István Vágó

István Vágó (born as István Vágó on 14 February 1949 in Budapest, Hungary) is a Hungarian television host and political activist,[1] best known as the host of "Legyen ön is Milliomos!" the Hungarian version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?.

István Vágó
Born (1949-02-14) February 14, 1949
Budapest, Hungary
NationalityHungarian
OccupationTelevision Host
TelevisionWho Wants to Be a Millionaire?
Spouse(s)Judit Vágó
ChildrenPéter

Life

Vágó was born and raised in Budapest. His original profession was a chemist, but he found a job working for Medimpex import-export company. Vágó speaks at least five languages.[2] When Vágó started his career he wanted to create a political show, but it was impossible to create one like he wanted (dealing with internal politics, analyzing decisions of the system) at the time so he ended up hosting quiz shows.[3] Vágó has been hosting various game shows, mostly quiz shows, since the '70s. He has become one of the more popular TV personalities in Hungary. He is usually known as "The Quiz Professor" by Hungarians. Vágó hosted Millionaire for several years; after a hiatus the show got back on the air in 2007,[4] with Vágó hosting the redesigned show once again. The second run proved less successful with an eventual cancellation in 2008.[3]

He was the host of MTV for 22 years, then he changed for TV2, then RTL Klub. In 2009, he was the host of TV2, then hosted a game show Átvágó, co-created by himself on Story4, which was cancelled after one season. Following the cancellation of Átvágó he announced his retirement as a television host.[2]

Politics and views

Vágó is an atheist and skeptic, and is the former president of the Hungarian Skeptic Society. He vocally supports the Hungarian left-wing, most notably former prime minister Ferenc Gyurcsány and the liberal SZDSZ party. He was present at antifascist[5] demonstrations. Vágó spawned controversy when he campaigned vocally for Ferenc Gyurcsány and health minister Ágnes Horváth. In 2014 he participated in the elections as a representative of the left wing, supporting Gyurcsány's party, Democratic Coalition.

In the 2014 municipal election, he ran as a candidate for local government as a joint candidate for the Democratic Coalition, the MSZP, the Co-PM, and the "European Federalists", though he told ATV that he did not understand local government politics.[6] According to its flyer program, it would introduce a fairer local tax, abolish toll parking at unjustified locations, and take over the building, the burial cemetery of St. John's Parish in Upper Christina City on Apor Vilmos Square, and make it a playhouse. to preserve Normafa and prevent any investment planned there.[7] In an interview with HVG, he spoke in favor of Ferenc Gyurcsány and said that he was working to make DK leader a challenge for Viktor Orbán .[8]

In January 2015, he joined the Democratic Coalition and became the leader of the party's media working group.[9]

As a member of the party's national presidency, DK XII. District Representative in September 2016, replacing Szabolcs Kerék-Bárczy, who left the party.[10]

Hobbies

Vágó plays the guitar since his early teens, and is the bassist of Hungarian band Favágók. He is a huge fan of The Beatles and Paul McCartney.[1]

Shows hosted by István Vágó

References
  1. "István Vágó". linkedin.com. Retrieved 2010-01-27.
  2. "A 100 legfontosabb magyar (Top 100 of the Most Important Hungarians)" (in Hungarian). haszon.hu. Archived from the original on 2009-11-10. Retrieved 2010-01-27.
  3. Vágó szerint jobb is, ha a Milliomos illúzióját romboljuk A longer article discussing the end of Millionaire 2008. április 23
  4. Újraindul a Legyen Ön is milliomos Index/MTI 2007 December 13.
  5. "Szombaton délelőtt roma és antifasiszta szervezetek képviselői álltak őrt az Ismeretlen katona emlékművénél, a Hősök terén" (in Hungarian). 2010-03-06.
  6. "Nem ért az önkormányzati politizáláshoz Vágó, de megtanulja". ATV (in Hungarian). 2014-08-30.
  7. "Vágó István is képviselő lesz?". Magyar Hírlap (in Hungarian). 2014-08-30.
  8. Kósa András (2014-08-30). "Vágó István: Fábry Sándor liberális, és ettől szenved". mno.hu (in Hungarian).
  9. "Demokratikus Koalíció" (in Hungarian). hirleso.hu. 2015-02-07. Archived from the original on 2015-02-07. Retrieved 2019-10-01.
  10. "Vágó István lett a DK XII. kerületi képviselője" (in Hungarian). 2016-09-21.
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