Sammy Root always knew Jess Harding was the one on 'Love Island'.
Jess Harding and Sammy Root discuss their strong relationship after winning Love Island
The 22-year-old project manager won the latest series of the ITV2 reality dating show with now-girlfriend Jess Harding, 22, towards the end of last month and explained that had they not endured some rocky patches on the show - during which they both "explored" with other contestants - they would not be as "strong" as they are now as a couple.
Speaking on ITV's 'Lorraine', he told stand-in host Christine Lampard: "Everyone makes mistakes, I made mistakes, Jess did, everyone did in there but at the same time, I wouldn't change a thing. At the end of the day, I was on 'Love Island', and me and Jess have known each other for a matter of weeks, which people forget. I explored. I was true to myself and explored everything possible. And after and during, it was still Jess the whole time.
"If it was smooth sailing, we probably wouldn't be so strong. We both tried other things and it made us realise we wanted each other. It's never smooth sailing for relationships on the outside."
During the Casa Amor stage of the series, Sammy had decided to couple up with Amber Wise and Jess explained that she had to put on a "brave face" to get through it.
In the joint interview, she said: "Do you know what? Like, I think the excitement of Casa Amor, it was exciting. But knowing that he was single and knowing full well that he was going to couple up with someone else, it was a bit disheartening but I tried and I knew what I wanted so that's why I came back on my own. I was true to myself and I can accept rejection, I prepared myself for the worst and put on a brave front."