
Louis Tomlinson admits nerves as Sam Thompson awkwardly hovers behind
Louis Tomlinson revealed he is feeling nervous ahead of the Soccer Aid match alongside his girlfriend Zara McDermott's ex Sam Thompson. The One Direction star is now dating Zara, just months after she split from Sam at the start of the year.
In an awkward twist of fate, both Louis and Sam are on the same team as they take part in the charity football match for Unicef. The pair crossed paths earlier in the week as they took part in a training session together with former Made In Chelsea star Sam insisting there's 'no hard feelings'.
However, the meeting is likely to be a bit awkward as he was with Zara for over five years. Louis and Zara's budding romance came as a surprise to their fans as they grew close to each other in March.
Ahead of the match, Sam and Louis are having to spend time together as they make sure they're as prepared as they can be. It seems Sam may be wanting to keep an eye on Louis as when the singer took part in an interview, the reality star could be seen hovering behind.
Louis revealed being part of the team was "an incredible opportunity to play with some amazing players and do it all for an amazing cause". Yet, he admitted in all his years performing for millions of people, he is still nervous for Sunday's game.
He told TalkSport: "I used to play in charity games a little bit more often when I was a bit younger and there's no comparison. Don't get me wrong I get really nervous doing a gig but that's my job, so to speak, but every football fan... you want to be decent, so you put that pressure on yourself."
While Louis was chatting away, Sam could be seen standing behind him in an awkward moment. All eyes have been on the lads as training takes place while Sam revealed he will now not be playing the match but will be on the management team instead, becoming Louis' boss.
Before the meeting, Sam discussed the expectations and attention around the pair being in the same room together. While on his Staying Relevant podcast, he recalled an interview where the focus turned to his impending encounter with Louis.
Sam shared: "At the end of the interview, he goes, 'Look mate, I've got to ask the question that everyone wants to know. This is sort of the big question really, the elephant in the room, What's it going to be like with you and Louis? Obviously he's doing Soccer Aid too."
Sam chuckled as he recounted the strained moment: "Mate, you should have seen the room, everybody, it was silent then everyone goes 'Woah, Woah Woah, end the call! End the call!' and I have just gone 'No, no guys, I've got this, I've got this.' I held my hands up to say just relax."
He clarified: "I think I did alright and I meant everything I said as well, that it's not about me or Louis or who anyone is dating, it's f**king Unicef and charity and everyone is going to be there for the exact same reason. And if he has anything about him which I've heard he does, he's going to sit there and say the exact same thing."
During a chat with The Mirror back in May, Sam spoke excitedly about the prospect of encountering Louis: "I've never met Louis, but the moment I see him, I'll be like, 'mate, how amazing is this what we're doing, and hopefully we can make as much money as possible. And I imagine – from what I hear is a really lovely bloke – I imagine the reply will be exactly the same."

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Wales Online
an hour ago
- Wales Online
Theme park that's better than Disney only 3.5 hours from the UK
Theme park that's better than Disney only 3.5 hours from the UK Efteling, near Tilburg in the Netherlands, has been called 'better than Disneyland' and is only a three and a half hour drive from the UK - but is it worth the trip? A sculpture at Efteling (Image: Sam Dimmer) Most Brits despise theme parks for three key reasons - endless queues, extortionate prices, and disappointing food. Many of us have forked out a fortune to endure hours of waiting for mere minutes of roller coaster excitement, whilst battling wasps away from overpriced fast food that's just set you back £50. Nevertheless, there's another option. If you're willing to venture abroad, you can reach Efteling, situated near Tilburg in the Netherlands, in just three and a half hours from Calais. You might question this approach. Is the additional effort and cost worthwhile? Well, an increasing number of Britons certainly think so - including Nottinghamshire Live executive editor Sam Dimmer. He recently visited the attraction to discover for himself whether it justified its stellar reputation, reports the Express. Article continues below He explained: "My family and I spent three nights at Efteling, travelling from the East Midlands. Our hotel room included park passes for four days. It cost £1,200 in total, but considering park tickets cost around £180 a day for a family of four, I think that represents good value." Sam had previously visited the attraction the year before but only stayed one night, which felt insufficient. Additionally, the park had recently launched a new attraction he was keen to experience. He explained: "We felt that three nights was just about enough this time around, but still very nearly missed an entire section of the park because it wasn't where all of the main rides were." At first, Sam intended to count how many rides they went on , but this notion was swiftly discarded. He explained: "The theme park operates from 10am until 10pm and the queues rarely go above 30 minutes, so you're going to be quite busy, particularly late in the evening. "Also the virtual queuing on two rides, and the app advising you how long queues are, mean you can plan your day to spend as little time as possible queueing. "When you've got younger kids, or