Sam Thompson and Zara McDermott split after five years recently, with the couple’s relationship being pulled into the spotlight in recent weeks.

Now, the real reason behind their split has seemingly been revealed.

Sam Thompson and Zara McDermott split

Earlier this month, it was reported that TV’s golden couple Sam and Zara had split after five years together.

A source alleged to the MailOnline: “Sam and Zara have ended their relationship. It’s been an incredibly difficult decision for them to part ways, they still care and have a lot of love for each other.

“But after a tough year of working hard at their romance, they have split. They will be focusing on their individual careers going forward into 2025,” they then continued.

“There has been no scandal or fallout between them, it’s just the result of a difficult year, where they both had to spend a lot of time focused on their own projects.”

‘Real’ reason Sam Thompson and Zara McDermott split revealed?

Now, according to a source speaking to The Sun, Sam and Zara reportedly split because Sam wasn’t “prioritising” their relationship.

“Zara never felt like she was the priority with Sam. He always seemed to find someone or something to put before her,” they said.

According to the source – allegedly a friend of the couple – Sam’s “immature” personality pushed the couple further apart when they were planning their future together.

This then led to them spending Christmas apart – before ending their relationship for good.

‘Things in the relationship weren’t right’

The source then continued.

“Zara loved Sam, but things in the relationship weren’t right. They are both selfish in their own right and want to be successful in business as individuals – but of course that comes at a price. Sam is very childish – it’s even become a part of his ‘showbiz persona’ – but Zara feels as though she’s getting older and wants to start being taken more seriously. She knows she’ll want to start a family soon, but Sam thinks they’re both way too young and should focus on their careers,” they then said.

They’re both quite insecure and that came with its own issues.

“Sam’s family felt Zara didn’t make good choices and so they couldn’t see him with her long term. They’re both quite insecure and that came with its own issues. After her affair it built a wedge with Sam’s family and Sam looked at them for their approval. It was always an uphill battle to prove she had changed. Sadly they ended up growing apart rather than together and their relationship became more like friends who are housemates rather than lovers,” they then added.

ED! has contacted Zara and Sam’s reps for comment.

Read more: Sam Thompson finally breaks silence on split from Zara McDermott: ‘It’s been a really tough month’

Are you sad about Sam Thompson and Zara McDermott’s break-up? Follow our Facebook page @EntertainmentDailyFix and let us know your thoughts!

Self-taught artist Lincoln Townley sold 22 paintings in 2020 for a whopping £20 million fortune, seven years after marrying television’s Denise Welch.

He cited billionaires like Richard Branson, Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk as inspiration for the collection, which was called Universe.

Actor Michael Caine once referred to Townley as the “next Andy Warhol”. Warhol popularised a style known as “pop art”, which involves often simple, repeated images, and deliberately regurgitates iconic images from pop culture, such as the faces of celebrities or brand logos.

Lincoln Townley is 14 years younger than Denise Welch, who is his second wife after a months-long union with Beverley Scales in 1992.

Lincoln and Denise’s ‘unsustainable’ relationship beginnings

When he met Denise in 2012, Lincoln Townley was a man on the edge.

Peter Stringfellow had just fired him from the role of sales director of his exclusive – and expensive – West End nightclub.

He was drinking heavily. Heavily.

The Times wrote in January 2024 that he would drink: two bottles of rioja, three chocolate martinis, four bottles of Stella Artois, a bottle of beaujolais, nine vodka and tonics and snort a gram of coke – by 3pm each day.

For her part, Denise “couldn’t see the red flags,” Lincoln told the paper. Because she was in that world herself.

She’d recently separated from her husband, actor Tim Healy. She and Lincoln drank and fought in a way that was, by his own description, “unsustainable”.

He went cold turkey, shirking Alcoholics Anonymous in favour of simple self-discipline. When he showed Denise a video he’d recorded of her “smashing up his flat in a drunken rage,” she did the same.

“That day was the start of us channelling that dark energy into good things,” he told the Times. “And look at the life we have now.”

When life is difficult, Samaritans are here – day or night, 365 days a year. You can call them for free on 116 123, email them at [email protected], or visit samaritans.org to find your nearest branch.

Denise Welch and Lincoln Townley’s £20 million fortune after Universe art sale

In 2020, during the height of the covid-19 pandemic, Lincoln Townley sold a collection of 22 paintings for a total of £20 million.

Investors used cryptocurrency to buy many of the pieces. The Saatchi gallery then exhibited them for a period towards the end of the year.

Lincoln took inspiration from billionaire space-faring projects for his Universe collection. He cites “visionaries” like Elon Musk, Richard Branson and Jeff Bezos, specifically, as his muses.

“These people are masters of the universe,” The Sun quotes him as saying, at the time.

“I wanted to expand my own creative ideas by creating extremely colourful pictures of achievement and look at the images of the first man on Mars, the first disco on Mars, the first banker on Venus.”

Among the many art pieces Lincoln has sold during his career are a diamond-encrusted portrait of Princess Diana (£1 million) and a painting of Muhammed Ali (£510,000).

The Diana painting featured more than £100,000 worth of diamonds. Its frame alone contains £20,000 worth of sapphires.

Lincoln’s £7 million luxury Chelsea penthouse featuring artworks

In 2019, before raking in £20 million for his Universe collection, Lincoln Townley splashed out on a luxury Chelsea penthouse worth £7 million.

He bought it with the proceeds of his previous Behind The Mask La Biennale and Greed collections, reports MailOnline.

Lincoln wanted to use the house a “unique way to sell art”, and reckoned it was a “world’s first”.

“I am a big believer than no one can sell my art better than I can,” he told the outlet.

“I do have works with some galleries but I am not exclusive to anyone and I’ve always explored alternate markets such as the crypto world and sales generated via social media and online.”

Read more: Inside Denise Welch’s love life – split from husband of 25 years, ‘infidelities on both sides’ and romance with toyboy

What do you think of Lincoln’s art? Let us know with a comment on our Facebook page @EntertainmentDailyFix.