Ever so quietly last year, social media power couple Sam Thompson and Zara McDermott parted ways. There was no joint Instagram statement, no tell-all interview, not even so much as an offhand comment to explain what happened to the fans they amassed during their five-year relationship.
However, given their individual public profiles and how prone they are to sharing large parts of their lives on social media, the story blew up anyway. After the former couple spent Christmas apart, a flurry of stories followed about what might have happened, where it all went wrong between them and whether they are dating again.
Last month, rumours started swirling that Zara was dating former One Direction singer Louis Tomlinson, after the pair were spotted having dinner together at a hotel in Suffolk.
Sam appeared to respond to these rumours on his Staying Relevant podcast, which he co-hosts with his best friend Pete Wicks, when their guest Paul Carrick Brunson asked, 'What are you doing, Sam, to self-love?' The former Made in Chelsea star responded, 'Not much to be honest with you. I suppose a lot of people look for validation in other people, right? And they look for the next person instantly because it's like, "I need to find someone else to fill that hole and I need to find that excitement."'
He then added, 'You know when you get that excited feeling when you are talking to someone new and fresh. I can't do that.'
However, it seems that a few weeks later things might have changed. Sam was reportedly spotted with Too Hot To Handle star Lucy Syed at the new Chelsea nightclub The Rex Rooms last month. Apparently they have been spending time together...
While some friends have insisted that Sam is not dating Lucy, who happens to be a bikini model, they are 'enjoying each other's company'.
It's thought that the new duo met on the celebrity dating app, Raya, and continued chatting on Instagram. A source told The Daily Mail, 'Sam and Lucy were sharing direct messages over Instagram before they decided to meet up at a pub and then continue their night at The Rex Rooms. They looked really close in the club, chatting and cuddling up together.'
'But their closeness continued after they spent the night partying together and the pair's connection has certainly put a smile back on Sam's face,' they continued. 'Sam is enjoying being single again and dipping his toe back into the dating pool.'
Who is Lucy Syed?
Lucy was runner up on series six of the hit Netflix show, Too Hot To Handle, and is an aspiring singer who regularly shares videos of herself singing on TikTok.
Earlier this year, she posted about 'single life' on the platform and joked that she was manifesting a relationship in the wrong way. 'Well, at least we know manifesting works, I hate that it's called manifesting, like, "man"… it's like men are infesting my life and annoying and upsetting me. It's a man infestation... I'm ready for the glow up now please.'
How old is Lucy Syed?
Lucy is 28 years old.
Does Lucy Syed have Instagram?
Yes, you can follow her on @lucy_syed. She is a self-described 'dog mum chasing the sun' and shares several envy-inducing bikini and holiday pictures. There are no pictures of Sam just yet...