Reality television personality Sam Thompson has been spotted enjoying a low-key but romantic evening out with his new girlfriend, model Talitha Balinska. The Made in Chelsea star, 33, and Balinska, 25, shared details of their cosy cinema date on Tuesday night, where they watched the much-anticipated sequel Avatar 3.
A Night at the Movies for the New Couple
Taking to his Instagram Stories, Thompson revealed the pair had headed out for a classic movie night. The loved-up couple were seen settling into their seats with a hot dog and a glass of red wine for the screening. After the film, Sam was quick to offer his review, giving the blockbuster a solid 8 out of 10.
He praised the film's immersive world-building, writing: 'The world-building is just so good. Storyline dragged a tiny bit, but it doesn't matter when you're in Pandora!! I'm biased because I love getting lost in a new world, but I LOVED IT!!' He also gave a shout-out to the Everyman cinema chain, though humorously noted that 'nothing tops a good VUE post-Nando's.'
From Friendship to Romance
The pair only went public with their relationship earlier this month, after being set up by Sam's friend and business partner, Reza Amiri-Garroussi. Their connection deepened after Balinska was invited as a surprise guest to Thompson's live show at the O2 Arena last year. A source told the Daily Mail that after that meeting, 'the rest is history.'
Sam confirmed his new relationship status during an episode of his Staying Relevant podcast with best friend Pete Wicks, excitedly declaring: 'I've got a girlfriend. I've got a girlfriend!' He described the moment he asked Talitha to be his girlfriend as super relaxed, recalling a dinner where he said, 'I really, really like 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?'
Moving On from a Public Split
This new romance marks a fresh start for Thompson, whose five-year relationship with television presenter Zara McDermott ended in December 2024. Sam has since revealed that he needed therapy following the split. In a sign of how seriously he is taking this new chapter, he has already introduced Talitha to his family.
His sister, fellow Made in Chelsea star Louise Thompson, appears to have given her seal of approval, having shared a snap in October of Sam and Talitha roasting marshmallows with her and her son. Sam also revealed plans to take Balinska on a family skiing trip in the New Year with Louise and her fiancé Ryan Libbey.
When asked on the podcast about going 'Instagram official', Sam hinted at a different approach to this relationship compared to his last, stating: 'I don't think there's any need for it.' He explicitly ruled out recreating the kind of festive social media posts he did with McDermott, which included matching Christmas pyjamas and photos with their pet cats. 'I've done that before,' he said, 'and I want to do a complete opposite of that this time.'
