Recent reports from The Sun indicate that reality personality Zara McDermott was seen with former One Direction star Louis Tomlinson at a hotel in Aldeburgh, Suffolk. Despite the sightings, it remains unconfirmed whether the two are in a romantic relationship at this time.
Zara McDermott’s Recent Relationship History
Zara McDermott, known for her appearances on Love Island and Strictly Come Dancing, was previously engaged in a long-term relationship with Sam Thompson, a former contestant on I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! This relationship spanned from 2019 until recent speculation about their split in December 2024, though they never publicly announced the end of their partnership.
In a recent episode of his podcast Staying Relevant, Thompson alluded to his breakup. On March 17, during a conversation with dating coach Paul Brunson, he reflected on the difficulty of moving on from past relationships, stating:
“I suppose a lot of people look for validation in other people, right? And they look for the next person instantly because it’s like, ‘I need to find someone else to fill that hole, and I need to find that excitement.’ You know when you get that excited feeling when you are talking to someone new and fresh. I can’t do that.”
A Journey Through Their Relationship
The couple’s romance initially came to light in May 2019 when Thompson announced their relationship in an interview with OK Magazine. He shared that it was McDermott who made the first move, saying:
“She slid into my DMs. It was great, and I’m glad she did.”
Thompson emphasized the importance of taking things slowly, acknowledging the risks of rushing into feelings too quickly. He commented on the early days of their relationship:
“Do you know what, I don’t want to say too much, but we’ve been on a few dates, it’s been a few weeks now. We’re not exclusive because everyone in this game rushes everything! There’s no need to. If you rush into things, sometimes you make a mistake, and it gets too intense… she’s a really, really lovely girl, and she’s incredibly beautiful.”
The couple later starred together on the reality series Made in Chelsea. However, their relationship faced challenges, ultimately resulting in a breakup in 2020 amid rumors of infidelity on McDermott’s part during her time on X Factor: Celebrity. McDermott later confirmed these rumors in a heartfelt, though now-deleted, Instagram apology in October 2020, where she described her actions as “selfish and immature.”
“Hey everyone, I just wanted to address the recent speculation in the media. A huge mistake I made a year ago has recently come to light and I want to face this head on. I don’t condone being unfaithful and I made a huge mistake at a time in my life where I was hugely selfish and immature.”
She continued her apology, expressing deep regret and love for Thompson:
“I believe I have learnt so much from my mistake. I want to apologise to my Sam for everything I have put him through, for the pain, the embarrassment, the anger and the hurt. All I want to do is make this right and I think the least he deserves is me being honest with myself and all of you. I love you Sam, forever.”
On December 4, 2020, Thompson publicly confirmed their reconciliation during an exclusive interview with DailyMail, stating that he had forgiven McDermott and highlighting the importance of forgiveness in moving forward:
“I believe in forgiveness. I understand the context, and I think in any walk of life you can’t move forward unless you forgive. Forgiveness allows you to heal. You can only heal when you forgive the other person and get over that.”
Despite their efforts to maintain their relationship, media reports suggest that McDermott and Thompson may have officially parted ways in late 2024.
For more insights into Sam Thompson’s thoughts on relationships, his podcast Staying Relevant is available for listening on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube.