Podcast Summary: Great Company with Jamie Laing

Episode: SAM THOMPSON: Our Biggest MIC Fallout & Why Jamie Finally Said Sorry
Release Date: January 28, 2026
Host: Jamie Laing
Guest: Sam Thompson

Episode Overview

Jamie Laing welcomes longtime friend and fellow Made in Chelsea (MIC) alumnus Sam Thompson for an in-depth, open-hearted conversation. The episode explores resilience, friendship, public fallout, heartbreak, recovery from burnout, and why it's so crucial to say sorry even years after the fact. With trademark candour and humour, Jamie and Sam reflect on their turbulent relationship, personal growth, and what they've learned about happiness, mental health, and forging your own path beyond reality TV.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Early Days & Entering Made in Chelsea

• First Meeting Memories
  Sam remembers driving his sister to Jamie’s flat before either appeared on MIC ([05:14]).

  “It was when I drove my sister to pick something up from your flat that you lived in with Francis Spencer...I was a bartender back then.” — Sam [05:14]

• Awkward Beginnings
  Joining the show aged 21, Sam felt ignored and isolated. The established cast didn’t speak much to new arrivals.

  “None of you want to speak to me...I looked about 16.” — Sam [06:38]
  Jamie recalls those times as carefree and fun before fame changed things ([05:44]).

• First-ever Scene on MIC
  Sam shares nerves about his very first filmed scene, which took numerous takes due to trembling ([07:41]).

2. Realities of Reality TV & Finding a Career

• Lack of Early Career Ambitions
  Both describe initial years on MIC as fun-first. Social media was minimal—no notion of celebrity as a career ([09:30]).
• Discovering an Industry Beyond MIC
  Sam says it was doing Big Brother (against Jamie’s advice) that opened his eyes to wider opportunities ([11:47]).

  “That’s when I realized there was an industry behind it...Big Brother, you told me not to do it.” — Sam [11:58]

• Risks & Status
  Jamie admits to being both cautious and jealous of Sam’s willingness to defy expectations by seizing opportunities others saw as risky ([14:09], [15:01]).

  “You carved out your own path. From my side I’ve gone like, damn, that's fucking great.” — Jamie [16:01]

3. Climbing the MIC “Food Chain”

• Moving From Side Character to Main Plot
  Sam reflects on being Louise’s little brother before difficult relationship drama made him a central character ([19:29]), noting main stories often come from mess, not triumph.
• Navigating Youth, Love, and Fame
  His first real-life relationship, with Tiff, was also his first on TV ([20:30]). Sam shares his late-bloomer status and the awkwardness of filming those moments.

4. Friendship, Fallout, and Forgiveness

• Intense Friendship & Unbalanced Emotional Labour
  Jamie recalls relying on Sam as his main confidant ([23:19]).

  “You were the person that I would phone every single day...things which I slightly regret, I think is that I leaned on you far more than you would lean on me.” — Jamie [23:19]

• The Fallout Over Sophie
  The biggest rift came when Jamie began dating Sophie (previously Sam’s girlfriend) without telling him ([24:18], [25:20]).

  “I went to South Africa...and then started dating her behind your back. And I didn’t tell you.” — Jamie [25:19]
  Sam admits it was the secrecy, not the relationship, that hurt most ([27:57]).
  “It was just that. I was like, dude, what the fuck? Why don’t you tell me? Like...he’s just done the one fucking...you better god damn get married. And you goddamn got married.” — Sam [27:57]

• Delayed Apology and Reconnection
  Jamie describes calling Sam years later to finally apologize after his own moment of self-reflection ([26:04]).

  “You went, mate, I feel like I have never actually fully apologized to you for not being honest with you.” — Sam recalling Jamie’s call [26:04] This conversation becomes a pivotal, emotional moment between them ([26:59]).

5. Heartbreak, Mental Health, and Burnout

• Heartbreak
  Sam opens up about the devastation of his first breakup and its lasting lessons ([34:49] onwards).

  “I remember, like, I was kneeling near my bed going, this pain is absolutely horrific.” — Sam [35:20]

• 2025: Burnout & Depression
  Sam calls 2025 the worst year of his life due to overwork, burnout, and loneliness ([00:04], [37:11]).

  “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.” — Sam [37:11] Low mental health, physical exhaustion, and struggle to connect with family and self is discussed candidly ([38:43] onwards). “I felt really, really, really down...one minute you’re tigger, and the next minute you’re literally on the floor.” — Sam [00:14], [38:55]

• Reconnecting With Family and Self
  Sam finds solace in spending more time with family, especially his nephew Leo, and credits this with healing and growth ([40:10]).

