← Great Company with Jamie Laing
Great Company with Jamie Laing
SAM THOMPSON: Our Biggest MIC Fallout & Why Jamie Finally Said Sorry
01:02:54
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- [00:00]
Sam Thompson
Coming up in this episode of Great.
- [00:02]
Jamie Laing
Company because you said 2025 is the worst year of your life.
- [00:05]
Sam Thompson
It's been a wild year. I thought I was Superman. I was like, you can't take me down. Everyone can get taken down. And last year, I got really, really bad burnout.
- [00:13]
Jamie Laing
Do you feel depressed?
- [00:14]
Sam Thompson
Yeah, I felt really, really, really down. One minute you'd tigger, and the next minute you're literally on the floor.
- [00:19]
Jamie Laing
Because we had our fallout on mic.
- [00:21]
Sam Thompson
We had a few.
- [00:21]
Jamie Laing
Mate, get out of my office.
- [00:22]
Sam Thompson
Fuck you.
- [00:23]
Jamie Laing
Bare fucking minimum, you dated Sophie, my now wife. You guys broke up and I started dating her behind your back.
- [00:29]
Sam Thompson
You had a bit of a history for going after people's exes. I remember saying to you afterwards, just please don't do this one.
- [00:36]
Jamie Laing
You and I did not talk for.
- [00:37]
Sam Thompson
Like, half a year.
- [00:38]
Jamie Laing
Here we go.
- [00:40]
Sam Thompson
Hello, I'm Sam Thompson and I'm in Great Company. The style of the nation's heart. King of the jungle, Sam Thompson.
- [00:46]
Jamie Laing
Louise basically had a very tricky pregnancy and nearly died on giving birth.
- [00:50]
Sam Thompson
Nearly died three times. That was one of the hardest times in my life by an absolute fucking mole. Cause I remember the doctor came in twice and when we can't stop the bleeding, I was like, oh, my fucking God. Like, what?
- [01:02]
Jamie Laing
This is. This is a nightmare.
- [01:03]
Sam Thompson
I don't even think I properly process it now, if I'm honest with you.
- [01:06]
Jamie Laing
You did a 260 mile endurance challenge from London to Manchester carrying the soccer ball.
- [01:10]
Sam Thompson
I was 2k away from the end of the first marathon. I felt like a gunshot had taken my fucking calf out. The physio goes to me, he goes, mate, you've torn your calf. And I went, what do you mean? He went, you're not running on. In a world where January is supposed to be boring, one staple of the holidays refuses to end the great deals. At Verizon, the joy just keeps on coming. Right now you can save on four new phones and four lines. Critics agree it's the deal that keeps on giving. Come into Verizon and save on four new phones and four lines on unlimited. Welcome Additional terms apply@seeverizon.com for details.
- [01:56]
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- [02:17]
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- [03:58]
Jamie Laing
Hello everyone, my name is Jamie Laing and this is Great Company. Hi everyone. Welcome back to another episode of Great Company. Okay, this week we've got someone you guys have been asking for for a while. Okay? It's my buddy, my friend, it's Mr. Sam Thompson. I persuaded Sam to sit down with me at the end of last year and we talked about so many things. We talked about our friendship. Okay. We've had a little bit of a rocky one over the time. Okay. We had one of maiden Chelsea's biggest fallouts. Yeah, we get into that. We talk about heartbreak and why 2025 was the hardest year for Sam. He's come out much stronger and better in so many different ways. Now before we get into it, I just going to ask you to do one thing for me, okay? Please follow and subscribe to Great Company. It's totally free and we want to keep it that way. It really helps us keep bringing the guests you love and making the show bigger and better for everyone. If you can do that. One thing. I promise, I'll be forever grateful. All right. Enjoy this incredible episode of Great Company with Sam Thompson.
- [05:02]
Sam Thompson
Hello, I'm Sam Thompson and I'm in Great Company.
- [05:09]
Jamie Laing
Sammy, when do you remember we first met?
- [05:15]
Sam Thompson
I know you won't know when we first met, but I know exactly when we first met. It was when I drove my sister to pick something up from your flat that you lived in with Francis Spencer and you. Yeah, but you won't remember this, mate.
- [05:31]
Jamie Laing
I might remember it.
- [05:32]
Sam Thompson
It was, you know when you go up the Harwood Road and turn right. Yeah, it was that flat there.
- [05:37]
Jamie Laing
Oh, my God, that.
- [05:39]
Sam Thompson
That, mate.
- [05:40]
Jamie Laing
Opposite the Chelsea Stadium.
- [05:41]
Sam Thompson
Yeah, mate. So that was, like, years. That was way before I even joined the show.
- [05:45]
Jamie Laing
That was my funnest. That was the best. That was the funnest time. Like, if I look back at times in my life, that period when I was living in that flat with Francis and Proudlock and we just started doing Mate. And Chelsea was like. It was just so carefree. Yeah, mate, there was nothing. There was no. I just had to worry about dying. I didn't have to worry about anything.
- [06:06]
Sam Thompson
I remember you. I think it was you. It was. It was. You opened the door and I was like. And I was like, oh, God, Jamie Lang. And I was. And he go. Because you over and you have the door and you went, you're right, I know you. I think you might even been hungover. And you're right, you're like. I think it was Spencer. And he was like, span like that. You turn around. I was like, oh, my God. This is actually like, like Made in Chelsea. Because, mate, I was a bartender back then. Because.
- [06:29]
Jamie Laing
How old are you when you started the show?
- [06:30]
Sam Thompson
21. Were you 21 years old or was I 20? End. 20. So late 20. About to be 21.
- [06:36]
Jamie Laing
So what was your impression when you first joined?
- [06:39]
Sam Thompson
Yeah, none of you want to speak to me. Yeah. Yeah, none of you want to speak to me. I remember that really well. And that was. I know. I get it. I get what it's like. Because obviously you don't know who this, like, really young. And I looked about 16. Yeah. And like. And I met. When you saw. When you join a new school. And, like, it's not like anyone's gonna, like, you're not gonna go out your way to speak to the new kid. Because I'm so, like, young. I'm so much younger than everyone as well. So I knew it was gonna happen, mate. No one spoke to me. You know, when you do Those event days. And you go in and, like, I used to, like, look over. Oh, God. I'm at the maiden Chelsea event day. And I stood there, and I remember the first. You know, when everyone goes for lunch, and you guys. All the cool kids went for lunch. And I just stood there, not eating.
- [07:24]
Jamie Laing
Just waiting for the next day.
- [07:25]
Sam Thompson
No, no. Just stood. Yeah, yeah. Just stood waiting, Just, like, talking to the camera guys. And then my sister felt bad for me, went, do you want to come for lunch with me, Rosie and Binky? And I was like, yes. And so I just sat there at their lunch and didn't say a word.
- [07:37]
Jamie Laing
It was when we first. I remember my. What was your first ever scene that you did on Main Chelsea?
- [07:41]
Sam Thompson
Opening the door to Andy Jordan, who. I remember who was going to. Who was going through, I think, a breakup with Louise. And I will never forget this. It was. Andy comes in and he's like. And all I had to do was open the door. It's like my big reveal. And he goes, just open the door, right? And go, andy, I think I know why you're here. Come in. And that was. And then. And then turn around, go, Louise. And that was it, right? Yeah. I couldn't do it. Right. I. I did that scene about 50 times. I was opening the door. I went, Mr. Jordan, I think I know why you're here. And then he went, cut. I was like, what? He goes, you're shaking. And I was like, what do you mean? He was like, you're visibly shaking. I was like, okay, fine, mate. Happened about so many times. And then I started, like, adding things in because I was so nervous. I've opened the. The door, Ms. Jordan, I think I know why you're here. Let me put the kettle on. Panicking. And he goes. He goes, we're not. They're not having tea. They're not having tea. And eventually. This is so bad. Eventually, Andy, when he was very sweet about it, he literally went. He went, look, mate, I know this is your first time. Like, damn. Well, I'll do it. And bear in mind, he's going through a breakup. Like, they're about to have, like, a really savage scene. And he's literally. I've opened the door. He's taken the brother who's meant to be like, you're coming into my sort of space. He's taken me by the shoulders and led me into my own house.
- [09:11]
Jamie Laing
Man. I remember. I remember first, like, starting mic, and it was like. Because I just didn't understand it. I think you got it quite quickly because you're, I think you're more in tune with that kind of like idea of, okay, this is an entertainment show. We're making entertainment here. I, for ages didn't understand it.
- [09:31]
Sam Thompson
Do you know what? You know what was weird though is back then I, I was so. It was so great because I don't really think there was any career possibilities around it. So in my head I was like, just screw around for a little bit and then go and get like, you know, like another different job. All right, so like enjoy the early twenties. And then because we didn't have Instagram, we had nothing.
- [09:51]
Jamie Laing
We had Twitter. That was it.
- [09:52]
Sam Thompson
And no one really. That wasn't, it wasn't like an. There's like. It's so weird because it's like a double edged sword. You go into a reality show.