kids with additional needs, that's a lifesaver." Efteling is a family-orientated theme park and last year Sam's eight year old managed to experience all the attractions, including the Baron, a vertical drop coaster similar to Oblivion at Alton Towers but with superior theming. This means that around 7pm, many guests begin making their way towards the exit and the queues for the larger thrill rides and the darker new attraction, Danse Macabre, only take 10 to 15 minutes. Those attractions? They're absolutely brilliant. One of the rides at Efteling (Image: Sam Dimmer) Sam remarked: "Yes, it's a family park, with brilliant playgrounds, a fantasy forest, incredible theming and based around fantastic stories. But my oh my, the rides are good. The aforementioned Baron, wooden race coasters Joris and the Dragon and water coaster the Flying Dutchman are tremendous fun, but the best ride is the newest - Danse Macabre." Danse Macabre proved to be Sam's favourite - in fact, he and his family experienced it seven times. He said: "Yes, it broke down on the last day and the queues were long, but this is a special ride. Guests sit in rows of church pews, before the whole room goes dark. Then you're spun around the room, like you're dancing, watching an orchestra of ghosts and ghouls went on it seven times and each time we saw something new. Every time people applauded when the ride ended. It's that good. It's beautifully put together, exceptionally clever, and so fun." The food is absolutely delicious Typically during Sam's theme park adventures he packs his own lunch to sidestep the pricey and frequently mediocre fare - but at Efteling there were no concerns with the dining. He said: "The park is famous for many things, and the food is definitely one of them. The chimney cakes, pastry cones filled with an assortment of fruit, cream, chocolate, candy floss etc etc are a delight, although I wouldn't recommend eating one before hitting a big ride, and you can also sample Dutch treats like poffertjes (little pancakes) and kibbeling (deep fried spiced fish with a delicious dip). "If anything the food is better than last year. Pinnokio's pizza and pasta restaurant was a hit with my family, as was the meal at Het Eethuys, a hotel on site. "My favourite though was Polles Keuken, a pancake restaurant that served huge sweet or savoury pancakes against a brilliant backdrop." Nevertheless, it's crucial to reserve these establishments beforehand as they tend to become extremely crowded. Allow yourself plenty of time to discover Efteling isn't a massive park but you will definitely miss something if you're not vigilant. Sam said: "We only spotted the huge playground because I saw a post on the incredibly helpful Efteling Fans UK Group and decided to go on the monorail at 9.30pm. A gorgeous fairy tale sculpture at Efteling (Image: undefined) "We also spotted the Efteling museum and a great self-serve restaurant in the area that we returned to the next day. This was on day three of four in the park, and we weren't planning on doing as much on our final day, but decided to stick around because we kept spotting new things to do." For those who favour a more relaxed tempo or for the little ones not quite prepared for high-speed thrills, the Fairytale Forest provides a charming sanctuary. This captivating area boasts a series of spectacular displays, some motionless and others animated, presenting visitors to a host of peculiar characters, such as Long Neck, a man with an extraordinarily stretched neck. Efteling is genuinely enchanting Sam was thoroughly impressed with the park, saying: "The thing about Efteling is it doesn't feel like a place designed to suck money out of you. It feels like they genuinely care about you having a great time. The staff, for example, are unbelievable. I clumsily asked one in Dutch if he spoke English and he looked at me and told me he spoke five languages and was learning a sixth. "It's clean, the music is wonderful and it smells so good they actually sell Efteling scents in the gift shop. My wife's salon now smells very much like Efteling. I love Alton Towers, but I don't think I'd particularly want to bottle the smell of a day out in Staffordshire." Anton Pieck, an artist and illustrator, was one of the founders of Efteling and his work continues to inspire the park today. His influence is still felt, making visitors feel as though they are truly walking through a fairytale. Efteling theme park (Image: Sam Dimmer) It's worth considering an overnight stay Not many theme parks necessitate an overnight stay, as usually a day is sufficient. Alton Towers in the UK might be an exception, but at Efteling, three nights didn't seem excessive. Sam's hotel was a picturesque ten-minute stroll from the park entrance, passing lakes, playgrounds and a fairytale castle. He said the rooms were "ideal", offering ample space for a family of four, with comfortable beds, a large bath and a powerful shower. There's even a swimming pool, perfect for younger kids. Be prepared for a good deal o f walking This won't come as a surprise to seasoned theme-park visitors, but you will certainly clock up the steps. Article continues below Sam said: "There's a beautiful little steam train that takes you around the park, but we didn't use it as the park itself isn't huge. "It's a decision I regretted at the end of day four as we prepared to drive to Calais, although a decent pair of trainers helped me just about get through. We were averaging between 25,000-30,000 steps a day, which is a good old shift, but we were going from 10am to 10pm. "We're a family who enjoys being active, but for those who find walking challenging, this might not be as enjoyable. However, there are measures you can take to make it easier, and we do enjoy a good walk."


Scottish Sun
3 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Billi Mucklow strips off to a bikini after ex Andy Carroll's split with Lou Teasdale as she celebrates ‘beautiful day'
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) BILLI Mucklow looked incredible as she stripped to a bikini and celebrated a "beautiful day" after ex Andy Carroll split from Lou Teasdale. The ex-Towie star enjoyed a drink by the pool in Majorca after The Sun revealed the former England striker dumped from his influencer girlfriend amid a string of rows. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 6 Billi Mucklow stunned in a bikini as she posed in Majorca Credit: Instagram 6 She shared snaps hours after The Sun revealed Andy Carrol had split from his girlfriend Credit: instagram 6 Andy and influencer Lou Teasdale, once the stylist for One Direction, split after a year Credit: instagram Billi, 37, showed off her toned figure in the chocolate brown two-piece and revealed a sunkissed glow. She captioned the snap: "Another beautiful day in the ☀️with my family." This Morning star Lisa Snowdon replied: "Stunning honey" as Towie's Georgia Kousoulou penned: "Body goals". Other fans chipped in about her ex's relationship news. One sniped: "Well that didn't last long did, how embarrassing on both of them. Anyways you are glowing & winning at life being a wonderful present mother & looking so happy & healthy you go girl." Another said: "Darling, you are on fire…The way you've handled yourself and risen above everything has been amazing to see. A warrior mother…Keep slaying, it all works out in the end." Ex Newcastle United star Andy, 36, started dating mum-of-one Lou last year following his split from Billi with whom he has three children. Lou, 41, and footballer Andy, who also has two kids from a previous relationship, split eight weeks after he was quizzed by cops following two boozy holiday arguments with tee-total Lou. The father of five has now wiped all trace of former One Direction hair stylist Lou from his social media accounts. A friend added: 'Andy and Lou have been having massive rows for a while. Andy Carroll quizzed by cops twice after bust-ups with girlfriend at packed restaurant and hotel during Greek holiday 'It's been a tough time and now he's back in the UK, he just wants to focus on football and his kids. 'He hates the influencer lifestyle. He has no interest in posing for loved-up pics.' The source continued: 'Andy got sick of Lou's demands and her influencer lifestyle. 'She's always posting on social media and he hates that. He told her it was over this week. He's single now.' Until this week, friends thought wedding bells were not far off after Lou gushed about their future. After rows on holiday earlier this year, they celebrated their one-year anniversary at Glastonbury's luxury £38,000 pop-up hotel. It was thought Andy was ready to make a fresh start after selling the stunning Essex pad he shared with Billi for a whopping fee in November. The former West Ham ace had put his Essex pile on the market with an £8.5million price tag Andy, now with French side Bordeaux, bought the six-bed house in Essex from singer Sir Rod Stewart five years ago for £4.1million. 6 Andy and Billi in 2016 Credit: Instagram 6 Andy has three children with ex Billi and two kids from a previous relationship Credit: Instagram


Daily Mirror
4 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Sam Thompson breaks silence on ex Zara's steamy 'hard launch' of Louis Tomlinson romance
Sam Thompson has spoken out after seeing his ex Zara McDermott 'hard launch' her relationship with Louis Tomlinson as he admitted he 'wouldn't wish it on anyone' Sam Thompson has broken his silence after his ex, Zara McDermott, went public with her relationship with Louis Tomlinson, posting a snap of the pair snogging on Instagram. The Love Island star has been dating the One Direction singer for several months following her break-up with Sam in January, which the Made In Chelsea alum admitted left him 'blindsided'. Zara, 28, and Louis, 33, have so far kept relatively coy about their relationship, but now Zara has made it 'Insta official' and 33 year old Sam's not happy. It comes after the I'm A Celebrity winner admitted he needed help after their split. Talking to his pal, Pete Wicks, on their podcast, Staying Relevant, Sam said his phone 'blew up' after Zara posted the snap of her locking lips with Louis last week. He said: "I'm watching some YouTube video and my phone just starts blowing up. I thought I'd been cancelled!' Sam continued: 'Mate it's dinged up, you know when everyone is like, 'Just checking in mate, is everything ok?' and I'm looking at my phone like 'What is going on?' 'And genuinely you know what it's like when you don't quite know what's happened so you think the worst. Tell you what though, I wouldn't wish a hard launch on my worst enemy though.' It comes after Pete admitted he never liked one of Sam's exes, but wouldn't say which one. During one episode of their podcast, Pete agreed to take a lie detector test and was asked by Sam: "Have you any disliked any of my previous partners?" Hesitating for a second, he then laughed and said "yes." After he was revealed to be telling the truth Sam squealed: "Yes, truthful!" Earlier in the week, the reality star asked fans for help as he admitted he was struggling post Zara. Talking to the listeners on Hits Radio, he revealed he was using dating app, Hinge. Sam confessed: "I'm on Hinge everybody. I have decided to give dating apps a go, because the dating world is the trenches out there and I need a bit of help." While Sam had no issues choosing the perfect pictures and videos of himself to show off his best qualities, he admitted that answering the prompts had left him frustrated. The reality TV star joked: "One of them is 'I'd fall for you if...' And I just don't know what I think, to be honest with you I'd fall for you if you say you like me. If you turn round and say I like you, I'm done that's all it takes with me. And 'my cry in the car song?' Anything by One Direction really...."