winning the  show, in December 2017. 

Confirming the split in a statement at the time, they said: ‘With sadness, we’ve decided to separate. We fell in love in the villa and want to thank all the fans of the show for supporting us.

 ‘Our schedules made it difficult. We’ll remain good friends.’

Kem later said: ‘Amber was my first love. It was me that called it a day, but I think Amber felt the same. Things couldn’t go on the way it was. She will always hold a soft spot for me in my heart.’

Meanwhile Amber confessed she had struggled with the break up at first, adding: ‘It was a case of the right person at the wrong time.’ 

SEASON 1 – 2015 

MAX MORLEY AND JESS HAYNES 

RELATIONSHIP LENGTH AFTER LOVE ISLAND: Six weeks 

The first season of Love Island aired in the summer of 2015, sparking an obsession across the nation which has continued for the past seven years. 

Jess Hayes and Max Morley were announced as the winners of the show on July 16, 2015. 

Speaking straight after the final, Jess confirmed to The Mirror that there was very little romance involved: ‘We have a laugh together but we are not madly in love or anything like that.’

And taking a pragmatic view of her relationship with the athlete, she added: ‘We are not going to move in together or anything like that – it’s a bit soon.

‘I’ve been in a long-distance relationship before and I think they can work out better sometimes. Anyway, I travel a lot with my job.’

It wasn’t long before cracks began to show in their blossoming romance, with the pair pictured entering into a very public explosive argument outside their London hotel, one week after returning to the UK. 

Max was even romantically linked to single TOWIE star Jess Wright during the weeks that followed the reality show climax.

2015: Jess Hayes and Max Morley were announced as the winners of the show on July 16 (right) 

Speaking straight after the final, Jess confirmed that there was very little romance involved in their relationship 

Essex girl Jess and Max raised eyebrows when they caught a cab together after a night out in London and were even seen piling out of Nobu together later that week.

It was just under six weeks after walking away with the £50k prize money that the duo revealed that things didn’t work out. 

Including the hashtag that merges their names and a broken heart emoji, Jess wrote: ‘Some things are just not meant to be… #LoveIsland #JAX’.

AND THE COUPLES WHO HAVE DEFIED THE CURSE…

SEASON SEVEN – 2020 

PAIGE TURLEY AND FINN TAPP 

RELATIONSHIP LENGTH AFTER LOVE ISLAND: Two years

2020: The couple who defied the curse: Paige and Finn were the winners of the first winter series of the dating programme in South Africa in 2020.

Paige and Finn were the winners of the first winter series of the dating programme in South Africa in 2020.

Shortly after they were crowned champions of the show, the world shut down amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

Finn moved into Paige’s family home in Scotland, where they isolated together during lockdowns. 

She later said this had been helpful in terms of their relationship, revealing: ‘I think Finn and I have kept trying to look at it as though it’s like a blessing in disguise for us. It gave us time to just work each other out. 

Our relationship started off really silly so it’s been nice to just stop and pause for a minute, for us to just have time to be us really.’

She jokingly added: ‘If he can put up with me through lockdown then… I need to take my hat off to him! It’s been good, it’s been nice.’

They moved into their Manchester flat in July 2020. Their swish apartments boasts three bedrooms and three bathrooms, floor to ceiling windows and a gym complex.

Last year, Finn revealed ‘there’s no question in his mind’ that he will marry Paige, he also teased that he has been thinking about proposing to his girlfriend.

SEASON EIGHT – 2022 

DAVIDE SANCLIMENTI AND EKIN_SU CULCULOGLU 

RELATIONSHIP LENGTH AFTER LOVE ISLAND: Eight months 

Love Island star Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu was crowned the winner of the 2022 series with her beau Davide Sanclimenti, and the couple were quickly tipped to become some of the show’s highest earners in history

Love Island star Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu was crowned the winner of the 2022 series with her beau Davide Sanclimenti, and the couple were  quickly tipped to become some of the show’s highest earners in history.

She arrived on the third day of the villa, and it was clear from the start that she had caught the eye of Italian hunk Davide, with the pair enjoying a cosy date.

But it wasn’t plain sailing for the couple, as the arrival of Jay Younger turned Ekin-Su’s head, and she famously crawled across the balcony so they could enjoy a secret smooch, while she and Davide were coupled up.

Unsurprisingly Davide was furious when he learned the truth, branding Ekin-Su a ‘liar’ in one of the viral moments of the series, and broke off their romance.

While it seemed the couple weren’t going to be able to rebuild their romance, the pair couldn’t deny their spark, and after a first date together in a vineyard, began to get their relationship back on track.

By the show’s final weeks, Ekin-Su and Davide were on the brink of making their relationship official, with the hunk making her a tiramisu with the message ‘Be mine,’ followed by a memorable final date where he confessed his love for the first time.

Since then, the couple’s relationship appears to have gone from strength to strength, with the pair moving in together in London and going on to star in their own travel show. 

However they have been dogged with rumours that their relationship is fake.

In February, during an interview with The Sun’s Fabulous Magazine, Davide said: ‘Those who have seen us in real life cannot believe anyone would think we are fake.’ 

Ekin-Su nodded in agreement and added: ‘Our relationship is between two people, not the world.

‘We don’t need to prove to anyone that we are real. I believe the less you show on social media, the healthier the relationship is.’

Weeks later, the pair sparked engagement rumours as they posed for very loved-up snaps during their Maldives getaway.

Davide posted the host of pictures to his Instagram grid and gushed about falling in love in an accompanying caption.

He wrote: ‘They told me that to make her fall in love; I had to make her laugh. But every time she laughs, I’m the one who falls in love.’