- [10:00]
Jamie Laing
Yeah.
- [10:00]
Sam Thompson
Not knowing there's anything beyond it and then you see there's something beyond it eventually and there's like an industry there, you know, this kind of stuff, radio or presenting or whatever it is. But then you go, I can't get to it because of the, the barrier that doing a reality show.
- [10:16]
Jamie Laing
Well, explain that. What do you mean?
- [10:17]
Sam Thompson
Well, but before that I didn't know that. This is the point I was sort of making is that when, when I first started, I didn't know there was any industry behind. I just thought it was a reality TV show that you'd have fun in your early 20s and then go and get a different job. And so that was when I was the most sort of like free. And all I wanted to do was just like entertain like I used to at school, like class clown kind of stuff. Do you know, I remember like I used to, I made Fran Newman Young a mixtape where I was naked on it.
- [10:42]
Jamie Laing
Yeah, but that was your charm.
- [10:45]
Sam Thompson
I loved doing that.
- [10:46]
Jamie Laing
That was the best.
- [10:46]
Sam Thompson
And I never got embarrassed and I never got like, sort of like there was no ego or anything like that. It was literally just like, I want to have fun and make people laugh. All I want to do is make people laugh. And I really enjoyed the first couple years. I mean, people hated me by the way, on the first year, like, first few years, all the Twitter was just like, ah, I hate him. He's gap too far. He looks like Gollum and all this kind of shit. But like, I loved it. The first two years of that show I adored there was like. Cause it was just, there was no pressure, no nothing. And I could just try and entertain people. And I, I don't know whether I did that because As I said, I don't think I was very liked. But yeah, it was the first two years ago. Great. And then you realize there's a industry behind it.
- [11:26]
Jamie Laing
Yeah. So for you, right, like, it was. I remember. I remember when it's when main charity started to become a job for me and I was like, okay, here we go. Right. I've now chosen this career. Now I've actually got to make something of it. There was like a turning point where it stopped being a hobby where I was hanging out with my mates and suddenly I was like, right, I got to make this into, like a job. I've got to go. What was that moment for you? So, like, okay, I got to try and make this.
- [11:48]
Sam Thompson
Probably. It's probably actually weirdly the moment I was quite late on, I think, where I realized the. It's when I did Big Brother, probably.
- [11:58]
Jamie Laing
Really?
- [11:59]
Sam Thompson
Yeah, I think so. Because then I was just like, oh, wow. That's when I realized there was an industry behind it. And I was like, oh, my God, like, there's so much past made in Chelsea that I didn't realize. And I was like, oh, my God. Big, like, dude, Big Brother, you told me not to do it.
- [12:13]
Jamie Laing
Yeah, I did. You told me not to do it 100% of it. And I was so wrong.
- [12:17]
Sam Thompson
But you were so.
- [12:18]
Jamie Laing
This is in 2017.
- [12:19]
Sam Thompson
You were so, as you just said, so well versed. And you always have been. You've been like a leader in sort of like, I have looked up to you massively. Sort of like, oh, I like getting deeper, ready, like, in turn. But genuinely in terms of, like, in terms of you pioneer a lot. And then I go, oh, that's possible, and I'll try and follow suit. And I'm really lucky to have, you know, someone like you that I could do that with. So I feel like a lot of people don't have that person. So, mate, you literally led the charge in so many sort of ways. And I. But I remember with Big Brother being like, I just used to watch it as a kid all the time. And I remember, like, do you remember when you could watch it live and you heard the birds tweeting and stuff and you just watch them hang out? They should do that in the jungle, by the way. I think. I think they should show a live feed at the camp.
- [13:08]
Jamie Laing
Very good idea. But.
- [13:09]
Sam Thompson
But I used to sit down for hours watching Big Brother when it was on Channel four. And. And then when they were like, do you want to do it? All I could think about was sitting in that Chair and being like, I've watched that chair for years and I get the chance to sit in it. And I remember you being like, nah, mate, it's not the right move. Like career suicide, because it was a little bit frowned upon and stuff. But then, like, when I did that show, I. I really, really realized there was, like, way more past it and there were, like, so many more opportunities and things you could do in this industry, which made me really excited. But then, you know what? It's like, you go into any. Any sort of reality show, and then it's a shortcut.
- [13:50]
Jamie Laing
There's a long way around.
- [13:50]
Sam Thompson
Exactly. And I feel like the problem is, is that the door that you see that you're like, I'd like to go through there because I think I'm quite good at this industry. Like, I think I could do quite good at radio hosting or could be quite good this or quite good that. You try and walk through your door to steel. Yeah. I can't Cause you to get through.
- [14:06]
Jamie Laing
That bad boy 100. You can't push it open.
- [14:08]
Sam Thompson
Can't push it open.
- [14:09]
Jamie Laing
Do you know. Do you know the Big Brother thing is so interesting, Sammy? Because I remember this is. I'm going to be very honest with you. Right. Like, so I remember used to. With main Chelsea, it was suddenly we realized that, okay, there's an opportunity here to get into, like, this world of entertainment. And we. And we all who were doing Made in Chelsea, like, enjoyed, like, the idea of filming, and we enjoyed that whole idea of, like, doing different shows and everything. And my. My agency had always said to me, you pick Elaine and you follow that North Star and you never change it.
- [14:38]
Sam Thompson
Yeah.
- [14:39]
Jamie Laing
If anything comes in for you, we say no to it. And I was like, okay, fine. All right.
- [14:42]
Sam Thompson
Terrifying.
- [14:43]
Jamie Laing
Yeah, okay, fine. I got it. Let's. Because if you want to get credibility, that's what you got to do. Right? That's what you've got to do. And so then when you were offered Big Brother, the part of me was like, I'm listening to this North Star. If Sam does this, it's going to be career suicide because he's going to go on Big Brother. And the other half of me was jealous that you were doing it.
- [15:00]
Sam Thompson
Big Brother.
- [15:01]
Jamie Laing
Yeah, because exposing yourself and doing a different channel would be really exciting. And I got offered the Big Brothers and offered the things. And my agency said, we're not doing it. You're not doing it. And part of me was going, but maybe it would be a good idea to do. I think it would Be a good idea. And so when you went onto it, the reason why I was a bit like, almost forward with it is partly because I was like, well, maybe this is a bad idea for him, but secondly, because I'm jealous he's taking that risk. And the great semi with you. No, but with you. What you've done so like insanely well in your career, which I admire so much, is you've never. You've never had any sort of ego or any sort of like, look down upon. On. On certain shows and you've gone, no, this show could be. I could make this show amazing. Doesn't matter what anyone else has done. If I do Big Brother, I know I could make it amazing. If I go and go and do celebs, go dating, I know I can make it amazing. You carved out your own path. You haven't looked at what anyone else has done. And from my side I've gone like.
- [16:01]
Sam Thompson
Damn, that's fucking great. Scary then.
- [16:03]
Jamie Laing
Yeah, really scary. Really scary. I can imagine it's.
- [16:06]
Sam Thompson
Mate, you know what, that's very sweet.
- [16:08]
Jamie Laing
Of you, mate, but I promise you I'm not. And I'm not. And I'm not lying about that. Because when you came out of Big Brother, I remember seeing the amount of people that loved you. And for people who don't know this, when Sam, you were doing Made in Chelsea, there were so many times that used to come to me and used to say, I think I'm gonna quit.
- [16:27]
Sam Thompson
Yeah.
- [16:28]
Jamie Laing
Because I don't think there's a career for me in this. Every scene that I do, I'm always seen as like the little brother or your friend or this or that. Everyone sees me as like making fun of me. I'm not moving up this food chain of Made in Chelsea. Cause you had the Spencers and you had the Frances and you had the proud, long and weirdly, it's like an age thing because we were older, it's like school, we had more status. So you couldn't see yourself breaking through it. So what you did is you went against the grain.
- [16:57]
Sam Thompson
Circumnavigate.
- [16:58]
Jamie Laing
Amazing. Was that tactical?
- [17:01]
Sam Thompson
Yeah, yeah. You. Because I knew that at that point. Like, I knew with like the SEV's good aids and stuff, I was like, I want other opportunities to. To experience. And I wasn't feeling like I could experience much on Main Chelsea because it's so linear. Like it, mate, it was the same thing over and over again, really, wasn't it? And like. And. And I feel like. But you know, you have the Same thing with that. With, like, TV presenting, mate, it's an age thing. Like, what do you mean? Well, you know what it's like. I mean, we both. We've both gone for. Going for loads of things and. And it's, you know, it's a lot of time. It's this. And I understand why, because it's like this in every job, not just this industry. But it's the safe option, isn't it? Where, like, you're like. It's like, well, this person's hosted that before, so we're gonna have them and it's like that person. And they're never gonna, you know. You know how hard it is to knock down that door of. No, I genuinely believe I can do this. And I genuinely believe that I can make it a really good show and we can bond and connect with the viewer in a different way maybe than some of the hosts that you're using now. But, you know, it's like, it's just an age thing. It's an age thing and it's a ladder thing. And you've just got to wait and accept it is what it is. You can't circumnavigate that either. You just have to sit there and wait.
- [18:15]
Jamie Laing
But doing a show like Big Brother, right, it's very risky because. Because people, the audience, see every side of you. And on Maiden Chelsea, you're edited so you can kind of edit yourself in a certain way. And so this is like complete, right? Here I am. This is for everyone to, like, judge and not judge. Were you worried about that? No, not at all.
- [18:34]
Sam Thompson
No. Because I was so young. I wasn't even that young, actually. I think it was like 24, 25.
- [18:38]
Jamie Laing
So young.
- [18:39]
Sam Thompson
25.
- [18:39]
Jamie Laing
I think that's so young.
- [18:41]
Sam Thompson
I mean. No, it is young. Was I 24? I can't remember. You'll know. 2017.
- [18:45]
Jamie Laing
So 2017, I would have been.
- [18:46]
Sam Thompson
So when's that?
- [18:47]
Jamie Laing
So you would have been 24.
- [18:48]
Sam Thompson
24, like. But, mate, you know, my mental age back then was like, I've always been a late bloomer. And so, like, my mental age at 24 was probably like 20, maybe like 19. And so, like, I went in and just loved it. I couldn't do it now. I could not do it now. Like, I was the perfect age and at the perfect time in my life to just go in there and enjoy whatever it was. There was nothing to lose, mate, either. What's not gonna lose? You can't lose anything. Cause I didn't have anything.
- [19:23]
Jamie Laing
What was the moment do you think in Chelsea that you suddenly realized that you had been accepted? Cause there was a turning point.
- [19:29]
Sam Thompson
Accepted by who?
- [19:30]
Jamie Laing
Well, because there was a turning point, which is where you were Louise's younger brother. That's who you were. And then suddenly, which people don't realize about me in Chelsea, there's this food chain where you kind of. You have what they would call the A stories, and then you would have.
- [19:43]
Sam Thompson
The B stories, and then there's Cs.
- [19:45]
Jamie Laing
And then there were C stories.
- [19:46]
Sam Thompson
I was always the C. But you.
- [19:47]
Jamie Laing
Jumped to a story, and you suddenly became a pivotal, like, really big key player within Made in Chelsea.
- [19:55]
Sam Thompson
Yeah, but not through good reasons. I would become the A story through, like, through bad relationship decisions.
- [20:03]
Jamie Laing
What do you mean?
- [20:03]
Sam Thompson
Like, well, like, my first ever girlfriend's here. Like that. That wasn't a good. Like, it's weird because you're that young. It's such an odd one, isn't it? Because, you know, that was my first ever girlfriend. I didn't know on tv.
- [20:19]
Jamie Laing
Mad.
- [20:20]
Sam Thompson
Mad, mate. So you're navigating. You are navigating your first ever relationship at, like, I think I was 22. 20. No, I was 21. I was 21 when I met Tiff.
- [20:30]
Jamie Laing
While being filmed.
- [20:30]
Sam Thompson
While being filmed, mate. You know, I went. I mean, you can watch this on tv. I went for a kiss. I think it was our first date with me and Tiffany filmed. And I went. I leaned in and she swerved me. She went, what are you doing? It was, I think it was, like, crazy. And she. And I went like this. I went. I lent in. And she went, whoa. Because in, like, in real life, that probably would happen, but I didn't know what I was doing. I've never been. I mean, you know, I'd never been on a date. She was my first ever date.
- [21:00]
Jamie Laing
Get out of here.
- [21:00]
Sam Thompson
I'm being deadly serious on my, like, mate. My first date, I. Do you know how late of a bloomer I was?
- [21:07]
Jamie Laing
I know.
- [21:07]
Sam Thompson
Don't get me wrong. Like, I'd go out.
- [21:09]
Jamie Laing
Yeah.
- [21:09]
Sam Thompson
And like, maybe I'd kiss someone on, like, a night out. But a date, I'd never taken on a date. So I make my first date with what turned out to be my first girlfriend. My first lean in on my first date, and it's all being filmed. And she swerved. Do you know the wild thing is. Do you know what the wild thing is back then? Didn't care. Didn't care. I was like, this is so cool. I didn't even. I didn't even Think about it, mate. And like, even back then I thought it was funny. Now, Jake, now, if I let him swerve me, I'd probably cry. But, dude, that's when I started. And that was a lovely part because then I had my first go and went out.
- [21:46]
Jamie Laing
Yeah, amazing.
- [21:47]
Sam Thompson
But you only ever really do sort of in any reality show. It's not just main jealousy like in any of those reality shows, you ever only ever really do sort of like. And, you know, this, like, become one of the main stories if something goes wrong, realistically. And so it's never like for a good reason, is it? It's always like, for a bit of a bad reason.
- [22:06]
Jamie Laing
For you. When you were a kid, right, did you think fame was going to be exciting? Did you want to be famous?
- [22:11]
Sam Thompson
No. Weirdly, I always had this discussion with Pete because Pete, I think, thinks I do. I think Pete thinks that I love the fame. I don't love the fame. I love what comes with it.
- [22:26]
Jamie Laing
Explain.
- [22:27]
Sam Thompson
I love the fact that I can make content for a living and, like, and. And, like, make funny video. That's where I'm happiest, that is. Chip. I couldn't do that if I wasn't well known. Like, I couldn't do podcasting if I wasn't well known. I couldn't do radio if I wasn't well known. I couldn't do that run that we did, mate, if I wasn't well known. Like, all of those things. I. I love people, so. I love connecting with people, dude. I don't leave the house otherwise. So, like, the fame part, I don't really party. I don't really go out. I don't really go clubbing. So, like, that part of the fame, take it or leave it. I don't really think we're all that famous either, to be fair. I always used to remember. Do you remember when Main chess. I won't say their names. So there were some people in majors who thought we were fucking Hollywood a listers. Do you know what I'm talking about?
- [23:11]
Jamie Laing
Yes. I think they still do.
- [23:14]
Sam Thompson
And I used to sit there and be like, mate, we are the dregs.
- [23:20]
Jamie Laing
When we were doing the show together, you and I became really close. You were the person that I would phone every single day. You're the person that I talk to every single day. I'd phone you three, four, five times a day, speak to you about anything. And the things that I kind of still do. We still do, but. And things which I slightly regret, I think is that I leaned on you. Far more than you would lean on me. I would use you as a place to vent, place to say, I feel this, place to say I feel that. And there were times when I felt really low and anxious and you were the one that I leaned on and I sort of said. And I never really reciprocated in that way. I just sort of leant on you in certain ways and we had this amazing friendship.
- [23:57]
Sam Thompson
Yeah, but you know what, man? Like, it was. It was reciprocated, but maybe just in a different way. Like, you know, having someone that you know has your back, I think is. It goes a really, really long way. So it's. It's give and take. Right. And that's, I think, what an amazing brothership is about.
- [24:15]
Jamie Laing
But we were. Because we had our fallout on Mic.
- [24:18]
Sam Thompson
We had a few, mate, I don't even know which one you're talking about.
- [24:21]
Jamie Laing
The biggest fallout we had was because of Sophie. There we go.
- [24:30]
Sam Thompson
Do you know what?
- [24:30]
Jamie Laing
Do you know what's interesting, though, is that I. After. After I did my run, right, yeah.
- [24:34]
Sam Thompson
You called me.
- [24:35]
Jamie Laing
I know.
- [24:36]
Sam Thompson
It was. I. I was on my run, by the way. It's not just training for it. And I will never forget that phone call.
- [24:43]
Jamie Laing
Yeah, I. I phoned for anyone who, who's listening and doesn't know our history. Sam dated Sophie, my now wife.
- [24:52]
Sam Thompson
And even that sounds mental.
- [24:56]
Jamie Laing
He dated. He dated her.
- [24:58]
Sam Thompson
And look, not for long, by the.
- [24:59]
Jamie Laing
Way, but there were emotions from both sides. There was emotions. And you guys dated, you guys broke up. And I think you were probably a little bit more upset than Sophie was because you were, you know, anyway, you.
- [25:14]
Sam Thompson
Guys just getting dumped, mate, you got dumped. Get dumped, no matter how you shake it is.
- [25:19]
Jamie Laing
Is just.
- [25:20]
Sam Thompson
Yeah, it's just shit.
- [25:21]
Jamie Laing
It's shit. You got dumped. And then what happened was, is I went to South Africa on a trip and I was newly single and I then started dating her. And I started dating her behind your back. And I didn't tell you. And I didn't tell you. And you, you know, it was. It wasn't great. It was not good. It was. It was bad. It was. It was cowardly for me. I didn't talk about it with you. And the reason is because I didn't firstly think it was going to really continue the way it did continue. I thought, no, this can't be right. It's not going to continue forever. And. And so I lied to you. And after I finished my run, even though it's bygones be bygones, I'm married. To Sophie. You came to my wedding. I phoned you up, and what did I say to you?
- [26:05]
Sam Thompson
You went, mate, I feel like I have never actually fully apologized to you for not being honest with you. And you were like, I just, mate. Which is so wild, because I. You're right. Bygones years ago, mate. Like, couldn't have been happy with you for you guys, four years ago, five years ago, however many years ago. But it's so weird because you said that, and it made me really emotional, and not even because I wanted it or needed it or anything. If anything, I don't know, it's just showing that kind of emotion and that kind of, like, you really meant something to you to say that. I could tell when you called me that really meant something to you, and that made the fact that you were feeling vulnerable and you said that to me. I was like, mate, that's just such a magical thing.
- [27:00]
Jamie Laing
Weirdly, because when I finished my run, I was kind of. I was depleted of anything. And it made me look at life as, like, really, like, pure and realize the mistakes I'd make and the good things I had done. And it made me realize pretty much all the mistakes I had done and the people I hadn't said sorry to, really, and the things that I probably upset people doing. And I had a real sort of change in whole character. And so I phoned you up just to really say that. How sorry I was that if I had ever hurt you and let you down, which I had done, that, I'm really sorry for doing that.
- [27:29]
Sam Thompson
But, mate, it turned out so good.
- [27:31]
Jamie Laing
It did turn out so good.
- [27:31]
Sam Thompson
I'd like to see. That's the thing sometimes. Sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do.
- [27:38]
Jamie Laing
How. How upsetting was it, though, when it. When it was. When that was happening? Because that was a big fallout for us, and we didn't talk. We. You and I did not talk, like, half a year. Think about the Sami I had gone from speaking four or five every day.
- [27:48]
Sam Thompson
Yeah, every day.
- [27:49]
Jamie Laing
To you just going, nothing.
- [27:51]
Sam Thompson
Yeah, I. Do you know what? Again, it feels like. I don't know about you, but it feels like a different life.
- [27:57]
Jamie Laing
It is. It feels like a different life, totally.
- [27:59]
Sam Thompson
But my life goes in those kind of, like, stages where, like, I compartmentalize parts of my life. And that was, like, a really interesting part because I just moved into my new place and I had, like, housemates and JP and, like, all of that kind of stuff. And I. And I'd left the show at that point, so I was doing Build. I was like doing. Being. Trying to be a presenter. So I wasn't on the show, mate. And I think that's why it was so weird to me, because I was like, dude, like. Because you feel like you're not connected at all. So it's almost like it's behind your back. It's not really behind your back, but as I said to you before me, I think back in. Back then, I was like. It was just. I remember being like. Because you had a history. This is the thing you had a bit of a history for. For going after people's exes and people's girlfriends and stuff like that. You were just like that, mate. And you just, you were young and we all been there. And I remember saying to you, I remember saying she. After, just please don't do this one. I was like, please. And then it happened. And then I think it's because you didn't tell me and I had to see it. And here, you know when you hear rumors and stuff, you're like, wait, what? You tell me. And I was like. It was just that. I was like, dude, what the fuck? Why don't you tell me? Like. And. And I just. And I was like, he's just done the one fucking. Because that time. No, I was just like, that's not gonna fucking last. And like, is he gonna throw away this for that mate? Now obviously you sit there and you go. And that's why I said, you better God damn get married. And you goddamn got married. You gotta. Got married. You goddamn had a kid. And like, it just worked out fucking perfectly. And I think sometimes, mate, I just think sometimes things are meant to happen. I don't know, man. Like, I don't want to get all, like, weird, but, like, sometimes I think of the universe. I do think things happen for a reason. And I just think me not being on the show at that point and you having, like, the freedom and the space to really connect with somebody with. Without the pressure of like, one of my best mates being there. And like, like, what the odds.
- [29:58]
Jamie Laing
No.
- [29:58]
Sam Thompson
That I'm not there and that you can actually seed and flower this really nice thing that turns out to be like a marriage.
- [30:08]
Jamie Laing
Do you want to get married and have kids?
- [30:10]
Sam Thompson
Absolutely. 100. 100. My time's running out. I want to be. I want to be like. I want to be a dad so badly. So badly, man. I just don't know if it's gonna happen.
- [30:21]
Jamie Laing
Kiss.
- [30:22]
Sam Thompson
It is. I don't know if it will, but I.
- [30:23]
Jamie Laing
Why?
- [30:24]
Sam Thompson
I don't know, man. Like, just It. I don't know. I just. I just. I sometimes feel sad that I'm never gonna get. I'm never going to get to be a dad. And like, I. I would love to be a dad at some point.
- [30:35]
Jamie Laing
Sammy, Al Pacino had a kid. He's like, 80.
- [30:38]
Sam Thompson
I don't want to be 80. I want to be. I want to be a youngish parent. I hope one day I really want to be a parent more than anything. I just want Pete to be a godfather to my kid. Like, I would love that so much. I would love that so much.
- [30:52]
Jamie Laing
Did you find dating hard?
- [30:54]
Sponsor Voice 1
Yeah.
- [30:55]
Jamie Laing
Get out of here.
- [30:56]
Sam Thompson
Really hard.
- [30:57]
Jamie Laing
Did you use the dating apps?
- [30:58]
Sam Thompson
Yeah.
- [30:59]
Jamie Laing
Yes. What was on your profile? Come and give it to me.
- [31:02]
Sam Thompson
I don't obviously don't have it anymore.
- [31:04]
Jamie Laing
Yeah, obviously not.
- [31:04]
Sam Thompson
I got banned from Hinge. I got banned from Hinge because they didn't think it was me. And I didn't want to send him. I didn't want to send him. Like, so you basically have to send a ticket in. And I. And being like, I'm really like, this. Hi. This is why, like, this is my explanation. And they were. And I just didn't want to be like, oh, hi. Like, I am Sam Thompson. So, like, so I just left it. Raya. Weird one.
- [31:30]
Jamie Laing
Was it weird?
- [31:31]
Sam Thompson
No one talks to each other on there? Weird. Or just not me.
- [31:36]
Jamie Laing
What was on your profile? What does it say? Hi, I'm Sam Thompson.
- [31:40]
Sam Thompson
No, it's just an emoji of a wizard. Wizard emoji. Likes cats. It's so lame. It's so bad.
- [31:51]
Jamie Laing
Everyone's like, match, match, match.
- [31:53]
Sam Thompson
Everyone's like, no, not one. Everyone's. I. Dude, I. I got no matches. I. I think I performed better when I meet them in real life.
- [32:00]
Jamie Laing
You do? Yeah.
- [32:01]
Sam Thompson
And it's just. I just like, my chat is weak, man.
- [32:03]
Jamie Laing
What music did you pick? Because on rare you have to pick music, I think, don't you?
- [32:06]
Sam Thompson
Oh, my God.
- [32:06]
Jamie Laing
What was it?
- [32:07]
Sam Thompson
What music did I play? I do remember.
- [32:13]
Jamie Laing
How long did it take you to pick as well?
- [32:14]
Sam Thompson
I asked Ryan. I asked Ryan. Ryan picked it for me. Ryan picked it for me. I think it was like a cowboy themed thing. Ryan picked it for me. We were having an ice bath together. He was like, here you go, mate. Have a bit of that. He goes, that will get him full out again.
- [32:31]
Jamie Laing
Also, when you go out there for the first time and try and flirt, it's just like, you're literally like, hello, I like biscuits.
- [32:38]
Sam Thompson
My name's Sam and this is all about me like, this is everything. Everything you need to know about me. Here you go. All in one. They're like, I didn't. I wasn't even looking at you. It's made to try to slide in someone's DMs.
- [32:50]
Jamie Laing
What did you start when you replied to a story?
- [32:55]
Sam Thompson
Do you like. What do you do? I just. I. Oh, God. My worst ever slide in was I sent a. I sent a lemon emoji.
- [33:03]
Jamie Laing
Nice.
- [33:03]
Sam Thompson
Is it?
- [33:04]
Jamie Laing
I don't know what that means.
- [33:05]
Sam Thompson
I said lemon emoji and then what's this? And I couldn't find an opening lime. Real tough out there, man. It was real tough.
- [33:21]
Sponsor Voice 1
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- [33:42]
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- [34:11]
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- [34:50]
Jamie Laing
What do you like when it comes to heartbreak?
- [34:53]
Sam Thompson
Heartbreak? I don't really know.
- [34:57]
Jamie Laing
I remember when you. When you broke up with Tiff, Right?
- [34:59]
Sam Thompson
Yeah.
- [34:59]
Jamie Laing
Your first one, Right?
- [35:01]
Sam Thompson
Tough.
- [35:02]
Jamie Laing
It's.
- [35:02]
Sam Thompson
It's.
- [35:03]
Jamie Laing
It's horrendous, isn't it?
- [35:04]
Sam Thompson
Horrific. But that was my first girlfriend. That was your first and first love. That was so like that. That's a double whammy. And. And. And I. Yeah, that. But the right thing. Of course. Like the right thing. It's so hard to see at the Time. But that. I remember when that happened, and I was, like, beside myself. God, Feels like. It honestly feels like a completely different lifetime. But, yeah, I was beside myself. And I. I remember being, like, lying. I remember, like, I was, like, kneeling near my bed going, this pain is absolutely horrific.
- [35:41]
Jamie Laing
I need to remove the knife.
- [35:42]
Sam Thompson
I felt the knife was in my stomach. I was like, this is. I was like, if this. And I remember being like, if this is the pain that I have ever caused, I never want. I can't.
- [35:55]
Jamie Laing
Can't feel that.
- [35:55]
Sam Thompson
I can't feel that again.
- [35:56]
Jamie Laing
You don't even know what she's put in the.
- [35:57]
Sam Thompson
But I then felt so bad on. On. On Tiff, because I was like, if I had ever caused her that, the pain that I'm feeling now, if I'd ever caused that. Like, I just. And I learn a lot. I learned a lot from that breakup because, mate, we were so young and, like, we were both. Not just me, we were both idiots. But, you know, I definitely played my fair share in that. And, like, the pain. I think anyone who's. Who's going through that at that sort of young age, but it's a great. I know it's such a weird thing.
- [36:34]
Jamie Laing
To say, but again, you have to go through.
- [36:35]
Sam Thompson
You have to do it because, mate, it teaches you so much, dude.
- [36:38]
Jamie Laing
It heals that heart. And, you know, you can get through it.
- [36:41]
Sam Thompson
You can get through it, and you don't think you can at the time, and you're literally like, if I can get through that, like, real heartbreak, I can get through, like, anything. And. And also, it teaches you, I think, that you. How you should and shouldn't be in relationships moving forward. Like, I learned a lot in terms of, like, who I wanted to be, who I didn't want to be from. From my first relationship. Shout out to Tiff, can I?
- [37:09]
Jamie Laing
Because you said 2025 is worst year of your life.
- [37:11]
Sam Thompson
Turn into the best. Turn into the best. Yeah. Ow.
- [37:17]
Jamie Laing
Why is it turned into the best?
- [37:18]
Sam Thompson
It's been the most amazing year ever. Give it to me, mate. Just. I've changed as. Like, I sound so lame, but, like, I've. I've grown massively, which I massive. I absolutely needed. Like, I know myself so much. I feel like this is probably who I'm gonna be for the foreseeable in my life. You know what I mean? Like, I feel like I've hit another stage of who I am. I feel like I know my. My friends are closer than they've ever been, man. Like, it. Yeah, it's I've got, like, I. I see my friends so much. I put a lot more effort into spending time with my family, which for me was a huge deal because I. I was distant. This sounds really shitty because it's so hard to. It sounds like you're moaning, but I'm not actually moaning. I'm so lucky to do what I do. But anyone can get burnout. Doesn't matter. You can do the thing that you love to do the most in the world, but you still get burnout. And last year I got real, really, really bad burnout. And I just. Because, mate, you win the jungle, you take every opportunity that's thrown at you. Right, I'll take that. I'll take that. I'll take that. I'll take that. And eventually I thought I was Superman. I was like, you can't take me down. Anyone, everyone can get taken down. If you take too much on mentally and physically, doesn't matter how much fun you think you're having, you can't do it all.
- [38:43]
Jamie Laing
What did it feel like?
- [38:44]
Sam Thompson
Oh, mate, it was terrible. It was like I just said, you know what? Weird. I felt ill all the time, but I wasn't actually ill. It was like my. I think it was my head was just. Yeah, it was weird. I just was always tired.
- [38:55]
Jamie Laing
Do you feel depressed?
- [38:56]
Sam Thompson
Yeah, I felt really, really, really down. And then I, Like, I. I didn't spend any time with my family because I just. I felt like I. If I ever got a time on my own, I would just need to sit in stasis and be like. And be like, oh, my God. Okay, just recharge. Recharge the batteries. Recharge the batteries. I think that's maybe an ADHD thing as well. Like, you know, one minute you'd tigger, and the next minute you're literally on the floor. Yeah.
- [39:22]
Jamie Laing
Because you give energy to everyone else.
- [39:24]
Sam Thompson
Yeah. And then.
- [39:25]
Jamie Laing
And then you need to just give. Recharge.
- [39:26]
Sam Thompson
You know, what's quite hard on that sense is, is. And this isn't a woe is me thing. I'm very. I'm actually quite glad I've got adhd. But it's. It's when you don't give what people expect you to give. And then people think you're in a bad mood or they think you're, like, feeling off, and you're like, I'm not trying to be off. I'm just. I'm. I'm just not always there. And you just don't see that. Because if you've ever seen me And I don't know you, you've probably seen me there because I'm doing something I really enjoy, like, and seeing Tony Bellew for the first time or like, you know, just around with Pete, which I adore. But yeah, that, that, that's quite hard. But I didn't spend any time my family and this year I spent so much more time with my sister, but most importantly with, with Leo.
- [40:09]
Jamie Laing
Oh, you're mate.
- [40:11]
Sam Thompson
I spend so much more time with him. I could pick him up from school. I'll literally like take him for ice cream. I'll take him to the park, I'll come round, just hang with him now. And like, I feel like, I don't know. You've got a nephew, haven't you? I struggled a bit at the start.
- [40:27]
Jamie Laing
Same.
- [40:27]
Sam Thompson
Because you don't know what, where your.
- [40:28]
Jamie Laing
Place is and you don't connect.
- [40:30]
Sam Thompson
You don't. Yeah, because, because they're so young and it's not yours and you're like. And I was like, oh God, I don't really know where I fit into this. And, and, and now he's like a little extension of me and, and I, and I think that's so cool. And I've. And it's one of the biggest triumphs of this year, I think, is the amount of time and the relationship that I've built with my nephew. And it's one of the biggest things I'll take into next year and the year after that. And I'm just gonna like, just hold on to that because it, it's the comfy, comfortable, comfiest I ever feel with my soul with you and Louise, man. Yeah.
- [41:06]
Jamie Laing
You guys, you're right. Or dies. You know, you're, you're basically, in a weird kind of way, soul mates. It's just two of you and your family. It's just you and her and, and Ryan, obviously.
- [41:18]
Sam Thompson
But that's not always the case, man. Like, you know, sometimes the brother in law, you're cool, but you're not like brothers.
- [41:25]
Jamie Laing
No, no, no.
- [41:26]
Sam Thompson
Ryan's like my bro. Like, I know that if I ever got in a problem, that man would fight for me, like physically like that. You don't find that that often, you know, in a brother in law. I don't think.
- [41:40]
Jamie Laing
No, you don't. And it's rare. And, and you know, I had Louise on the podcast and like we, Louise and I spoke about her time when she had with Leo through birth. Right. And what sometimes happens in these scenarios. Right. With lots of stuff. And I always say this Whether it's someone going through depression or whatever, someone going through addiction, or someone going through a near death experience like Louise did, the partners in the family are the ones that also really suffer. That's. Those are the ones who like. And the person like Louise will sit and go this chair and go, oh my God, Louise, what's happened? And sometimes we don't ask. Hey, Sammy, how are you doing, man? Like, you know that, that time for you must have been just horrendous.
- [42:19]
Sam Thompson
Yeah. Do you know what, it's interesting. Ryan. I actually had this chat with Ryan, but about Ryan. No one's actually asked me, to be fair. So that's, I mean a good point. But like, no one had asked Ryan either. And I was like, mate, are you alright? Because like, dude, he was, he saw a lot of blood and like from the person he loves the most in the world and he thought she was gonna die like as many times as I did. And he's looking after an infant child who naturally is looking for their mother. And he's never done anything like that before. And he's like, what the. So I, he, he really struggled and.
- [43:00]
Jamie Laing
I can't even imagine, okay, that happened to Sophie, like, and she's about to have a baby, Ralph.
- [43:07]
Sam Thompson
And then you're just like, I've gotta, he's gotta look after like the family. Louise, the person he loves the most might die and Lil Leo. So like, mate, don't get me wrong, I really did struggle, actually. But that man, like, I don't think he gets the credit he deserves because like, he, he held, you know, Hercules. Although Spider man, when Spider Man's holding the two fucking trains together, mate, like that. He was literally holding the whole fucking shit together. Don't get me wrong, I was there through the whole thing. But that man, like, literally fucking. It was tough, man, I was working a lot.
- [43:42]
Jamie Laing
But I think also with you, Sami, and I don't put words in your mouth as well, is that you're very good at distracting yourself and getting through stuff and things hit you later because you don't feel it in the moment. That's maybe the ADHD like I have in the moment. We don't feel it. It's later that it hits us.
- [43:59]
Sam Thompson
I don't even think I properly process it now, if I'm honest with you, because I haven't had the time really to sit down and talk. I go to therapy quite a bit, mate, we haven't even hit that part.
- [44:08]
Jamie Laing
And for anyone who doesn't know Sam's sister Louise, Basically had a very tricky pregnancy and nearly died on giving birth.
- [44:20]
Sam Thompson
Three times. 1, 1, 1 was the giving birth. I hope I don't get this wrong, but I'm pretty sure I'm right. One was giving birth, the second was she had a hemorrhage in her uterus when she was at home. That was a really scary one I made. I was at the ITV Palooza and my mum called me. I was like, you need to get to the hospital now, May. I was quite pissed actually. You know what those things are like. And I was just like, it's like 11pm So I, I got in a cab. Weren't Chelsea in Westminster Hospital? It was just post covered, mate. As in like, you know hospitals still lock down more so than thing. I snuck in and managed to get into the, the room where Ryan was and he was like on the floor and I was making that. That was one of the worst experiences of my entire. I mean we're not even like Louise has to go through it. I mean me, I've never seen him as strong as she is, but like that was one of the hardest times in my, in my life by, by an absolute fucking mouth. Because I remember the doctor came in twice and when we can't stop the bleeding, I was like, oh my God, like, what?
- [45:27]
Jamie Laing
This is, this is a nightmare.
- [45:28]
Sam Thompson
What do you mean?
- [45:28]
Jamie Laing
Stop it.
- [45:29]
Sam Thompson
Stop it.
- [45:29]
Jamie Laing
You're adult. Stop it.
- [45:30]
Sam Thompson
Just stop bleeding.
- [45:31]
Jamie Laing
Just stop it. What are you doing? Stop it.
- [45:32]
Sam Thompson
He was amazing. Like, he was fucking great. And, and, but that was. I will never ever, ever forget that. And I always think whenever Louise is pissing me off because I swear to God, she pisses me off a lot. But like whenever she's fucking me off, I think about that moment a lot because I, I, we are so lucky to still have her and mate then mate, that's, that's not even, that's, that's the birth. Then like two years on, she's. Was it three? She's two and a half. She has colitis and she has sepsis and her stomach because, because, because how bad is she has to get her. It's a completely different entity to the birth trauma. She had to go through that, mate. Again, the doctors, I'm there in the hospital talking to her, she's like, I'm dying. And I was like, oh my God. And then she's like, the doctor comes in and goes, you, you, you have to get your cone removed, otherwise you're gonna die like in the, like in the not too distant future. Like it's in, like, I can't wanna say the exact times. I don't know the exact times, but I gotta go, yeah, mate, that girl turned around and went, get it out. Do you know the bravery, you've gotta have to be like, whip it out, mate. She, mate, she was just like, do it. I feel so shit. And like, there was just, no, I'm not leaving my son without, like, whatever. She went, get out. Give me the bag. Like, mate, the bravery to have to do that is just fucking out of this world.
- [46:58]
Jamie Laing
What's the best thing about Louise?
- [47:00]
Sam Thompson
Best thing about Louise is that she is the most. She's the kindest, most empathetic. She's almost overly empathetic. She feels everything. Like, everything. And. And. And so if you come into her and you go, I've had a really bad day, she will literally feel that bad, that bad day with you. And I don't think there are many people like that in the world like my sister. And she will, like, she will work her ass off to give other people things, not herself. Like, she doesn't need or want anything, my sister, like, at all. She just wants to help people.
- [47:45]
Jamie Laing
This year has been big for you, man.
- [47:46]
Sam Thompson
It's been a gentle. It's been a wild year.
- [47:49]
Jamie Laing
You did a 260 mile endurance challenge, turned into 270. 270, baby.
- [47:53]
Sam Thompson
Yeah. You.
- [47:54]
Jamie Laing
You went from London to Manchester, carrying the soccer A ball all the way to Old Trafford to go and deliver the football. A mixture of, like, running and cycling.
- [48:04]
Sam Thompson
Brutal.
- [48:06]
Jamie Laing
Brutal. How. How insanely hard is it? So can I just say this? I obviously did my challenge, which was. Which was 150 miles, right? And I ran it, and I was talking to you quite a lot during it, and Sam was like, man, how are the shin splints? Are the shin splints all right, like. Cause my shin splints are really freaking bad at the moment. And I was like. And I said to you. I was like, sammy, just to warn you, I'm not gonna sugarcoat it. It's gonna be fucking horrendous.
- [48:38]
Sam Thompson
And you just don't know until you do it. Cause I know those words.
- [48:41]
Jamie Laing
I said I couldn't. I can't tell you it's going to be horrendous, but you'll get through it.
- [48:45]
Sam Thompson
And you know what? I remember you're gonna know this. Anyone who does these kind of things like us, I think the reason that they pick people like us is. Cause we're not that way inclined. Like, we're not. We don't have. We don't really have that in our locker.
- [48:59]
Jamie Laing
But we're resilient.
- [49:00]
Sam Thompson
We're resilient. Like little Jack Russells, maybe.
- [49:01]
Jamie Laing
Just keep going.
- [49:02]
Sam Thompson
And, you know, you've got the more sort of like, athletic people who could do it and probably wouldn't struggle as much as we did. But I. I remember seeing so many people just. You included, just complete it. Yeah. You went through hell. I already saw that on Instagram. Like, I didn't feel it. And I just saw you go through hell. And I saw Paddy McGinnis go through hell on his bike ride. And I saw JP, who did 76 man sense of days. And I went, you've all completed it. I was like, I did my first marathon. I did a mock marathon. Three weeks. Worse session I'd ever done, by the way. Three weeks before. Because I never recovered from that marathon.
- [49:43]
Jamie Laing
Yeah.
- [49:44]
Sponsor Voice 2
Yeah.
- [49:44]
Sam Thompson
Three weeks.
- [49:44]
Jamie Laing
I can't believe you did it. I only did 25 clubs. I couldn't do it.
- [49:47]
Sam Thompson
No, but that's. I. I got cocky and went, I'm just going to try a marathon, mate.
- [49:51]
Jamie Laing
How hard was that marathon?
- [49:52]
Sam Thompson
I died. My chin splints, like, split. So I was like, oh, fuck. I didn't even speak about that because the cough happened after that. But I remember doing that and going, oh, no. I was like, oh, I can't do this. Oh, I can't. There's no way I can do this. And I went, how has everyone else just done it? I don't understand. Like, is there, like, a magical formula?
- [50:14]
Jamie Laing
Is there a cheat code to this?
- [50:14]
Sam Thompson
Is there a cheat code? Or it's like, are people, like, cheating? Like, is there, like, is there a way that this isn't, like, how it looks? And I was like, you can't. And what I didn't realize until you do it is you just do, because there's no other option. And we are so much more powerful than we think we are. And actually, you can get through anything. It just sucks like, that. You can genuinely do it. I did it with Torn. Some people don't believe this, by the way. I. I'm being deadly serious. So day one.
- [50:45]
Jamie Laing
Who doesn't believe it? There's a few people.
- [50:47]
Sam Thompson
Like, there's no way you could have done it on a. On a grade two tear. Yeah, it was a grade two tear.
- [50:53]
Jamie Laing
Yeah.
- [50:53]
Sam Thompson
I will never forget. It haunts me to. To this day. I was 2k away from the end of the first marathon, and I knew something was wrong probably halfway through because my. My. So just by my ankle was, like, really swollen. It was the back. The back of just above my ankle, really swollen up and it was. Felt really tight and hot. And I was like. And I'd never had anything. Was always in my shins or my itb. The mighty bands around the back, like they're painful. The knees.
- [51:22]
Jamie Laing
Oh, my God, So bad.
- [51:23]
Sam Thompson
So I was like, I don't know what this is. I was like, maybe it's just wear and tails. I don't know. Because I didn't know what was happening. I just carried on running. So the rest. I should have just walked for a lot of it. And I just carried on running. And I was 2k away from the end of the first running marathon. I felt like a gunshot had taken my fucking calf out. I genuinely thought someone had come and kicked me from behind. I hadn't noticed. And I was like, what the. And I turn around, there's no one there. I was like, oh, my God.
- [51:52]
Jamie Laing
I know that. I know what you mean.
- [51:53]
Sam Thompson
And we were being filmed.
- [51:54]
Jamie Laing
You know, something's weird when. When you. When you tear a muscle or do something, you know it, mate. It's like, what is that, right?
- [51:59]
Sam Thompson
And. And the worst thing is there's a documentary team filming the entire thing. It's day one and I've literally gone, oh, like that. And I've gone, oh, my God. And Chris Taylor, one of the nicest guys in the world. You know, Chris Taylor, he's fucking phenomenal. Wouldn't have got through it without him, by the way. And Tracy, to be fair, my cycling coach, fucking amazing people. And I turned around to him, this is really bad. And I went. I can't speak really loudly because obviously that. And then I can see them climbing out of the van with the cameras, cameras. And I'm like, near tears. I'm like, I. I think I know what's happened. And I'm like, oh. And I'm like, tris, I'm in a really, really bad spot here, man. And he went, with 2k away, just hobble. I was like, okay, hobble. Got in at the end, still got the bike ride to do, by the way. Got in. Into the pub that we were stopping at. Physio goes to me, goes, mate, you've torn your calf. And I went, what do you mean? He went, you're not running on that. And I went, well. He goes, if you run on that one, your body won't allow you to just collapse anyway, but if you did, you'll rupture it. And then you're really like, forever for life. And I was like, oh, my God. He goes, if you're an athlete, you wouldn't be running for, like, two months. And I'm like, this is day one, man. That's why.
- [53:10]
Jamie Laing
Bursting tears, because you think, like, I'm gonna fail, dude. And also. And also letting people down. And also, just for yourself, right, You. You like to achieve things.
- [53:17]
Sam Thompson
I had built myself up for this for months, and I was like, this is the thing. And as you know, I've gone through a tough time at the start of the year, and I'm like, this is the thing that's gonna clear my head and make me. I'm gonna come through the other side like a new man. And, like, I need this not just for the charity. Selfishly, actually, for me. And then the guilt from the charity came in because I was like, they've, mate. Unisex, unicef. David Beckham's a ambassador. They could have picked anyone to do that challenge. And they asked me. Anyone, and they asked little old me. And I went, thank you. I thank you for the opportunity. I won't let you down. And I was like, I've let them down. On the first day, I was. I was gonna flee the country. I was so sad, embarrassed, and. And. And feel like I could let everyone down. And I remember the lady came up to me. She went, look, you've already raised, like, 100 grand. Like, we can. And I went, there's just no way. I'm really sorry. Get me on that bike. I got on the bike, and the rest is history. We just did it. But, like, mate, I'll tell you.
- [54:22]
Jamie Laing
How much did you raise?
- [54:23]
Sam Thompson
2 mil, mate. 2 mil. And. And you know what? There's a story that I. I will always remember is the woman we invited to the O2, actually, she gave. Because people are struggling out there, man.
- [54:39]
Jamie Laing
Yeah.
- [54:39]
Sam Thompson
I mean, you don't need me to tell you, but they really are. And there was a lady who goes, I've just given you the money that I treat myself to a Costa once a week with to donate. And I just wept. I was like, that is like, you know, people come together. And, like, the con, not. I don't want to make sense countrywide, but, like, the people who knew in the country about this run coming together for a cause that is, like, I do. I really do believe that people are inherently good.
- [55:11]
Jamie Laing
Yeah. That's when they're born.
- [55:13]
Sam Thompson
I think they're. I think. I think there are very, very few evil people in this world. Like, very few. A lot fewer than social media will lead us to believe. And I think that people just need a reason to be good. Just need a reason, man. Like, and that. And whether that's like giving that cost of money like, or like being there. Make the wind and the sleet and rain and the people there for you, mate, who are there, like, clapping you in. Like, people want to be part of a good feeling and that's good forces. It's what connects us as human beings, mate. I've never wanted to do something like that more because not a run, but, like, something that can unite people. I've never felt love around and an energy like that in my entire life.
- [55:57]
Jamie Laing
You say I had exactly the same thing. Yours was that moment. Right. That sort of kept you going. And what I realized on my run is that, like, people are awesome. That's what I really realized, that people are incredible and we connect through being amazing. It's unbelievable.
- [56:08]
Sam Thompson
I will never. Yeah. I attribute so much, and I think you do too, to that run.
- [56:13]
Jamie Laing
Yeah, it was amazing.
- [56:14]
Sam Thompson
We are so loud. Lucky to have been able to do that rumble. Like so many people would want to do something like that.
- [56:24]
Sponsor Voice 1
This episode is brought to you by Peloton. The new cross training series balances your workouts with more than 15 workout types for endless movements on and off your equipment. Stay motivated with weekly personalized plans that guide you from beginner to expert and push you past your goals with routines tailored to you. Get the new cross training series terms apply.
- [56:46]
Sponsor Voice 2
This episode is brought to you by Progressive Insurance. Do you ever find yourself playing the budgeting game? Well, with the name your price tool from Progressive, you can find options that fit your budget and potentially lower your bills. Try it@progressive.com, progressive Casualty Insurance Company and affiliates. Price and coverage match limited by state law. Not available in all states.
- [57:11]
Jamie Laing
What are you most proud of?
- [57:16]
Sam Thompson
Really proud of where life's ended up. And I think it could have not ended up where it is now. And I'm eternally grateful to the Pete's of this world as well. For, like, you've been in the trenches.
- [57:30]
Jamie Laing
What would you say to someone who's maybe in that position now? Like you said last year, maybe in this year, you're depressed. You're just feeling like, oh, my God. You feel like you've hit the ceiling and you're just like, this is it. I'm just gonna feel like this forever. What would you say to someone who's, like, listening, he's maybe stuck at that place.
- [57:44]
Sam Thompson
I'm a moaner. I moan a lot. I'm lucky enough to have people around me that, that listen to my moans. So like Marvin, Tony. I know you wouldn't really maybe expect that, but like I. Marvin, he's a real one, really. Tony, real one. Like there were times throughout this year where it's been pretty tough.
- [58:08]
Jamie Laing
This is Marvin Hughes and Tony Bellew.
- [58:10]
Sam Thompson
Yeah, mate. They. Pete is a given, of course. Like, I mean, and that's by the way, that shouldn't just be glossed over. Like he's a given because he's just such an amazing guy. Marvin was calling my sister, being like, I need you to tell me Sam's okay. Wow.
- [58:24]
Jamie Laing
Yeah.
- [58:25]
Sam Thompson
He was like, I need you to go around there right now. I need you to put the phone against his ear. Wow. And like Tony was like, I'm getting you.
- [58:34]
Jamie Laing
Because it was that bad.
- [58:35]
Sam Thompson
No, just because he was. Wanted to be there for me. Like. Like he, he's just that guy. And, and, and Tony was like buying me. Tony was just like, you're coming up, stay with me, champ. And I was like, what? In Liverpool? He's like, you're coming up, stay with me, champ. And I was it. Shane's like, yeah, we're gonna live with my family. And I was like, toad, I can't do that. He was like such.
- [58:57]
Jamie Laing
He's just makes you realize in those moments how important friends are.
- [59:00]
Sam Thompson
How important friends are, man.
- [59:01]
Jamie Laing
100% man.
- [59:02]
Sam Thompson
If you're going through anything in life, yeah, like you need to be able to lean on your. On your friends.
- [59:06]
Jamie Laing
Lean on, dude, lean on. That's why friends are important. And if you don't have friends, lean on a community. Lean on someone. Lean on neighbors. I don't know anyone. The person who's in the village shop, whatever it is, lean on someone. Yeah, speak to someone.
- [59:18]
Sam Thompson
It's hard. It's so easy to say. Like, it's always be like, lean on someone. Like speak to someone. If you've got no one, speak to. I get, I get it. That's why these talk club things are great. But yeah, I would, I would say it always just so lame. Time. Time, always. I. I know that sounds so stupid, but time will get you through most things.
- [59:36]
Jamie Laing
2026, what do you want to achieve?
- [59:39]
Sam Thompson
2026. I want to spend more time with my family again, mate.
- [59:44]
Jamie Laing
Yeah.
- [59:44]
Sam Thompson
Like, I know it's such a broken record but like love that mate there. I. I think I got lost a few times in my years in work and I don't think I've spent enough time living life, actually living it. And like how much happy do you feel oh, man.
- [60:03]
Jamie Laing
It's the secret sauce, which is so simple.
- [60:05]
Sam Thompson
And I realized that actually, like, life is actually. It sounds. God, I sound like one of those awful podcast people. But, like. But like, life is genuinely just about being surrounded by the people you love. Like it, buddy.
- [60:15]
Jamie Laing
It's. We. I chatted to a guy called Robert Wallingford who did the happiness test, right? He said at the end of people's lives, what they always says, it's not the things they've achieved. Not the Ferrari they drove, not the yacht they had. None of that. People only talk about the connections they had. That's what they say. I was a great friend. I was a great husband, wife, dad, mom, aunt, whatever it is, has a great cousin. That's what they talk about at the end of their lives.
- [60:36]
Sam Thompson
The only thing. The only. The only thing I care about is now is. Is. Is being able to be in a place where I'm genuinely happy. Like, genuinely happy. Like, not like what I think will make me happy. Like what actually makes me happy. I think that's the way to do it.
- [60:53]
Jamie Laing
Let's go, Sammy. Let's go, baby. Sammy. This has been insane. Honestly, this has been insane. Thanks, man.
- [61:00]
Sam Thompson
Pleasure. Thank you for having me.
- [61:01]
Jamie Laing
Love you, Sammy. Listen, we'd like to end the conversation with eight questions. You ready for this?
- [61:04]
Sam Thompson
Oh, my God. Here we go. What we got?
- [61:07]
Jamie Laing
What's the saying or phrase that makes you smile or cheers you up?
- [61:13]
Sam Thompson
This is probably meant to be fast paced, isn't it?
- [61:14]
Jamie Laing
No, it doesn't have to be saying or phrase that makes you smile or cheers you up. It can be anything from let's have a chat, or it can be like saying your nephew says or something Louise has something your parents say or something you send your podcast.
- [61:26]
Sam Thompson
Love you. Yeah, I really like it. I really like that word.
- [61:30]
Jamie Laing
Yeah.
- [61:31]
Sam Thompson
That's saying yes.
- [61:33]
Jamie Laing
What would you want people to remember about you if they only met you once?
- [61:38]
Sam Thompson
Not just he's like really excitable, energetic and fun. Like, probably he's a nice person.
- [61:46]
Jamie Laing
100%. It's always the one.
- [61:48]
Sam Thompson
Yeah.
- [61:49]
Jamie Laing
What scares you most about yourself?
- [61:50]
Sam Thompson
That my. That my masking of. Of in certain situations sometimes overrides me. And that I'm like, not be. And I don't be me because I'm scared that people sit there and go, oh, but you're not bringing the energy that you always bring. And you're like, that. That scares me. Because then I'm like, what if that takes. The masking takes over? That scares me a lot.
- [62:15]
Jamie Laing
That's your 2026 thing.
- [62:17]
Sam Thompson
Yeah.
- [62:17]
Jamie Laing
That is 2026 is to like. Because I had that for so long and then I realized actually being in your state of like just being comfortable with who you are, that's the moment of freedom. We always try and be the loudest or the funniest or this or that. And actually when we start to just be us, that's when people almost connect with us more. What would your death row meal be?
- [62:35]
Sam Thompson
Oh, mate, Death row meals gotta be. This is so boring. I'd probably say spaghetti with clams.
- [62:44]
Jamie Laing
Delicious. Delicious.
- [62:46]
Sam Thompson
Oh, that's weird. Maybe it's not boring. Actually.
- [62:48]
Jamie Laing
I like that. Where are you having it?
- [62:50]
Sam Thompson
Where am I having it? At a beach bar in Marbella. Yeah, I go there with my dad. Me and him always been go. I've been going to that same beach bar with my dad since I was actually like 5 years old.
- [62:59]
Jamie Laing
What's something you can't let go of?
- [63:02]
Sam Thompson
My cats.
- [63:03]
Jamie Laing
What's your guilty pleasure?
- [63:04]
Sam Thompson
Guilty pleasure? Gaming. Yeah, gaming. I love to.
- [63:09]
Jamie Laing
Which one?
- [63:09]
Sam Thompson
Oh God. All like this sounds Hogwarts legacy. I love. 33 years old. The girl I'm dating doesn't know I do this, by the way. Yeah. I still sort of like still pretend. Yeah. She hasn't seen that part of me. Yeah. I love getting stuck into fantasy. Lord of the Rings. Yeah, I love Lord of the Rings. I'll sit down and watch all the rings, like most weekends.
- [63:34]
Jamie Laing
It's the best.
- [63:35]
Sam Thompson
It's the best. And the extended edition has to be the extended one.
- [63:38]
Jamie Laing
What's your biggest turn off?
- [63:40]
Sam Thompson
Rudeness. I just. I know. I'm sure loads of people say that.
- [63:43]
Jamie Laing
Yeah, that's exactly what I say.
- [63:45]
Sam Thompson
I just can't understand why people are rude sometimes. And I. It baffles me because it normally comes from the people you wouldn't expect to come from.
- [63:52]
Jamie Laing
Yeah.
- [63:52]
Sam Thompson
And I'm like, there's no need to act like that.
- [63:55]
Jamie Laing
How could you ever. I don't know. What turns you on?
- [63:58]
Sam Thompson
Ambition. From the other person.
- [64:01]
Jamie Laing
Great shout. What do you like most about yourself?
- [64:07]
Sam Thompson
God, that's depressing. I can't. The fact. It just doesn't spring to mind.
- [64:10]
Jamie Laing
Yeah. When it's hard with Brits.
- [64:12]
Sam Thompson
I think I'm. I think I'm like nice to be around. I think people. Yeah, I think. I think people like to be in my company.
- [64:22]
Jamie Laing
I think you're 100%. And also from my eyes I see you're one of the hardest working people. Like that's. You are. You truly are. And that's something we didn't even mention in the podcast the fact where, like, how hard you work is, like, insane. Bonus one. Shag, marry, kill. Pete Wicks, Tony Bellew, Marvin Hume, or.
- [64:45]
Sam Thompson
You'Re a bad person, you're a bad bloke. Shag, marry, kill.
- [64:52]
Jamie Laing
Who are you shagging?
- [64:53]
Sam Thompson
Oh, I don't think I could take it off, Tone. Pete always says. He goes, why are you always taking it?
- [65:02]
Jamie Laing
Yeah, why are you always taking it?
- [65:03]
Sam Thompson
I don't know. Could I clap Tony's cheeks?
- [65:06]
Jamie Laing
I don't know. It's missionary.
- [65:10]
Sam Thompson
I level.
- [65:12]
Jamie Laing
Did you shag Tony?
- [65:13]
Sam Thompson
I don't think I could. I think I'd marry Marv.
- [65:17]
Jamie Laing
Marry Marv because he's just.
- [65:18]
Sam Thompson
He'd be the best husband to me. Cause I know he's the best. I mean, as is Tony, to be fair. But I'm around Marvin a little bit more, and the way he treats his wife and kid, I just. He'd treat me. He'd. Oh, he'd treat me well.
- [65:31]
Jamie Laing
Marvin, you're shagging. I'm shagging Marvin, you're shagging Marvin, you're marrying Pete.
- [65:39]
Sam Thompson
I'm probably killing Pete. And I'm shagging and I'm shagging Tone. And I'll tell you for why. Because I. Cause I'd kill Pete and then do a doc about it. We'd do a Netflix doc called Killing Peter. And he'd be like. He'd be like, how did he do it? How did he. And I know Pete'd be looking down, be like, you fucking prick. You've turned that into content.
- [66:01]
Jamie Laing
Sammy boy, you're the greatest. I want everyone to go and check out your podcast, everything you've done as well. Leave it all in the show description. Best. Sammy, we love you so much. Thank you, man, for having me.
- [66:09]
Sam Thompson
Pleasure.
- [66:14]
Jamie Laing
Guys. I hope you enjoyed that episode. I mean, so many things kind of stood out for me. One of the things, I don't know if you have this, but I interview so many people on the show, but when Sam is a really, really old friend of mine and you can kind of feel that in the interview, so many, like, things that we kind of related on back in the past and, you know, as we get older, we don't kind of see our friends as much we want to. And so when you get to sit down with someone and have a great chat like that, it's just incredible. I mean, Sam went through a lot last year and I. I know so many people will be listening to this episode and perhaps you're going through similar things to Sam or you've gone through a breakup or you're having a hard time at work, but actually when you're in the thick of it, it feels really tough. But actually there's always a blue sky. You just have to find your way back to it. I always say that. And also when we talked about how after my run I phoned Sam up and kind of apologized or said that I'm sorry if I've never really spoken to you about the things that happened between us. Kind of always important to remember to always say sorry to people. Even if you feel like you've done it. Maybe repeating it is a good thing. I really hope you enjoyed the episode. Remember to subscribe and follow us so we can keep making this show you love. Comment in the description what you like and dislike about the show, what guests we want, all those kind of things and we can't wait to see you next week for another episode of Great Company.
- [67:42]
Sponsor Voice 1
This episode is brought to you by Peloton. The new Cross Training series balances your workouts with more than 15 workout types for endless movements on and off your equipment. Stay motivated with weekly personalized plans that guide you from beginner to expert and push you past your goals with routines tailored to you. Get the New Cross Training Series Terms apply.
- [68:04]
Sponsor Voice 2
This episode is brought to you by Progressive Insurance. Do you ever find yourself playing the budgeting game? Shifting a little money here, a little there and hoping it all works out well? With the name your price tool from Progressive, you can be a better budgeter and potentially lower your insurance bill too. You tell Progressive what you want to pay for car insurance and they'll help you find options within your budget. Try it today@progressive.com progressive casualty insurance company and affiliates price and coverage match limited by state law not available in all.
- [68:32]
Sam Thompson
States Hi, this is Jonathan Fields from Good Life Project. If you are not using Ironclad for contracts, you could be leaving millions on the table without knowing it. Every contract holds renewal dates, pricing terms and obligations you can't afford to miss. But good luck finding them when it matters. Ironclad's AI instantly services what matters so you can act before opportunities slip away. That's why they're trusted by OpenAI, L' Oreal and Salesforce. Find the savings hiding in your contracts@ironcladapp.com podcast that's ironcladapp.
- [69:07]
Sponsor Voice 2
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