Reality TV star Sam Thompson has publicly confirmed his new romance, declaring he is officially 'off the market' with model Talitha Balinska. The Made in Chelsea personality, 33, shared the news on his podcast, offering details of his low-key proposal while making a pointed comment about his past relationship with ex-girlfriend Zara McDermott.
From Co-star Setup to Official Couple
The couple's connection began in 2023 when Talitha, 25, modelled for a campaign for Sam and his friend Reza Amiri-Garroussi's sunglasses brand, Dinelli. At the time, Sam was still in a relationship with Zara McDermott, 28. They were later set up on a date by Reza after reconnecting this year, when Talitha was a surprise guest at Sam's live show at the O2 Arena. A source stated simply, 'the rest is history'.
Speaking to co-host Pete Wicks on their Staying Relevant podcast, an excited Sam announced, 'I’ve got a girlfriend. I’ve got a girlfriend!' Wicks jokingly replied, 'We've lost him again to the dark powers of a woman.'
When pressed for details, Sam described a relaxed dinner where he made his move. 'I just said, "Look, I really, really like you and you make me feel really… comfortable. I feel like I can be myself around you. I don't want to be dating anyone else. I'm 33, I wouldn’t be dating someone this amount of time if I didn’t think it had legs to last. So will you be my girlfriend?" And she said "yes".'
A Subtle Dig at Past Instagram Habits
Pete Wicks congratulated his friend, noting how far he had come since last Christmas, which marked the end of Sam's five-year relationship with Zara. 'Listen we're all very proud of you and we're pleased that the year has taken a full circle,' Wicks said, with Sam adding, 'Christmas is back on! I'm happy.'
The relationship appears to be progressing quickly, with Sam revealing plans to go skiing in the New Year with Talitha, his sister Louise Thompson, and her fiancé Ryan Libbey. Louise, 35, has already shown her approval, sharing a photo in October of Sam and Talitha roasting marshmallows with her and her four-year-old son, Leo.
However, when asked if he would make the romance 'Instagram official', Sam took a clear swipe at his past with Zara. 'I don't think there's any need for it,' he stated. After Wicks specifically referenced the kind of festive photos Sam used to post with Zara and their cats, Sam insisted, 'I've done that before and I want to do a complete opposite of that this time...'
Moving On in the Public Eye
Both Sam and Zara have moved on with high-profile partners. Zara is now in a relationship with One Direction's Louis Tomlinson, who recently said he is 'so in love' with her. Sam has publicly handled this with humour, even playing One Direction's 'Steal My Girl' at his O2 show.
Sam had previously expressed nervousness about asking Talitha to be his girlfriend, admitting on the podcast in October, 'Realistically, if I were to ever ask anyone out, I wouldn't even know how to do it. I would panic. I haven't asked someone out in years.'
Talitha comes from a notable family. Her father is Polish aristocrat Kaz Balinski, who works in the oil industry. He was previously married to TV chef Lorraine Pascale and, in 2023, wed model Sophie Anderton. Talitha is one of four siblings, including actress Ella Balinska, who starred in the 2019 Charlie's Angels film.
