EXCLUSIVE Sam Thompson returns to celeb dating app Raya despite 'not being ready to commit' just hours after his split from Sam Elishi was revealed - while ex Zara McDermott moves on with Louis Tomlinson

Daily Mail​

16 hours ago

Sam Thompson has been spotted back on celebrity dating app Raya, just hours after MailOnline revealed the end of his two-month romance with Sam Elishi.
Despite claims the pair 'fizzled out' with The Made In Chelsea star, 32, not ready to commit to a long-term relationship due to his busy work schedule, he was back hunting for Mrs Right on Thursday.
The coupling was Sam's first public relationship since his separation from partner of five years Zara McDermott, 28, who is now with former One Direction singer, Louis Tomlinson.
Snaps on his profile show the reality star at Soccer Aid earlier this month, as well as posing alongside famous pals, including best friend Pete Wicks and fellow I'm A Celeb campmate Marvin Humes.
Sam was last seen on the exclusive app in March, in the aftermath of his split from Zara, with a source telling The Sun at the time: 'Sam's been left devastated by the end of his relationship, which was made even more difficult when he saw who Zara was dating.
'Even though he might not be quite ready to jump back into something serious yet, Sam was encouraged by his friends to dip his toe in the water.'
Sam started dating Samie, 25, famed for her appearances on Love Island, in April and the couple were later spotted passionately kissing after attending Olivia Attwood 's birthday party.
A source confirmed to MailOnline that the pair decided against taking their romance any further due to their busy work schedules, which in recent weeks has seen Sam raise over £1.6million for charity UNICEF after he conquered a 260-mile endurance challenge.
The former I'm A Celeb winner said taking part in the mammoth task, where he transported the Soccer Aid match ball from last year's stadium, London's Stamford Bridge in London, to this year's venue, Old Trafford in Manchester, gave him the focus he needed to overcome a difficult start to 2025.
Meanwhile, Samie, who Sam had introduced to close friend and Staying Relevant co-host Pete Wicks, has been jet setting with various brands following her stint on Love Island: All Stars earlier this year, including to Mykonos, Greece, with Space NK.
A source told MailOnline: 'Sam and Samie's romance just fizzled out, there was so much attraction between them initially, but their busy schedules made it difficult for them to spend quality time together.
'For Sam, it was his first relationship since his split from Zara and the feeling is he would rather concentrate on work before getting into another long-term commitment.'
Sam's split from Samie follows his sister Louise giving her take on who she believes he should date.
Speaking on the Staying Relevant podcast, which this week won a gong at the TRIC Awards, Louise said: 'I would love for you to try dating someone that has a normal job, outside of the media space, I think that could be exciting.
'You definitely need someone that slightly puts you in your place who's going to talk back to you and not let you get away with everything. It can't just be Sam's way or the highway in a relationship.'
Louise added: 'And look, if you're going to go down the fame route can you just find someone that I would get along with, I'm thinking young, British actress, like Emma Watson.'
The former Chelsea star's comments on the podcast provoked one fan to say she 'never really liked Zara.'
But Louise hit back, saying: 'I have to interject here. I actually really adored Zara.'
MailOnline has contacted Sam and Samie's representatives for comment.
MailOnline revealed Sam and Zara split following five years together on New Year's Day after the couple spent the festive season apart.
Zara had grown especially close to her ex-boyfriend's family given Louise, her fiancé Ryan and son Leo, three, live next door to Sam in west London.
The former Love Island star turned documentary maker was first spotted with singer Louis in March and the couple have since holidayed together in Los Angeles and Costa Rica.
Sam and Louis both played in this month's Soccer Aid despite obvious tensions around their dating lives.
Footage of Louis appearing to snub Sam circulated on TikTok after the former boy band star grimaced and ignored the Chelsea favourite once the match had ended.
Despite the split Samie appeared carefree as she took to her Instagram with a slew of stunning snaps on Thursday
After achieving his UNICEF challenge, Sam reflected: 'I have never been so low but also so high at the same time... One of the things that I will say is that mentally I don't think there was a better time for me to do that.
'On Thursday, I left a lot on that road, I left a lot there and it was one of the most mentally freeing times I've ever had in my entire life.
'We rode and ran for the longest duration, all the way down the Welsh border and we finished in Liverpool, you know I'm a bit of a talker, but it was so hard, you just had to channel something.
'I left a lot of the year that I've had on that road, and I didn't speak for an hour and a half. I was riding the bike while crying for an hour and a half just tears streaming down my face just riding like I have never ridden before.
'I have never felt so emotionally depleted but also at peace.'