ZARA McDermott is one of the favourites to lift the Strictly Come Dancing trophy this year and her adoring boyfriend Sam Thompson will no doubt be cheering her on every weekend.
The sweet duo have come a long way since their reality TV days, with Zara now a prolific documentary presenter and National Television Awards nominee, and Sam a host of multiple podcasts including ‘Love Island: The Morning After’.
The gorgeous pair celebrating Sam’s first night on the panel of ‘Love Island: Aftersun’ earlier this yearCredit: Instagram/@zara_mcdermott
Relationship expert and Wingman founder Tina Wilson says Strictly could help the pair discover their relationship is even “more special” than they could imagineCredit: supplied
And the lovebirds’ relationship also seem to be stronger than ever, with Sam labelling his other half “absolutely unstoppable” ahead of her stint on the show.
With the help of Tina Wilson, relationship expert and founder of the ethical dating app Wingman, Fabulous takes a look back at the highs and the lows, and how the steady couple plan to weather the Strictly storm.
‘TOXIC’ EXES
Zara shot to fame on the fourth series of Love Island in 2018, when she entered the villa as a notorious “bombshell” and ended up stealing bad-boy Adam Collard from his then partner Rosie Williams.
Despite being one of the most recognisable cast members, the brunette stunner lasted only 10 days on the show, after vile trolls branded her the series’ “villain” and voted her out.
Zara and Adam together in 2018, shortly after leaving the Love Island villa as a coupleCredit: Splash News
Zara and Adam went on to date for seven months and even lived together in Essex, but eventually called it quits because of the Lothario’s partying and womanising.
She later took aim at the notorious ladies’ man on Instagram, labelling their relationship “toxic” adding it “stripped me of all my confidence”.
Cheeky Sam also captured the public’s hearts on social media, when he joined ‘Made in Chelsea‘ in 2013.
He quickly began an on-off relationship with co-star Tiffany Watson, but the pair split when it was revealed she had cheated on Sam with a mystery man in Hong Kong.
Sam and Tiffany together back in the early days of MICCredit: Instagram
According to Tina Wilson, the fact Zara and Sam are “from the same world” means they’re well-equipped to deal with the Strictly spotlight.
“Having grown-up on reality TV,” she explains, “they understand it’s a game, and drama helps with the ratings war.
“They are certainly used to scrutiny, so they most likely will be able to handle the pressure.”
WHIRLWIND ROMANCE
Sam and Zara got together in 2019, after the brunette bombshell slid into his DMs.
They finally confirmed their romance later than year, after droves of flirty comments left underneath each other’s photos, including Zara writing “I love you” under a shirtless snap of Sam.
Fans quickly flooded the comments with love for the pair, including Sam’s older sister and MIC legend Louise, who gave her seal of approval by writing “cutie pies!!!”
Over the next few months, the pair posted dozens of loved-up snaps on social media, and jetted off on swanky holidays to Capri, Italy, and the Maldives.
The gorgeous duo cuddled up together on one of their many tropical holidaysCredit: Instagram/@zara_mcdermott
Under one, Zara gushed: “Appreciation post for this amazing human. I love you so much. My best friend in the whole world and the next thing that ever happened to me… I am honestly the luckiest girl in the world.”
Sam returned the compliment by sharing a snap of the duo cuddled up at his birthday dinner, writing “grateful for this little beaut is an understatement. I’ve been spoilt rotten today, and I’ve never felt more able to be comfortable and be myself than around you”.
Dating expert Tina adds that Zara and Sam’s relationship has always been “more public than that of most other reality stars”.
“With gushing social media posts and public declarations of love, they enjoy flaunting their relationship for all to see.
“PDA has essentially defined Zara and Sam as a couple,” she notes.
X-FACTOR ANTICS
In Autumn 2019, the multi-talented Zara took part in X Factor: Celebrity, appearing in a group alongside fellow Love Islanders Samira Mighty, Wes Nelson and Eyal Booker.
