Speculation is swirling around the relationship status of Made in Chelsea star Sam Thompson after he shared a cryptic social media post, just as his ex-partner Zara McDermott went public with her new romance.
Cryptic Clues on Instagram
The 33-year-old reality TV personality sparked fears of a split from his new girlfriend, model and DJ Talitha Balinska, by posting a solo photograph on his Instagram Stories. The image showed him cuddling his cat, which he previously shared with ex-girlfriend Zara McDermott, 29.
Accompanying the cosy snap was a puzzling caption that read: "Starting 2026 as I mean to go on." He followed this with a single red love heart emoji. The phrasing, combined with the image featuring only him and his pet, led many followers to speculate that he might be single and focusing on his domestic life.
A New Romance Gone Official
Sam and Talitha first met in 2023 at a photo shoot and reconnected earlier this year. Their romance became public knowledge in October, but Thompson only confirmed they were officially a couple in December.
Speaking enthusiastically on his Staying Relevant podcast with best friend Pete Wicks, Sam revealed the moment he asked Talitha to be his girlfriend. "I just said, 'Look, I really like you... 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'," he shared.
The relationship seemed to be progressing quickly. While Sam was in Australia filming for I'm A Celeb's spin-off show Unpacked, Talitha was reportedly settling into his £3 million Chelsea home. He had also introduced her to his sister Louise, her fiancé Ryan, and their son Leo.
Moving On From The Past
Sam's cryptic post emerged shortly after his ex, Zara McDermott, shared a loved-up photograph with her new partner, One Direction star Louis Tomlinson. Sam and Zara ended their relationship in December last year, citing a "tough year" and growing apart due to busy careers and different life goals.
In a recent interview, Sam opened up about the difficulty of the split, admitting he needed therapy to process the change. "I don't know one person who enjoys going through a break-up," he told Mail Online. He also expressed his long-term desire to start a family, stating: "I'd love to have kids and I refuse to date unless I can see a long-term future in it."
While fans are left to decode Sam's latest social media activity, his supporters will be hoping his romance with Talitha remains on track for the new year.
