Sam Thompson found himself in an awkward situation when his close friend and podcast partner Pete Wicks made a playful jab at his romantic life during a live episode of Staying Relevant.

The 33-year-old former Made In Chelsea personality, who ended his relationship with Zara McDermott in December, appeared visibly displeased as Pete orchestrated a prank involving Zara’s new partner, One Direction singer Louis Tomlinson, during the live podcast recording at London’s O2 Arena.

As the band on stage started playing One Direction’s hit song “Steal My Girl” at Pete’s request, Sam hurried onto the stage in an attempt to stop the performance. Pete, realizing his mistake, laughed it off, acknowledging that his plan had veered off course, leading to laughter from the audience while Sam reacted by covering his face in embarrassment.

Despite the mishap, Pete encouraged the band to try again, with Sam playfully acting scared on stage as the music resumed. During the podcast, Sam opened up about the challenges he faced over the past year, crediting Pete for his support during the breakup with Zara.

Their split in December came as a surprise to fans who had anticipated a future together for the couple, who first started dating in 2019 after Zara initiated contact with Sam online. Despite public relationship hurdles, including a brief separation in 2020 due to Zara’s infidelity confession during her appearance on The X Factor: Celebrity, they reconciled and stayed together for three more years before parting ways in December 2024.

Sources close to Zara revealed that she had put great effort into their relationship but ultimately felt compelled to move on. Sam, on the other hand, expressed feeling blindsided by Zara’s quick transition to a new relationship with Louis.

Zara’s romance with Louis has progressed rapidly, with reports indicating that she spends most of her time at his lavish home in North London. The couple made their relationship public on Instagram, with supportive messages from their siblings.

While Sam acknowledged the breakup as challenging, he is focusing on work, socializing with friends, and spending time with family. Despite being open to dating, he is enjoying his freedom and not looking for a serious commitment at the moment.