Sam Thompson and Zara McDermott have split after five years together.
The couple decided to end their relationship, which led them to travel and build a house together, after growing apart.
A source close to the couple told MailOnline: ‘Sam and Zara have ended their relationship. “It has been an incredibly difficult decision for them to separate, they still care and love each other very much.”
But there have been signs of trouble in paradise for some time now, from accusations of public arguments to the memorable Zara cheating scandal.
They had also spent a greater amount of time apart recently after Sam flew to Australia to present spin-off show I’m A Celebrity and Zara stayed in the UK.
As they go their separate ways in the New Year, MailOnline looks at where it all went wrong for Sam and Zara.
Sam Thompson and Zara McDermott split after five years together
The couple decided to end their five-year relationship, in which they traveled and built a house together, after growing apart.
The couple went through a difficult period early in their relationship when Zara admitted she had cheated on Sam in 2019, the same year they started dating.
Zara addressed her infidelity in an Instagram post, writing: “A big mistake I made a year ago has recently come to light and I want to face it head on.
‘I don’t tolerate infidelity and I made a big mistake at a time in my life when I was hugely selfish and immature.
‘I think I have learned a lot from my mistake. I want to apologize to my Sam for everything I have put him through, for the pain, the shame, the anger and the hurt.
‘All I want to do is fix this and I think the least you deserve is for me to be honest with myself and with all of you. I love you Sam. Forever x’.
A source revealed that the date took place between Zara and “someone in the music industry” around the time she took part in X Factor: Celebrity.
Although they broke up after Zara admitted to cheating on her, Sam eventually forgave her and they got back together.
Things seemed mostly rosy between the couple after they reunited, but there were some signs of trouble.
The couple went through a difficult period early in their relationship when Zara admitted she had cheated on Sam in 2019, the same year they started dating.
Zara addressed her infidelity in an Instagram post, writing: “A big mistake I made a year ago has recently come to light and I want to face it head on.”
In June, the pair were spotted having what appeared to be a heated argument at the Royal Garden Hotel in Kensington.
In June, the pair were spotted having what appeared to be a heated argument at the Royal Garden Hotel in Kensington.
The pair attended a Soccer Aid after-party and Zara looked frustrated as she visibly waved her arms while immersed in a tense chat.
However, Zara insisted at the time that they were simply having a “passionate” conversation and there was no argument.
She wrote on Instagram: ‘Why did this make me laugh so much? (laughing emojis) ‘Stop saying you should have scored!!!! You did your best and that’s all that matters!! ‘You have to stop doubting yourself!!!’
“It looks like we’re arguing, but I’m actually telling him positive affirmations in a very passionate way.”
Zara also had a close relationship with Sam’s sister Louise, who lives next door to the couple with her fiancé Ryan Libbey and their three-year-old son Leo.
Louise is a regular feature on Zara’s Instagram and the couple frequently post content together. However, their collaborations had become less frequent recently.
They appeared together in a sponsored post in early December, but before that they hadn’t been together since September.
Zara had a close friendship with Sam’s sister Louise (right) but they have been seen together less frequently in recent months.
Zara couldn’t fly to greet Sam on the bridge after she won I’m A Celebrity in 2023 because she was still taking part in Strictly Come Dancing at the time.
The couple struggled to make their relationship work after Sam won I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! last year and his work schedule doubled.
After landing a new presenting job on ITV’s This Morning, Sam spent the end of 2024 in Australia co-presenting I’m A Celebrity spin-off Unpacked alongside Joel Domett and Kemi Rodgers.
Zara couldn’t go to Australia with him because she was filming a documentary for the BBC at the time.
She was also unable to fly out to greet him on the bridge after he won I’m A Celebrity in 2023, as she was still taking part in Strictly Come Dancing at the time.
Sam has also struggled with his mental health recently. She previously revealed that she suffered a panic attack on her first day at the I’m a Celebrity camp.
Despite winning the ITV show, the reality star, 32, detailed how the pressure he felt on his first day as a contestant led him to “hyperventilate”.
Former King of the Jungle Sam celebrated New Year’s Eve by partying with his former Made In Chelsea co-stars Reza Amiri-Garroussi and Josh Patterson.
The former E4 star was filmed taking pictures and celebrating the New Year with a group of friends at Kensington Roof Gardens.
The former Made in Chelsea star said: “I actually had a panic attack on my first day here. “I’ve been a fan of the show for 20 years and I remember sitting on the living room floor watching the show with my parents.
‘But when I got here it was like Jumanji. I had a panic attack because I couldn’t believe he was really here.
“I thought maybe I was out of my league and I’m better as a spectator and I started hyperventilating.”
The couple were last seen together celebrating Zara’s birthday in December, where Sam dedicated an Instagram post to his girlfriend, calling her his “soulmate” and “best friend.”
Less than a week later, the former E4 star was pictured outside Stringfellows strip club on a 4am bender with TOWIE’s Pete Wicks.
They also had separate Christmases after Sam volunteered for a charity and Zara stayed with her close family in Upminster, Essex.
Sam celebrated New Year’s Eve by partying with his former Made In Chelsea co-stars Reza Amiri-Garroussi and Josh Patterson at London’s Kensington Roof Gardens, having drinks, while Zara spent the night at home with her cats.