Sam Thompson engages in intense phone chat as ex Zara McDermott publicly apologises for cheating

Sam Thompson was spotted engaging in an intense phone chat in London on Thursday, hours before his ex Zara McDermott confessed to cheating on him.

The TV personality, 28, looked stressed as he was seen strolling through the streets of his Chelsea stomping ground while engaging in the chat via his wireless earbuds.

Made In Chelsea Sam’s afternoon sighting came just hours before his ex-girlfriend Zara publicly confessed to infidelity, while declaring her undying love for him.

Sam looked casual for his outing, sporting a baggy white T-shirt and black tracksuit bottoms, which he teamed with beige Nike Air Max running shoes. 

It it not known who the star was chatting with, but former Love Island star Zara soon addressed the fact that she cheated on Sam, leading to the couple’s split in August. 

After keeping quiet on the matter, the reality starlet, 23, posted to Instagram stories on Thursday night: ‘Hey Everyone. I just wanted to address the recent speculation in the media.

‘A huge mistake I made a year ago has recently come to light and I want to face this head on.

‘I don’t condone being unfaithful and I made a huge mistake at a time in my life where I was hugely selfish and immature.

‘I believe I have learnt so much from my mistake. I want to apologise to my Sam for everything I have put him through, for the pain, the embarrassment, the anger and the hurt.

‘All I want to do is make this right and I think the least he deserves is me being honest with myself and all of you. I love you Sam. Forever x’ 

MailOnline has approached Sam’s representatives for comment.

Zara also posted an illustration of the world in the shape of a heart, with the words: ‘To the person who needs it… I’m sorry the weight of the world is a little too heavy  to hold right now.

‘Just know things can and will get better… but for now, keep doing your best. Your best is always enough!’

MailOnline revealed last month that Sam had split from Zara after he discovered she cheated on him a year ago. 

A source revealed the tryst took place between Zara and ‘someone in the music industry’ around the time she took part in X Factor: Celebrity.

The reality star appeared on the series last summer and autumn, as part of the Love Island pop group No Love Lost. 

At this point, she had been in a relationship with Sam for several months – but it’s said the Made In Chelsea star has only recently found out about the infidelity.

A source told MailOnline: ‘Zara cheated on Sam with someone in the music industry. Someone connected to the X Factor. 

‘Sam is obviously distraught about this. He only found out about it very recently and has escaped for a few days. 

‘Zara regrets it and feels terrible. She knows it was a huge mistake and is extremely upset.’ 

The couple were an item for 16 months, with Zara joining Sam on his E4 show Made In Chelsea as a cast member.

On the show, she was seen declaring that she wants to marry and have children with Sam. She also moved in with him at the start of lockdown.

Zara reacted passionately when Sam’s ex Tiffany Watson returned to the series this year, upset at the mere idea that Tiff was back on the scene.

The exes have remained friends, with Sam even still pally with her father Clive. Yet they have both moved on since their long-term relationship. 

While Sam was connected with former-cast member Mimi Bouchard before meeting Zara, Tiff was in another long-term relationship that ended earlier this year.

She has since been liked to MIC star Miles Nazaire and footballer Cameron McGeehan, whom she is now dating.

Zara – who found fame on Love Island two years ago – and Sam called quits on their romance just weeks after enjoying a loved-up holiday in Mykonos.

The end of their relationship came days after Sam’s sister Louise, 30, posted a cryptic tweet about a friend ‘cheating’ and trust taking ‘seconds to break’.

A source told MailOnline of the split: ‘Zara and Sam had been arguing a lot since moving in together as a result of lockdown and things just built up between them.

‘Zara has moved back to her parents’ house in Essex where she’s taking some time for herself, she really loved Sam so this hasn’t been easy for her.

‘Sam has gone away to have a break from it all and clear his head away from Zara and social media.’

Sister Louise tweeted, ‘Cheaters always want you to be loyal while they’re being unfaithful,’ which prompted fans to assume she had trouble in her own relationship with fiancé Ryan Libbey.

Days later she sparked further speculation by posting: ‘Trust takes years to build, seconds to break, and forever to repair’ followed by ‘I’m proud of my heart. It’s been played, stabbed, cheated, burned and broken… somehow still works.’ 

An insider told MailOnline: ‘Things between Louise and Ryan are really great. Her tweet last week was actually aimed at a friend.’

Zara and Sam, who regularly post on Instagram and TikTok together, haven’t shared any content as a couple since August. 

The couple went public with their romance in May 2019, four months after Zara’s split from Love Island co-star Adam Collard.

Speaking in July, Zara said: ‘I have learnt more about Sam in the last couple of months than I have the whole of last year. Sam is quite a weird person.

‘He needs his space but also likes attention and it’s been hard to know when to give him his boy time and when to be a really attentive girlfriend.

‘It hasn’t been plain sailing for us like we have argued over the most stupid things. I would think “Why am I arguing with Sam over who’s unloading the dishwasher today?”

‘Sometimes I will do the wrong thing and he’ll do the wrong thing but it’s part of being in a relationship.’

Zara had told MailOnline she believed her relationship with Sam would be long-lasting and had dreams of the pair marrying.

She said: ‘I would not be with someone who I couldn’t see myself being with forever. I know him well enough to know the way we work and being able to smile and laugh everyday is not something I’ve never had before. 

‘Sam teaches me not to take myself so seriously. He brings out all the good in me and that’s all I want in a person.

‘His sister Louise is like a sister to me now, we are super close and lockdown has bought us together so much.

‘I don’t know how we’re going to have time apart now. I do love him so much – he’s the sweetest thing.’