Made In Chelsea star Sam Vanderpump has been diagnosed with irreversible end-stage liver disease, requiring an urgent liver transplant, as revealed in emotional scenes on the E4 reality show.
Heartbreaking Diagnosis Revealed on Camera
The 28-year-old finance app owner received the devastating prognosis just days before filming the episode eight weeks ago, sharing the news with co-stars Ollie Locke, 38, and Tabitha Willett, 33. Viewers watched through tears as Sam explained there was no cure for his condition.
Sam, who is nephew to Vanderpump Rules star Lisa Vanderpump, disclosed that he received a notification through the NHS app confirming he needed a liver transplant assessment. The diagnosis came as a complete shock to the reality star, who had been living with congenital hepatic fibrosis since age four but had been told he could live normally.
Near-Fatal Health Crisis Preceded Diagnosis
The road to diagnosis began dangerously last December when Sam became severely ill with what he and his pregnant fiancée Alice Yaxley, 24, initially believed was flu. In reality, his organs were beginning to shut down as he developed sepsis.
"I ended up sleeping for two days, and Alice thought I was overdosing on codeine," Sam recalled. "It was days later that she realised I wasn't right. They got me into hospital and they turned around and went, 'Your organs are going into failure'."
Doctors later revealed that if Sam had arrived at hospital 24 hours later, he wouldn't have survived. Medical staff used the strongest available antibiotics to treat him, describing the approach as "like using an industrial cleaner" on his body.
Cast Rally Around Sam and Pregnant Fiancée
Ollie Locke has described Sam as "like a brother" and revealed that he and husband Gareth have been providing constant support to Sam and Alice, who are expecting their first child and planning a 2027 wedding.
"I think he's all right. It's very complicated. It's a very difficult situation," Ollie shared with the Daily Mail. "He's just getting his head around everything, but I think having lots of people share their stories is giving him solace."
The emotional scenes hit Ollie particularly hard, with the reality star admitting: "It was just f***ing heartbreaking, the whole thing, and I know he's gonna be all right. I'm sure he's gonna be all right, but a liver transplant's a big deal and we just have to stay positive."
Organ Donation Campaign Brings Hope
In a positive development, the show will feature a major fundraiser for organ donation at the end of the series. Since Sam's diagnosis was aired, tens of thousands of people have signed up for organ donation, creating a potential silver lining to the difficult situation.
"If we can save a couple of people's lives in the next however long, well, you can f***ing say whatever you want about reality TV in all your life," Ollie stated emphatically.
Despite his serious condition, Sam remains optimistic about his future prospects with a transplant. "Liver transplants are available today, they do one a day in the UK today, and with a liver transplant I should go on to live a perfectly normal life," he explained.
The reality star continues to maintain an active lifestyle, noting that he feels well enough to go for runs and doesn't appear to need a transplant outwardly, despite the urgency of his medical situation.
