Life

TV Quickfire: Sam Thompson on his return to Made in Chelsea

The new series of Made In Chelsea sees the return of Sam Thompson to the hit 'reality' show. We quizzed him about his mental health, his new relationship and why he felt ready to return to filming

13/08/19 PA File Photo of Sam Thompson is pictured as the Made in Chelsea cast came together today to launch the 18th series of the BAFTA award winning show, which is due to hit screens this Autumn. See PA Feature SHOWBIZ TV Quickfire Thompson. Picture credit should read: Ian West/PA Images. WARNING: This picture must only be used to accompany PA Feature SHOWBIZ TV Quickfire Thompson.
13/08/19 PA File Photo of Sam Thompson is pictured as the Made in Chelsea cast came together today to launch the 18th series of the BAFTA award winning show, which is due to hit screens this Autumn. See PA Feature SHOWBIZ TV Quickfire Thompson. Picture cr 13/08/19 PA File Photo of Sam Thompson is pictured as the Made in Chelsea cast came together today to launch the 18th series of the BAFTA award winning show, which is due to hit screens this Autumn. See PA Feature SHOWBIZ TV Quickfire Thompson. Picture credit should read: Ian West/PA Images. WARNING: This picture must only be used to accompany PA Feature SHOWBIZ TV Quickfire Thompson.

HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE BACK IN MADE IN CHELSEA?

I'm really enjoying it so far. I get to make some new friends, as there's a lot of people I don't know. And also, everyone's a lot younger – I've always been the young one! I feel like I'm back home really. This isn't a job, this is my life.

WHY DID YOU FEEL YOU NEEDED A BREAK?

I didn't feel good. Not because of the show, not because of anyone producer-wise or anything like that. It's just I'd done six-and-a-half years of reality television, went through some pretty bad break-ups... I wanted to re-charge, re-evaluate stuff.

I went to see a counsellor for a little bit, and I've come back and my eyes are open a little bit more. I feel very, very good.

HOW DID SEEING A COUNSELLOR HELP YOU?

There are some things that I wanted to iron out as a human. I watched myself in Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins and didn't like a few things that I saw in that, actually.

I definitely see some sorts of narcissistic tendencies in the way I've treated some ex-girlfriends and stuff like that, that I really wanted to talk about to people and get to the bottom of. I don't really want to be that kind of person.

So, for me, counselling was brilliant because I managed to identify places in my personality and character that I can definitely improve on and be as good, well-rounded human as I possibly can. No-one's perfect, and I know that. And I'm still growing up; I'm 27, I've got a lot more life to lead, a lot more mistakes to make.

YOU'RE NOW DATING FORMER LOVE ISLAND CONTESTANT ZARA MCDERMOTT. HOW'S THAT GOING?

She's brilliant. How she puts up with me, I have no idea! She's pretty damn cool. She's a keeper, for sure.

I didn't even want a girlfriend, if I'm honest with you, and I told her that... I'd just broken up with the ex and I was like, "I just want to go live my life, be selfish. I don't have time for anyone at the moment, I'm super busy". And she just stuck around, and I'm glad she did because I couldn't be happier.

YOUR EX-GIRLFRIEND, SOPHIE HABBOO, IS NOW DATING JAMIE LAING, WHO YOU WERE GOOD FRIENDS WITH. CAN WE EXPECT SOME EXPLOSIVE SCENES BETWEEN YOU AND JAMIE?

There's just a lot of stuff that I wanted to get off my chest. I'm a very emotional person; there are a lot better arguers than I am in this world. I get frustrated, and when I'm confused, or I don't quite understand why someone's done something, it just annoys me.

I'd obviously heard about what's been happening in the show and people talking about me. It feels quite nice to come back and be like, "This is how I actually felt, this is what I think about the whole situation, and this is how I'm going to deal with it".

I think friendships are sometimes much more sacred than a relationship, because you can break up with someone, but your buddies are always there. There are sometimes things you can do that you can't come back from.

:: Made In Chelsea airs on E4 on Mondays