The popular game show “Es mīlu tevi, Latvija!” has returned to television screens, airing on LTV1 and REplay.lv on Saturdays at 21.10 following its premiere on October 24. The production now features actress Zane Daudziņa as host, alongside team captains Gints Grāvelis and Andris Bulis, drawing both praise and nostalgia from viewers during its transition from its former home on TV3.
Hosting Dynamics and Team Captains
Reflecting on her new role, Daudziņa noted that while she previously participated as a contestant with a strong competitive spirit, stepping into the hosting position magnified those emotions tenfold. It’s very exciting and interesting! Now I have to control not only my own actions, but also manage the entire playing field,
she stated, adding that she began feeling completely at home by the second game despite exhausting recording hours. Describing her team captains, she remarked, They are like exploding dynamite!
Daudziņa shares a personal connection with the duo; Bulis is her student, and she previously acted alongside Grāvelis as a couple in a few episodes of The price of madness.
In the opening episodes, Andris Bulis leads a team featuring singer and Smart, even smarter
host Katō, Latvian Radio 2 personality and Heart song
host Velga Vītola, and radio personality Jānis Šipkēvics senior. Meanwhile, Gints Grāvelis captains a squad comprising Latvijas Radio producer Baiba Runce, singer and producer Elīna Fūrmane, and hockey player Kaspars Daugaviņš. The competition tests participants on Latvian history, culture, and notable figures, alongside lip-reading tasks and fast-paced team coordination.
Audience Reception and Format Changes
The show’s move to Latvian Television has sparked considerable viewer discussion online. The previous iterations on TV3 were hosted by Artūrs Skrastiņš, alongside team captains Valters Krauze and Jana Duļevska, as reported by la.lv. While some audience members on platforms like Threads and X praised the Saturday night entertainment—noting positively that the broadcast airs without commercial breaks—others expressed lingering nostalgia for the former hosts and initial unfamiliarity with Daudziņa’s style.
Other Professional Pursuits
Alongside her television hosting commitments, Daudziņa has expanded her acting work into dramatic theater after thirty years focused primarily on the comedy genre. Alvis Hermanis invited her to portray Nele in Inga Ābele’s play Windmill
at the New Riga Theater, marking a return to the stage where she originally studied under Juris Rijnieks’s actor course.
The Ongoing Puzzle of Viewer Reception
While online commentators continue to debate the transition, the fundamental question remains open: whether the revamped format and new personnel can permanently secure the loyalty of audiences accustomed to the long-running previous era, or if the nostalgic pull of the former teams will ultimately dictate the show’s reception.
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