  “One of the biggest triumphs of this year...the relationship I’ve built with my nephew.” — Sam [40:09]

6. Supporting Family Through Crisis

• Louise’s Traumatic Pregnancy
  The siblings recall the trauma and fear as Louise nearly died in childbirth, with Sam recognizing partner Ryan’s unseen emotional toll ([41:39], [44:19]):

  “That was one of the hardest times in my life by an absolute fucking mile.” — Sam [45:26]

7. Endurance Challenges & Resilience

• Sam’s 270-mile Run for Charity
  Sam chronicles his grueling 270-mile challenge for UNICEF, including sustaining a torn calf tendon on the first day and pushing through ([47:48], [48:44], [51:52]).

  “I felt like a gunshot had taken my fucking calf out…physio goes to me, mate, you’ve torn your calf.” — Sam [51:51]

• Community and Goodwill
  Both reflect on the goodness and generosity they saw from the public and emphasize meaning over achievement ([54:23]–[55:11]).

  “I really do believe that people are inherently good...people just need a reason to be good.” — Sam [55:12]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Taking Risks & Following Your Own Path:

  “You carved out your own path...And from my side I’ve gone like, damn, that's fucking great.” — Jamie [16:01]

• On Apologies and Vulnerability:

  “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.” — Jamie [27:00]

• On Burnout and Mental Health:

  “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.” — Sam [37:11]

• On Family Through Crisis:

  “We are so lucky to still have her [Louise]…That was one of the hardest times in my life by, by an absolute fucking mile.” — Sam [45:26]

• On Human Goodness:

  “I really do believe that people are inherently good...People want to be part of a good feeling and that’s what connects us as human beings.” — Sam [55:12], [55:56]

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Segment | Start Time | Highlights | |---------|------------|------------| | Early Days & MIC | 05:02 | First meeting, joining as an outsider | | Big Brother & Career | 11:47 | Risks, career ambitions, Jamie’s jealousy | | Friendship Fallout | 24:18 | The Sophie saga, apology years later | | Burnout & Depression | 37:11 | 2025 struggles, depression, recovery | | Family Crisis | 41:39 | Louise's near-death experience | | Endurance Challenge | 47:48 | Charity run, injury, resilience | | Community & Connection | 54:23 | Human kindness, public support | | Advice for Hard Times | 57:29 | Friends, time, speaking out | | Rapid-fire Questions | 61:04 | Fun, thoughtful quick answers |

Rapid-Fire “Eight Questions”

(Selected highlights for character insight)

• Saying that cheers you up:
  “Love you.” — Sam [61:25]

• How he wants to be remembered:
  “Probably he’s a nice person.” — Sam [61:38]

• Biggest turn off:
  “Rudeness...I just can't understand why people are rude sometimes.” — Sam [63:39]

• What do you like most about yourself?
  “I think I’m nice to be around. I think people like to be in my company.” — Sam [64:12]

Key Takeaways & Themes

• Resilience Required in Unpredictable Paths: Both guests stress the unpredictability of their careers and their growth, revealing the importance of risk-taking and reinvention.
• The Power of Honest Friendship: The raw description of their biggest fallout and Jamie’s late apology demonstrates the healing power of honesty, vulnerability, and forgiveness—even years after the hurt.
• Mental Health Awareness: Sam’s openness about depression, burnout, and the necessity of leaning on others breaks down the stigma and offers hope.
• Family as Anchor: Surviving family crisis (Louise’s pregnancy) and finding identity and joy through family (relationship with nephew Leo) underscores this year’s themes of connection and gratitude.
• Self-Improvement as Ongoing Journey: Both men reflect on still learning, growing, and finding what truly makes them happy—emphasizing that it’s not success, but meaningful relationships.

Concluding Thoughts

This episode offers not just behind-the-scenes stories about reality TV, but also a masterclass in emotional honesty. Sam and Jamie dig into the reality behind the “reality”—exposing the challenges, regrets, and triumphs that have shaped them. Anyone feeling isolated, burned out, or on rocky ground with a close friend will find both comfort and inspiration in their candid storytelling. Ultimately, this is about hope: things change, you can move forward, and kindness—especially to yourself and others—matters most.

For more from Sam Thompson:
Check out his own podcast and follow him on social media (links in episode description).

Next episode of Great Company drops Wednesday. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts!