If you watched Love Island Season 3 back in 2017, you weren't just watching for the tanning oil and the recouplings. You were watching for the rap battles. Specifically, the chaotic, high-energy, and surprisingly wholesome bond between Chris Hughes and Kem Cetinay.
It’s been years since they left the villa. In the world of reality TV, that’s a lifetime. Most "island friendships" dissolve before the plane even lands at Stansted. But Chris and Kem? They were different. People actually cared. They weren’t just two guys looking for a fast fashion deal; they were "Little Bit Leave It."
The industry tried to make them the next Ant and Dec. Seriously. For a while, it actually looked like it might happen. But then things got quiet.
The Villa Years: Where the Legend Started
Nobody expected the breakout stars of 2017 to be two blokes from Gloucestershire and Essex who spent their afternoons shaving each other's initials into their body hair. It sounds ridiculous now. It was ridiculous then.
Kem was the cheeky barber who won the show with Amber Davies. Chris was the sensitive "polar bear" who came third with Olivia Attwood. But the real winner was their partnership. They gave us the first true "bromance" of the modern Love Island era.
Remember the rapping? Stormzy famously tweeted about them. He even made a cameo via video link because he was such a fan of Chris’s bars. That’s when the hype went nuclear.
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Life After the Island: The Spin-offs and the Singles
As soon as the cameras stopped rolling in Mallorca, ITV2 pounced. They knew where the money was.
Within months, we got Chris & Kem: Straight Outta Love Island. It was a two-part documentary following their "musical journey." They actually signed a record deal with Sony’s Relentless Records. Their single, "Little Bit Leave It," peaked at number 15 on the UK Singles Chart. It was silly, catchy, and perfectly captured that 2017 zeitgeist.
Then came You vs. Chris & Kem. This was a game show where they took on challenges from the public. They were everywhere. At the National Television Awards, they were red carpet regulars.
Where Did It Go Wrong?
Honestly, nothing "went wrong" in the way people think. There wasn't some massive, dramatic fallout. Life just... happened.
Chris leaned heavily into sports. He’s now a staple of ITV Racing and has done massive work for BBC Sport’s coverage of The Hundred. He also became a huge advocate for men’s health after his live testicular exam on This Morning and the subsequent documentary Me, My Brother and Our Balls.
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Kem went the variety route. He did Dancing on Ice, became a backstage presenter for Love Island, and opened his own restaurant, Array. He’s a businessman now.
When your careers go in completely different directions—one to the racecourse and one to the studio—you stop spending 24 hours a day together. Fans started noticing they weren't posting "bromance" photos daily. The rumors started. People thought they hated each other.
Are Chris and Kem Still Friends in 2026?
The short answer? Yes. The long answer is that they are "real life" friends, not "Instagram friends."
In late 2025, they finally shut down the "split" rumors by reuniting for Kem’s 24-hour padel charity challenge. They still talk. They still support each other. But they aren't the 20-somethings in a villa anymore. Chris is now 33. Kem has his own lane.
The idea that they had to be a "duo" forever was a media invention. In reality, they've both said they talk regularly behind the scenes. They just don't feel the need to perform their friendship for the public every single day.
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The Recent Career Pivot
Chris recently made headlines again in early 2025 as a housemate on Celebrity Big Brother. It was a bit of a throwback for fans who missed his "Chris Hughes-isms." Meanwhile, reports have surfaced that the pair have actually been pitching a new TV show idea to production companies.
It turns out the "Chris and Kem" brand isn't dead. It's just matured.
What You Can Learn From the Chris & Kem Era
The Chris Kem Love Island phenomenon taught us a lot about how reality fame works. If you're looking for why they stayed relevant while others faded, here are the takeaways:
- Authenticity Wins: They didn't try to be "cool." They were vulnerable, cried on camera, and did stupid raps. People relate to that.
- Diversification is Key: Chris moved into specialized sports broadcasting (horse racing, cricket). Kem went into hospitality and mainstream presenting. Neither relied solely on "being an Islander."
- Boundaries Matter: They stopped making their friendship their entire personality. By stepping back from the "duo" image, they allowed themselves to grow as individuals, which ironically made their eventual reunions more impactful.
If you’re still holding out for "Little Bit Leave It Part 2," don't hold your breath for a grime career. But for a TV comeback? The door is definitely open. Keep an eye on ITV2's upcoming schedules, because the most successful bromance in reality history isn't finished yet.
To stay updated on their latest projects, follow Chris Hughes’s sports commentary on ITV or check out Kem Cetinay’s business ventures in the Essex food scene. You can also catch Chris’s recent stint on Celebrity Big Brother via streaming to see how much the "polar bear" has changed since his villa days.