While fans were shocked when Zara McDermott and Sam Thompson called it quits at the start of 2025, what’s even more surprising is the news that Zara has a new man: former One Direction singer Louis Tomlinson.
Last week, the couple were spotted having a romantic meal in a luxury hotel in Suffolk. At the dinner, Zara, 28, and Louis, 33, were seen giggling and holding hands, seemingly confirming their new relationship. Fans first speculated that a romance could be on the cards between the pair when they noticed that Louis and three of his sisters – Lottie, Daisy and Phoebe – followed Zara on Instagram in late February. Louis then liked a photo of Zara at the BRIT Awards that she posted to her account.
The fledging romance comes after Zara’s abrupt split from Made In Chelsea star Sam, 32. The couple – who had been together for five years – had shared a house in Chelsea, which Zara has since moved out of after purchasing her own flat nearby.
Louis’ most notable relationship was with model Eleanor Calder, who he dated at the height of his One Direction fame between 2011 and 2015, and again between 2017 and 2022. In 2016, Louis had a brief relationship with US stylist Briana Jungwirth, which led to the birth of their son, Freddie, nine.
Although both Sam and Zara have kept schtum about their split Sam appeared to take a swipe at his ex in the latest episode of his podcast Staying Relevant. In the episode, Celebs Go Dating’s relationship expert Paul C Brunson talked Sam through dealing with a break-up. When asked how he was coping, Sam said, ‘I suppose a lot of people look for validation in other people, and they look for the other person instantly to fill that hole. I can’t do that.’
With Zara living just down the road from Sam, a run-in was always going to be inevitable, although now it seems that Zara’s ex and new man may be coming face-to-face sooner than she thought. Both men have signed on to play as part of the all-star England squad for Soccer Aid’s charity match on 15 June, which could be awkward, to say the least.
