Sam Thompson’s brother-in-law Ryan Libbey has shared that the star has been ‘avoiding’ his split from Zara McDermott.

Zara has well and truly moved on from her five-year romance with Sam, enjoying a romantic date with One Direction star Louis Tomlinson this week.

Meanwhile Sam is said to be ‘devastated’ after their split and was ‘blindsided’ after pH๏τos emerged of her date with Louis. 

Now, on their podcast He said She said, Sam’s sister Louise and Ryan Libbey have revealed how he is coping with the split. 

Louise began speaking about overworking herself as Ryan revealed he had spoken to Sam about him doing that while the pair were out on a run – and shared that he thought the reality star was using work as a way of distracting himself from the split.

‘We were talking about all sorts of stuff, from things that have happened over the past few years, some stuff super current and we got onto the subject of forms of therapy – which we’ve done different forms, both him and I.

Sam Thompson’s brother-in-law Ryan Libbey has shared that the star has been ‘avoiding’ his split from Zara McDermott (Seen with Ryan and sister Louise)

Zara has well and truly moved on from her five-year romance with Sam , enjoying a romantic date with One Direction star Louis Tomlinson this week (Sam and Zara seen in March 2024)

‘He’s very much like you [Louise] in that sense that you feel like you need to be busy all the time to keep your mind preoccupied with stuff and keep busy. 

‘That’s kind of your default as Thompsons. But that’s not sustainable, you can’t outrun things, I really believe that you can’t outrun things. 

‘If you’re actively trying to stay busy to avoid something, you’re never gonna win that race, it’s always gonna catch up with you at some point because something will slow you up.’

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Louise went on to say that she sees the similarities in that respect between her brother and herself.

She admitted that Sam can suffer burn out – and accused him of being addicted to work.

‘And I do see it a lot in people like my brother who burns out all the time and other people who are similar and have similar personalities, that are totally addicted to work,’ Louise said,

Zara’s surprise new romance comes H๏τ on the heels of the Love Island star’s January break-up from Sam, who only this week admitted he doesn’t feel ready to date again.

The hurt Made In Chelsea star has even made a cryptic dig at the speed at which his ex has moved on, musing on the latest episode of his podcast that ‘a lot of people look for validation in other people 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.”

Now, on their podcast ‘He said She said’, Sam’s sister Louise and Ryan Libbey have revealed how he is coping with the split

Sam (pictured at the BRIT Awards) is currently on holiday but was informed by Zara, 28, about her new relationship before it was made public 

‘You know when you get that excited feeling when you are talking to someone new and fresh. I can’t do that.’ 

As Zara moves on with a 1D star, insiders have revealed that Sam always struggled to get past his ex’s affair.

Zara’s fling with a music executive came to light 16 months after she started dating Sam, with the scandal playing out in the public eye as the split and their subsequent reunion was documented on Made In Chelsea. 

The 2019 fling with music boss Brahim Fouradi – who had previously worked for Simon Cowell as an artists and repertoire (A&R) director for Syco – happened when Zara was appearing on another TV show, X Factor, coincidentally the show which kicked off Louis’s career. 

Zara was appearing on the Celebrity X Factor as part of a group comprised of ex-Love Island contestants on the one-off ITV series, eventually won by former TOWIE star Megan McKenna.

As Zara moves on with a 1D star, insiders have revealed that Sam always struggled to get past his ex’s affai 

Zara’s fling played out in the public eye as the split and their subsequent reunion was documented on Made In Chelsea

Sam, 32, initially ended his relationship with Zara in the wake of her affair in September 2019 and the subsequent series of Made In Chelsea documented the aftermath as they eventually reconciled.

The repercussions of the affair continued for years though with sources close to the couple telling MailOnline at the time of their January split that Sam’s family never quite forgave Zara, despite their attempts to welcome her back into the fold.

Sam’s protective sister Louise, 34, was the most vocal in her disapproval of Zara and questioned her brother on why he took her back, but agreed, for his sake, to give her a second chance.

But the couple’s relationship failed to go the distance – and they officially cut ties in January just over five years on from her affair.