STRICTLY beauty Zara McDermott and I’m A Celebrity winner Sam Thompson are having relationship crisis talks after she walked out on him.
Zara, 27, packed her bags last weekend following a blazing row, a couple of days before Sam was pictured in tears at a TV awards event.
A source close to the pair revealed they were now trying to patch things up after the huge bust-up at their London flat left Sam, 31, utterly distraught.
The insider said: “Since Christmas Zara and Sam have been really busy with work and have had little quality time to see each other and as a result their relationship has suffered.
“They’ve both wanted to make the most of their careers and say yes to all the exciting opportunities offered to them.
“Last weekend it came to a head and they had a big row. It was very upsetting and they needed some time to let the dust settle.”
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Zara went to stay with her parents in Essex before heading to a modelling job in Majorca.
The Love Island star then posted a cryptic message about staying positive in the face of adversity.
She is now back in Britain and the pair are believed to be trying to salvage their relationship.
The source went on: “Zara had a work commitment in Majorca but has now returned home to be with Sam and try to iron out their differences and have crisis talks.
“They really want to try and make the relationship work.”
Sam, who won I’m A Celebrity last year after rising to fame on reality show Made In Chelsea, was reportedly set to propose to Zara in the summer.
He broke down at the Tric Awards on Tuesday night, where he was nominated for his Staying Relevant podcast.
Sam was seen being consoled by best pal Pete Wicks, 36, as he sobbed for half an hour in the smoking area at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel.
An insider said: “Sam opened up to Pete about the situation and the pair discussed it at length. It goes to show just how genuine Sam’s friendship with Pete is and how it goes far beyond a showbiz arrangement.
“Pete gets on really well with both Sam and Zara and was keen for them to patch things up.”
Three days later Zara posted modelling snaps of herself in Majorca on Instagram.
She posted under one picture: “When life gives you lemons” — from the quote ending “make lemonade”, alluding to making the best of your troubles.
Yesterday Sam shared videos of a family day out at a sports event with his sister Louise, 34, her fiance Ryan Libbey, 33, and their two-year-old son Leo.
Later Zara posted a message on her Instagram, tagging Sam, of two hands holding ice creams.
She wrote: “Feeling gutted because this ice cream van didn’t have any sprinkles.”
It comes after the couple were pictured having a heated exchange last month at the Soccer Aid afterparty in London.
Zara was snapped animatedly pointing her finger at Sam in what appeared to be a row.
But she later insisted they were simply having a passionate pep talk.
Zara posted: “It looks like we are having an argument but I’m telling him positive affirmations in a very passionate manner.”
Earlier this year Sam revealed he was “desperate” to marry Zara but they were too busy to plan a wedding.
He said: “If you know someone is the one . . . you know, it’s more of a time thing.
“Zara is as busy or more busy than I am. She’s absolutely flying and she doesn’t have time to plan a wedding and I don’t either at the moment.”
Insiders said he was looking to propose in the summer and they had discussed getting hitched on the party island of Ibiza.
Zara started dating posh boy Sam in 2019, landing her a spot on Channel 4’s Made In Chelsea.
They briefly split a year later when he discovered she had cheated on him with a music label boss she met during her time on X Factor: Celebrity.
Their tumultuous reconciliation played out in emotional scenes on Made In Chelsea, with Zara tearfully begging him to take her back.
She also posted a video calling him the “love of my life” as she tried to win him over.
Opening up about the affair last year, Sam said: “She was 22 — so f*****g young.
“You know when you look at them and you go, ‘She ain’t going to do that again?’ I could see in her face.
“You can just tell when someone has a beautiful heart and a beautiful soul and just f****d up.”
He also insisted they would not fall foul to the Strictly love curse when Zara was paired on the BBC show last year with Italian pro dancer Graziano Di Prima.
Strictly has gained a reputation for celebrity contestants hooking up with their dance partners.
After she was booted out in October, she admitted she could not stop weeping following Graziano’s touching on-screen tribute to her.
She posted: “I can’t stop crying every time I watch this. I love you! You are a treasure.”
Then, in December, Zara missed out on seeing in person Sam being crowned winner of ITV’s I’m A Celebrity in Australia.
Her no-show Down Under led to fans speculating on their relationship.
But Zara, currently presenter of BBC Three’s Ibiza: Secrets Of The Party Island, dismissed rumours there was anything wrong and said she was just busy.
The couple’s agents were approached for comment.
James Parker is a UK-based entertainment aficionado who delves into the glitz and glamour of the entertainment industry. From Hollywood to the West End, he offers readers an insider’s perspective on the world of movies, music, and pop culture.
