Hi guys – if you were reviewing 2017 for the Guardian, how many stars would you give it?

Kem Cetinay: Five stars (1)! It’s been overwhelming! I come from a traditional Turkish family, I used to work at a barber’s every day. Now everything’s changed completely and I love it.

Chris Hughes: I was working for a legal firm before, doing conveyancing, just an office nine to five. So yeah, it’s been a bit manic! Five stars (2), full marks!

While you were busy mugging off (3) rivals inside the Love Island villa, did you realise the show was becoming the most talked about thing in the UK?

Chris: No, you literally know nothing in there – you’re so in your own bubble. It wasn’t until we arrived in the airport that I realised. It was like we’d won the World Cup or something. It was mad.

Kem: I do remember some of the producers saying at the time: “You don’t realise how big it is this year,” but I was just like “nah”!

You two were known for building a bromance that often seemed stronger than the romances you made inside the villa. Could anything ever tear you apart?

Chris: (Glumly) That would be shit.

Kem: But I don’t think it could happen. We never really have any arguments.

Chris: That’s what people find so weird. We’ve known each other so long now (4) but we don’t argue.

This year was full of weird events – but was the weirdest the fact that you both had a top-15 grime hit in the UK (5)?

Kem: I mean … we’re not necessarily rappers, are we? I remember the day it was released – I looked on iTunes and it was at No 1 for a bit! You have to pinch yourself sometimes to stop yourself laughing.

Chris: I think if you’d told me I’d release a single of anything, I’d have thought it was a dream. And it’s a really good single, which is why I think it justifiably went to No 15. We’re proud of our efforts.

You got into a serious rap beef with Lethal Bizzle over Little Bit Leave It (6)

Kem: I think people took that a lot more serious than it is. It was all a bit of banter and that’s why I didn’t really say anything back because I’m a big fan of his. To retaliate would have been unnecessary.

Could you take him on in a rap battle?

Chris: Nah, I’d give that one a miss.

Kem: He’s got too much in his locker. We’ve only got one song!

Chris: I saw Bizzle at the premiere for Daddy’s Home 2 actually. Decent guy. We idolise all these people – they’re like the all-stars of grime.

Kem: I’m seeing him tonight at a Christmas party!

Have you made friends with lots of grime stars?

Kem: I’ve got all their numbers! I talk to Yungen all the time – he invites me to shows! And I met up with Bugzy Malone in Dubai when we were out there. That was weird. We were having a meal and Anthony Joshua walked in and came and sat with us. I thought: “I don’t know whether to play it cool, or jump on him and give him a hug.” Obviously, I went for the second option!

Stormzy revealed himself to be a huge Love Island fan (7) – are you in touch?

Chris: I bump into him at occasions. You end up being invited to lots of similar events. I always say hello when I see him.

Kem: He does tweet me quite a lot actually. I still get just as excited as I did at the beginning. I’m still a fanboy – I get in my family group chat to let them know each time!

Kem, you won £50,000 for winning Love Island with Amber Davies – how did you spend it?

Kem: To be fair, I haven’t spent much – I’ve been too busy! And I’m not an extravagant spender anyway. Although my tour manager is shouting: “He’s spent it all on BLTs.” I do love a bacon, lettuce and tomato.

You recently split with Amber. Was it hard to keep a normal relationship up outside of the villa?

Kem: It’s never gonna be a completely normal relationship, but we did try. We just did normal things like date nights, spending time with my family, and watching Christmas films together. I like to start watching Christmas films early – from November at least (8)!

Have you stayed friends?

Kem: Yeah. It ended on good terms. I know a lot of relationships end badly, but I think if you care about someone it should be done in the proper way. We’re still close to each other’s families. And I always make sure I keep an eye on whatever she’s doing. I think we were at different stages in our lives and careers. I constantly wanted to do more. I think she kinda just wanted to relax.

Did you have more arguments with your partners inside the villa or outside?

Kem: Probably in the villa, ’cos you’re on top of each other 24/7, and when you come out, there’s so much going on all the time.

Chris: I’d say inside the villa, too. In the villa everything was very abnormal. At any moment someone can come in and steal your girlfriend, so it kind of throws you emotionally a bit. But outside, we try to keep arguments to a minimum – which isn’t easy because we’re both quite fiery people.

How did your families react to seeing you getting sexy on screen?

Kem: (Laughing) When I got out, my mum said that every time that (9) would happen, she put her face behind a pillow. She said: “You were the Kem that we know – a bit mad – and everyone loved you.”

So what’s coming up in 2018?

Chris: I’ve got a project in the works with ITV. But I can’t say anything more about that right now.

Kem: I’ve been training for Dancing on Ice – putting in the extra hours. I just want to get my personality across as much as I can in my routine. I know I’m not going to be the best skater, but if I can give it a Kem touch I might stand a chance.

What does a “Kem touch” mean when it comes to figure skating?

Kem: To be fair I don’t know! I’ll just do it on the night and see what people think of my moves.

OK, last question – will there be any more grime singles from you guys in 2018?

Kem: Ha ha, I think I’ll have to be honest here and say … probably not!

Footnotes

1 Quite literally the same as The Velvet Underground and Nico.

2 For Chris, the tumultuous months of 2017 are up there with Citizen Kane.

3 Get with the lingo, Grandad!

4 Has any friendship ever lasted as long as this unbreakable bond (six months)?

5 Little Bit Leave It went to No 15 in the UK charts.

6 Bizzle claimed they borrowed his phrase, and ended up getting a writing credit.

7 Such was his fandom, he even Skyped into the live show to give MCing advice.

8 Note to Kem: this is not that normal.

9 Kem is of course referring to bowling, which his mum simply can’t stand.