They were basically the ultimate reality TV power couple. For five years, Sam Thompson and Zara McDermott were inseparable, navigating everything from Made in Chelsea drama to a massive cheating scandal that almost ended it all in 2020. But by January 2025, the honeymoon was officially over. If you’ve been following the news, you know it wasn't just a "break." It was a full-blown, separate-Christmases, therapy-required ending that left fans pretty devastated.
It's 2026 now, and the landscape has changed. Sam is leaning into his "single man with cats" era, while Zara has been making headlines with a new high-profile romance. Honestly, it’s kinda wild how fast things shifted. One minute they’re posting about being soulmates, and the next, they’re living completely separate lives.
Why the relationship finally hit a wall
Most people think celebrity breakups are always about some big secret or a massive fight. Sometimes that’s true. But with Sam Thompson and Zara McDermott, it seems like the reality was way more mundane—and relatable. They simply grew apart.
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While Sam was off winning I’m A Celebrity and becoming the "King of the Jungle," his career exploded. He was everywhere. From hosting This Morning segments to his massive Staying Relevant podcast with Pete Wicks, he didn't have much time left for a domestic life. Meanwhile, Zara was busy filming hard-hitting BBC documentaries like Stalked and Thailand: The Dark Side of Paradise.
A source close to the couple basically said 2024 was just too tough. They were working so hard on their individual projects that they became "ships in the night." By the time the 2024 festive season rolled around, the cracks were too wide to ignore. Sam spent New Year’s Eve with his old Chelsea crew like Reza Amiri-Garroussi, while Zara stayed home with the cats, Albus and Cedric.
The cheating scandal that never really went away
We have to talk about the elephant in the room. You probably remember those gut-wrenching scenes on Made in Chelsea where Zara was crying on a park bench, begging for forgiveness. She’d admitted to cheating during her time on X Factor: Celebrity in 2019. Sam eventually forgave her, but some insiders claim the trust was never 100% restored.
It’s a tough thing to move past. Even when things look perfect on Instagram, that kind of history stays in the back of your mind. By the end of 2024, friends suggested that Sam’s sister, Louise Thompson, never really got over it either. It’s hard to build a "forever" future when the foundation has those kinds of deep cracks.
Life after the breakup: Sam's "Single Era"
Since the split, Sam has been pretty open about his struggles. He even admitted to needing therapy to process the end of a five-year relationship. He’s 33 now and has made it clear he’s "done" with being a contestant on reality TV. He wants to be the next Ant and Dec, not the guy eating spiders for votes.
His bond with Pete Wicks has been his saving grace. Pete has been a bit of a "tough love" mentor, even joking on their podcast about Sam being a single guy with cats. It’s a bit of a meme at this point, but it's clearly how Sam is coping. He’s focusing on:
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- His Hits Radio show.
- Building the Staying Relevant brand (they even booked the O2 Arena!).
- His role as an ambassador for ADHD UK, something he’s been super passionate about since his own diagnosis.
Zara’s surprising new chapter
Zara hasn't exactly been sitting around. In early 2025, rumors started swirling that she was seeing former One Direction star Louis Tomlinson. When photos of them on a date surfaced, it reportedly "blindsided" Sam. It’s always tough when an ex moves on that quickly, especially with a global superstar.
Professionally, she’s leaned even harder into her documentary work. While her 2025 documentary about Thailand faced some criticism for how it portrayed the country, she’s still one of the BBC’s go-to presenters for youth-focused factual content. She also launched her clothing line, Rise, which kept her incredibly busy during the final months of her relationship with Sam.
The verdict on their future
Is there a chance for a reunion? Most experts say no. They’ve both reached a point where their careers are the priority. When you’re at different stages of life—Zara is 29 and Sam is 33—sometimes the love isn't enough to bridge the gap between two very different ambitions.
They’ve moved out of the London pad they once shared. Zara has been doing a "New Year clear out" of her life, literally and figuratively. They still seem to have a level of respect for each other, but the "Sam and Zara" brand is officially a thing of the past.
How to move forward if you're a fan
If you're still mourning the end of this era, the best thing to do is keep an eye on their individual projects. They’re both thriving in their own right.
- Follow Sam's podcast: Staying Relevant is where you’ll get the most honest (and hilarious) updates on his life.
- Watch Zara’s documentaries: She’s tackling some really heavy, important subjects that go way beyond reality TV gossip.
- Respect the space: It’s easy to pick sides, but both of them have spoken about how difficult the last year was.
Ultimately, Sam Thompson and Zara McDermott taught us that even the most "perfect" TV couples face the same pressures of work-life balance and past mistakes as everyone else. They’re both onto bigger things now, even if those things don't involve each other.