'Thank you for making this happen': Zayn Malik praises fans as he becomes the first UK artist to debut at the top of the US charts with his track Pillowtalk

Leaving the most successful boyband on the planet was a huge gamble.

But it appears to have paid off for Zayn Malik as the the singer's debut release Pillowtalk has reached the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100.

Thrilled with the result, the former One Direction singer, 23, took to Twitter on Sunday to write: 'What is gwaning :) !! I can't explain the love and gratitude i feel today, thank you for making this happen'

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Setting records: Impressively, Zayn Malik, 23, is the first ever UK artist to debut at the top of the US chart

Setting records: Impressively, Zayn Malik, 23, is the first ever UK artist to debut at the top of the US chart

And in a statement, he said: 'Thank you to all my fans and supporters, we have achieved this together and I am grateful.'

The sexy R&B track is also top of the On Demand Songs charts, the U.S. Digital Songs Chart, and the UK singles sales chart. The song has sat atop Spotify’s global chart since its release on January 29.

In its first week, 267,000 downloads were sold in the US and it was streamed 22.3 million times.

Impressively, the Bradford-born star is the first ever UK artist to debut at the top of the US chart and only the third to hit the summit straight from release, alongside Adele's Hello and Elton John's Candle in the Wind.

See Zayn Malik updates as he becomes the 1st UK artist to debut at the top of the US charts

Over the moon: Thrilled with the result, the former One Direction singer, 22, took to Twitter on Sunday to thank his fans

Over the moon: Thrilled with the result, the former One Direction singer, 22, took to Twitter on Sunday to thank his fans

Pillowtalk, was trending worldwide within minutes of it dropping on Zayn's official Twitter page in the early hours of the morning of January 29.

And although he received stick for leaving the 1D boys - Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan and Liam Payne - in the middle of a world tour last March, all seems to be forgiven as the song reached no.1 in no less than 60 countries on iTunes on the day it was released.

Zayn, 23, was evidently overwhelmed with the outpouring of support the song accumulated over the day and expressed his gratitude on Twitter, before boasting about 20-year-old Gigi's super-sexy appearance in the video.

'Blown away': The former One Direction star admitted he was overwhelmed by the wildly positive reception his track had received 

'Blown away': The former One Direction star admitted he was overwhelmed by the wildly positive reception his track had received 

In a series of tweets, he wrote: 'Crazy love today :). This s**t is crazy ... I can't believe it. Blown away... Love you all.' 

The Bradford-born solo artist then directly asked Gigi: '@GiGiHadid you seen the video babe? Someone's looking,' alongside a perfect-hand-gesture and a tongue-out Emoji.

She responded in an equally gushing manner, writing: 'Nah musta missed it. Jokes.. I wasn't looking at myself, trust me,' accompanied by love-heart-eyes and many flame Emojis.

See Zayn Malik updates as his new single Pillowtalk reaches no.1 in 60 countries

Sealed with a kiss: Zayn, 23, smooches Gigi, 20, in the music video for his first solo single, despite having never confirmed the pair are dating themselves

Sealed with a kiss: Zayn, 23, smooches Gigi, 20, in the music video for his first solo single, despite having never confirmed the pair are dating themselves

Going public: After months of keeping coy about their relationship, the duo were all too happy to compliment each other on Twitter

Going public: After months of keeping coy about their relationship, the duo were all too happy to compliment each other on Twitter

'Have you seen the video babe?': Zayn outrightly asked Gigi on Twitter, hours after its release 

'Have you seen the video babe?': Zayn outrightly asked Gigi on Twitter, hours after its release 

'Someone's looking...': The Bradford-born singer boasted about how hot his model-of-the-moment girlfriend looks in the video 

'Someone's looking...': The Bradford-born singer boasted about how hot his model-of-the-moment girlfriend looks in the video 

They can't get enough: The clip largely consists of the pair gearing up to kiss, before sporadically locking lips

They can't get enough: The clip largely consists of the pair gearing up to kiss, before sporadically locking lips

The tweets would've understandably hit a nerve with the singer's ex-fiancée Perrie Edwards whom he dumped last summer.

Rubbing salt in the wound, he has hinted the track is based on the couple's doomed relationship which didn't come to an amicable end.

Zayn sparked speculation the song - which is all about being intimate in the bedroom - is a nod to the Little Mix singer after telling Apple Music's Beats 1 host Zane Lowe that he started writing and recording his upcoming album, Mind of Mine, two months after his split from One Direction, when he was still engaged to Perrie.

Thanks for the inspo: Zayn sparked speculation the song - which is all about being intimate in the bedroom - is a nod to his ex Perrie Edwards after telling Apple Music's Beats 1 host Zane Lowe that he started writing and recording his upcoming album, Mind of Mine, two months after his split from One Direction, when he was still engaged to Perrie

Thanks for the inspo: Zayn sparked speculation the song - which is all about being intimate in the bedroom - is a nod to his ex Perrie Edwards after telling Apple Music's Beats 1 host Zane Lowe that he started writing and recording his upcoming album, Mind of Mine, two months after his split from One Direction, when he was still engaged to Perrie

His latest track features some particularly raunchy lyrics, including: 'F**king you and fighting on, it's our paradise and it's our war zone. In your bed all day, bed all day, bed all day.'

And it's believed Perrie, 22, could have inspired more than just one song on the album as many have also claimed that Wrong, which Zayn - who still has a tattoo of his ex on his arm - says is 'all about looking in the wrong place for love', is also about the Geordie popstar.

Meanwhile, Gigi and Zayn let their actions speak louder than words in the racy new music video for his highly-anticipated first solo single.

 Only the best will do: The video was directed by filmmaker Bouha Kazmi, who was also behind Jay Z's Onto The Next One

 Only the best will do: The video was directed by filmmaker Bouha Kazmi, who was also behind Jay Z's Onto The Next One

It must be love: Things certainly appear to have been heating up quickly for the gorgeous celebrity duo

It must be love: Things certainly appear to have been heating up quickly for the gorgeous celebrity duo

The pair leave no doubt about their relationship status as the video sees them get up close and personal before passionately kissing each other on the lips at various points. 

The video was directed by filmmaker Bouha Kazmi, who was also behind Jay Z's Onto The Next One. 

Zayn recently told FADER of his new single: 'Once they hear it, I feel like they will understand me a little bit more.

'For 10 years, this album has been in my brain, and it's just been there, sat with me, needing to be out.' 

She's not shy: Gigi shows off her stunning model figure in various skimpy outfits in the clip

She's not shy: Gigi shows off her stunning model figure in various skimpy outfits in the clip

Locking lips: Gigi exhales smoke into Zayn's mouth as they get up close and personal in the Pillowtalk video

Locking lips: Gigi exhales smoke into Zayn's mouth as they get up close and personal in the Pillowtalk video

Reflections: Zayn and Gigi get close as their image waves across the screen

Reflections: Zayn and Gigi get close as their image waves across the screen

Zayn candidly told The Sunday Times the song is all about sex - a subject clearly close to his heart as he explained: ‘I think I’m pretty black and white about what it’s about. Everybody has sex, and it’s something people want hear about.

'It’s part of everybody’s life, a very BIG part of life! And you don’t want to sweep it under the carpet. It has to be talked about.'

Zayn is expected to release his first solo album - under RCA records - in March. 

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