Zara McDermott has finally spoken out after her ‘awkward’ TV appearance with ex Sam Thompson on Michael McIntyre’s Big Show on Saturday, which was filmed shortly before their break-up.
The 28-year-old ex-Love Island and Strictly celeb left fans stunned when it emerged she had split from I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! champ Sam, with the Made In Chelsea star having now moved out of their shared London pad.
The property was the filming location for Michael McIntyre’s Midnight Gameshow which aired last night. However, things didn’t go to plan during filming as the couple had locked their door from inside, forcing Michael to knock instead of his usual dramatic entrance, leading the pair to believe their home was being burgled.
Taking to Instagram Stories, Zara provided commentary on the episode as it played out. She told her followers: “I am not joking when I say, we thought that it was a burglar, we thought we were being robbed.”
Zara confessed that filming the show was “the scariest thing” in her life, especially when Michael eventually burst in to the room after knocking and shouting “housekeeping”, reports the Mirror. The comedian wasn’t on his own either, as he also had Celebrity SAS’s Jason Fox there to drop in on Sam.
In a challenging segment, Jason made Sam answer questions about his relationship with Zara whilst holding heavy weights, leaving those tuning in to squirm at the “awkward” TV moment.
Just before their break-up, Jason put Sam on the spot by demanding, “Do you actually love her?” following Sam’s struggle to recall presents Zara had purchased throughout their relationship. Their stint on the show triggered social media chatter, with one viewer commenting on X: “Now that Sam and Zara have split up this is absolutely awkward.”
Speculation swirled about Michael’s possible role in their split, as one person asked: “Did Michael break up Sam and Zara?”, as another posted: “Well, Michael McIntyre’s big show is awkward to watch considering Sam and Zara have broken up.”
Michael shared on the programme the instant he feared the sketch might flop, recounting: “They were terrified as I had to knock on the door – but thankfully they then had the time of their lives.”
An insider informed The Sun previously that during the shoot, the couple appeared very much in love, despite ending their relationship just days later. They said: “Zara and Sam were really happy and in love when they agreed to take part in the Midnight Gameshow.”
Michael McIntyre’s Big Show continues next Saturday at 6.50pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer