‘Engagement? We’re in a good place, so no rush!’

Sam Thompson and Zara McDermott on breaking up and making up on camera

- ELLIE KIRWIN-JONES

Reality TV couple Sam Thompson and Zara McDermott couldn’t look more loved-up as they settle down for their first joint interview with new. Chatting to us from their Chelsea kitchen (where else?), the couple are reminiscing about how they first got together back in 2019 – and Made In Chelsea star Sam, 30, can’t resist claiming Zara “didn’t stop sliding” into his DMs. So an exasperated Zara shoots back, “Oh, Sam, I did it once!”

But happy as they appear now, their romance has been far from plain sailing. The nation watched them split up on MIC in September 2020, with former Love Island star Zara breaking down as she confided in co-stars Ruby Adler and Sophie Habboo.

Looking back on the hard times, Zara says, “You learn from your mistakes, no one is perfect. It’s something we all go through.”

And despite ongoing engagement rumours, Zara tells us she and Sam are in no rush to walk down the aisle, saying, “I want us to take our time a bit more.”

Here, the couple talk winter holiday plans, watching their pal Pete Wicks get “mugged off” on TOWIE and Sam’s sister Louise’s adorable baby boy, Leo…

Hi, Sam and Zara. If you could relive one date you’ve had together, what would it be?

Sam: It’s not a specific date but our holiday to New York.

Zara: We had the best time – we went out for nice brunches and just experienced so much together.

Sam: I took Zara ice skating in Central Park and she cried! It was funny. There were three-year-old girls falling over and having fun but Zara was bawling her eyes out and saying she “could die”.