Made in Chelsea's Zara McDermott and Sam Thompson cheating drama, explained
Made in Chelsea has this week aired heartbreaking scenes between Zara McDermott and Sam Thompson, who broke up earlier this year.
The pair had been dating for over a year, and had moved in with one another. In the summer it was reported that Zara and Sam had called time on their relationship, with initial speculation circling around the idea that they had been arguing while isolating together during lockdown.
But then cheating rumours surfaced, and it was claimed that Zara had been unfaithful with a music producer while working on The X Factor: Celebrity last year.
While this all came to light in the news a few months ago, the scenes are only just playing out on E4's reality show. Sam, who is the younger brother of original cast member Louise Thompson, is one of the longest standing faces still appearing on the show, while Zara, who took part in 2018's series of Love Island, joined Made in Chelsea once she became Sam's girlfriend IRL.
Now that the storyline is gaining more attention, we thought it would be helpful to explain exactly what did and didn't happen, as well as what's gone down since the cameras stopped rolling.
In September it was first revealed, in a report by The Sun, that Sam Thompson had broken up with Zara McDermott, after finding out that she had cheated while taking part in The X Factor's celebrity spin-off one year prior.
According to the publication, Zara had gotten close to a music boss during her time on the show.
A source said to be close to the former Love Island star apparently told The Sun that Sam had "suspected quite early on that something was going on" and that there had been "a big confrontation" about it.
"She was spending increasing amounts of time with [the man] backstage [at The X Factor], and hanging around after hours," the source added.
When Sam found out what had gone on, he "kicked off" and was said to be "devastated about how things have turned out", the source continued.
The immediate aftermath of this revelation appears to have played out in front of the cameras for Made in Chelsea, with the first episode detailing their break up airing on Monday night (October 19).
A visibly upset Zara turned up to a restaurant to meet with friends, which included Sam's best friend Jamie Laing and his girlfriend Sophie 'Habbs' Habboo. It didn't take long for them to ask Zara what was wrong, and why Sam was not joining them.
Breaking down in tears, Zara said that she had been having the "worst day of my life" before going on to admit that she "did something really bad around a year ago."
"I slept with someone," she told the group.
Jamie asked for clarification on whether this had happened while she was with Sam.
"When it happened, I genuinely thought that me and Sam were going to break up inevitably. I just thought we were hanging on by a tiny thread and we're going to break up," she said.
"Then he turned around and said he wanted to make it work with me."
Clearly uncomfortable and announcing that his loyalty would lie with Sam, Jamie left the conversation and would later be seen catching up with his best friend one-to-one. Sam explained that while he loved Zara and had thought she was the one, he didn't know if he could stay with her.
Towards the end of the episode, Zara and Sam were filmed meeting up in a park to discuss their relationship.
After Sam told her that he "cannot be" with her, Zara begged for forgiveness.
"I want to work through this with you," she said.
"How can you work through something when you didn't even f**king feel the guilt until you got caught?" Sam replied, claiming that she had still been liking the Instagram photos of the man that she had cheated with.
"I just want you to forgive me," Zara said, before Sam replied: "I see absolutely no way."
"Please, I don't want to throw this away. I genuinely genuinely believe, with my whole heart, we can get through this. I really do," she begged, but Sam said he needed "space" and time to "figure my head out."
After the scenes aired, Zara posted a quote on Instagram Stories that read: "Love wins, love always wins."
This was not the first time that Zara had publicly shared an apology or referenced her determination to win Sam back.
Last week, the reality star shared a video montage on Instagram which included clips of their relationship together.
"To the love of my life," she wrote alongside the footage. "There aren't enough words to describe how I feel about you. You are my favourite person, my truest love.
"I made this video montage for you of our memories over these last few years. I want to create a million more memories like these throughout the rest of my life... with you. I am sorry our journey hasn't been the easiest, and I am forever wishing I could find a way to turn back the clock. Remember... you are everything. You are my moon and all my stars and everything in between. I miss you. I love you more and more every day."
At the start of October, Zara addressed the cheating rumours for the very first time by opening up to her Instagram followers.
In a post to her Stories, Zara revealed that she had wanted to address the news reports "head on."
"Hey Everyone, I just wanted to address the recent speculation in the media," she wrote. "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 believe I have learnt so much from my mistake."
Zara went on to address Sam directly:
"I want to apologise to Sam for everything I have put him through, for the pain, the embarrassment, the anger and the hurt," the note continued.
"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. x."
A post shared by Sam Thompson (@samthompsonuk) on May 31, 2020 at 11:05am PDT
Sam has not referenced the cheating scandal, or his split with Zara, very much outside of Made in Chelsea.
Back in September, as rumours of his relationship ending started to surface, he thanked his close friend Pete Wicks for helping him through a 'down' time.
In an interview with Heat about a week later, Pete said of his friend Sam: "He's doing well. He's a good guy... He's sensitive and I think it was all a bit of a shock but he's doing well. He's still young and he's a catch so he's got his whole life ahead of him. The world is his oyster."
More recently, Sam's Made in Chelsea co-star Olivia Bentley has given her verdict on the situation.
"There are only so many times this can happen to you," she told MailOnline, before admitting that she "really doesn't think" her friend will take Zara back.
"Having seen Sam in this situation with other girls before; he has always got back with them," Liv explained. "But this time it is different."
Only time will tell...
Made in Chelsea airs on E4.
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