The Love Island gang during their time on ‘X Factor: Celebrity’ , where Zara met Brahim FouradiCredit: Getty – Contributor
It was during her time on the show that Zara met music Brahim Fouradi, who she went on to have a fling with.
Sam expressed his suspicions, telling his cast mates on MIC that Zara had told him to go home after he flew to America to surprise her while she was filming.
“She’s like ‘I’m in the studio, we’re working until like three in the morning,’” Sam ranted. “Her bandmates are in bed!”
It wasn’t until the autumn of that year that details of Zara’s infidelity came out.
Zara posted a public statement to her 1.4 million Instagram followers, admitting: “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.
“I want to apologise to my Sam for everything I have put him through, for the pain, the embarrassment, the anger and the hurt.”
Zara signed off the note stating: “I love you Sam. Forever.”
The pair in happier times on holiday in the MaldivesCredit: Instagram/@zara_mcdermott
Tina notes it’s incredibly striking the couple are willing to show their “vulnerable side” on social media when “faced with tough times”.
“Most reality stars withdraw from social media when they break up with their partner, but Zara used her social media as a direct tool to publicly apologise to Sam when the cheating came to light,” she explains.
“Her willingness to put her own reputation on the line and own up to her mistakes because she humilated Sam shows genuine remorse,” Tina adds.
WINNING HIM BACK
Zara instantly set about trying to mend the pair’s relationship, sharing an emotional video montage in which she called the 31-year-old “the love of my life”.
Set to Nathan Sykes’s song ‘Over and Over Again’, the Love Island alum shared clips from throughout the pair’s year-and-a-half relationship, writing: “You are my moon and all my stars and everything in between.
“I miss you. I love you more and more every day.”
After initially ending their relationship, Sam admitted just a few months later that he’d taken his girlfriend back.
According to Tina, Sam ‘s decision to reconcile is “his decision alone”.
“Not everyone can forgive or rebuild trust if their partner cheated, but Sam clearly loved Zara enough to work through their issues and take her back.
The lovebirds are now parents to two adorable rag doll cats, Albus and CedricCredit: Instagram/@zara_mcdermott
“They were in their twenties when they first met, and Zara even called herself immature when referring to her cheating past.”
But having clearly matured, they’re likely now stronger for having “withstood the tough times early on”.
HAPPY EVER AFTER
The couple attended Jamie Laing and Sophie Habboo’s wedding together earlier this yearCredit: Instagram/@zara_mcdermott
For the past three years, it appears the couple have gone from strength to strength.
The pair have moved together in Chelsea, are proud parents to two adorable rag doll cats – Albus and Cedric, inspired by Sam’s love of Harry Potter – and love making hilariously relatable TikTok videos about their relationship.
“The couple now seems to have rebuilt their relationship,” Tina agrees, “and they appear very much in love, having withstood the tough times early on.”
Tina notes with Zara joining Strictly, the couple must be well-aware that “it is only a matter of time before it’s scrutinised because it’s again back under the microscope”.
“Zara has expressed her preference for privacy and not feeling any kind of pressure to take their relationship to the next level,” she adds, but being on national TV means she’ll have to put up with being “back on the public’s radar”.
Zara is already a favourite to bag the Strictly Glitterball – and Sam has promised to cheer her on all the wayCredit: BBC
“The couple will be well aware of the [supposed] Strictly ‘curse’ [where couples break up after appearing on the show] but if they can continue being honest with each other, this experience will end up strengthening their bond.
“It will undoubtedly be a big test for their relationship, but if they truly trust each other, they can navigate through it.
“Zara has also expressed a strong desire to have her own career path, and Sam appears to be supportive,” sharing the love for her BBC Three documentary programme [where she’s investigated disordered eating and revenge porn, among other issues] and promising to support her by attending the Strictly live shows.
“By allowing each other to flourish and find their own independence outside of the relationship, it is a positive step, and it could mean bypassing the dreaded curse – with both realising they have something more special than they once thought.”
