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Archive March 31, 2025

Sam Thompson fans send support as he addresses Zara McDermott break-up in new update

Sam Thompson has shared a hilarious TikTok video with his sister Louise Thompson, her partner Ryan Libbey and their son Leo as he addressed his split from Zara McDermott

Sam has given fans a new update on how he is doing post breakup from Zara McDermott

Sam Thompson is getting support from fans after posting a hilarious TikTok video in light of his split from Zara McDermott. In the clip, which features Sam’s sister Louise, her partner Ryan Libbey and their son Leo, Sam had everyone dressed up as Harry Potter characters. The presenter captioned the clip: “I wonder what Sam’s been up to after the breakup?”

Fans flooded the comments section with encouraging messages. One supporter wrote, “You’re too good for her anyway”. Another commented, “Sam, you will find someone who will adore your quirks like we all do. Never change!! “!

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A third added, “Zara will never laugh like she did with you”! Echoing similar sentiments, a fourth fan advised, “Sam, you are so much better without her. Trust you will realise that soon. Head up and just keep annoying your sister and bro-in-law”.

Sam posted the hilarious video to TikTok
Sam posted the hilarious video to TikTok(Image: samthompsonuk/Instagram)

The breakup between Sam, 32, and Zara, 28, who had been together since 2019, has been a topic of much discussion. Despite the split, Sam has maintained a positive outlook, sharing motivational messages with his followers. He recently posted a video declaring, “New year! 2025 baby, come on, let’s have it! I can’t wait. The new year is going to be amazing, and you’re going to have the best year ever.”

Zara, on the other hand, has been linked to former One Direction member Louis Tomlinson. Reports suggest that the two have been on several low-key dates, including a romantic getaway at a hotel in Aldeburgh, Suffolk. An insider noted, “Louis has been a complete gentleman and has wined and dined Zara, treating her to a trip away.”

Sam recently admitted that he is lonely following his split from fellow reality TV star Zara McDermott. The 32-year-old opened up to his friends Joe Marler and Pete Wicks on the Staying Relevant podcast, which he co-hosts with the former Strictly Come Dancing contestant.

Sam and Zara
Sam and Zara split in December last year(Image: Redferns)

Discussing Joe’s potential vasectomy and the impact of four children on his life, Sam suddenly said: “I’m just lonely”. He added that he would “love four kids” before Pete, 37, jumped in and said his friend had had a “glow up” but “didn’t know what to do with himself”.

In the months following Sam and Zara’s split in December 2024, there has been a microscopic focus on how both individuals are doing, with rumours swirling about Sam’s mental health and Zara’s dating life.

With regard to the former, Sam recently opened up on his podcast about how he had been coping, especially at events where both he and Zara were present. So low did Sam sound that fans reached out to express their support for him.

According to The Sun, fans not only supported Sam but praised Pete for being there for him. One said: “Oh Sam!!! You looked and sounded so sad!!! I really feel for you my lovely, you are such a wonderful human and normally keep everyone so upbeat, but this was so sad to see, I really wanted to give you a big hug!!”

Louis Tomlinson
Zara is said to be dating One Direction star Louis Tomlinson(Image: Future Publishing via Getty Images)

Sam has also received support from former JLS member Marvin Humes who reportedly took him out to support him. Sam explained: “He wanted to check in with me and make sure I was ok because he knew everything had been a bit s*** recently. He took the time on a Monday evening to take the time away from his wife and kids to spend time with me, I almost shed a tear.”

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Price wins ninth Players Championship as Littler exits early

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Gerwyn Price won the ninth Players Championship of 2025 with an 8-4 victory over Ian White in the final, as Luke Littler went out in the third round.

Price produced a superb 140 checkout in the fourth leg – the highest of the match – to take a 3-1 lead and kept his composure in the remainder of the contest at the Leicester Arena.

Welshman Price averaged 94.67 to White’s 96.99 and had fewer 180s – three to six – but his checkout success of 34.8% versus 28.6% proved crucial.

It was Price’s second Players Championship tournament win of the season following last month’s success in Wigan.

“I didn’t feel too good at the beginning of today – was a little bit up and down in games – but that will give a me boost for the Premier League next week”, Price told the PDC.

“I was a little bit inconsistent but I battled on. In the past I probably throw those games away. There were some ragged points but I’m glad to get a win”.

White, ranked 52nd in the PDC order of merit, had reached his first professional tour final in five years having knocked out world champion Littler in the last 32.

The 54-year-old, nicknamed ‘ Diamond’, had given Littler a scare in the fourth round of the World Championships earlier this year.

Before that match White revealed he used to beat 18-year-old Littler’s grandfather on the pub darts circuit in Runcorn in the 1990s.

In his second meeting with the Warrington teenager, White triumphed 6-5 after a thrilling deciding leg.

Littler failed to land a 102 checkout to give White a chance and he nailed 46, finishing with double top, to progress at the expense of his fellow Englishman.

White went on to score wins over Josh Rock and Cameron Menzies in the quarters and semis before he came unstuck against Price.

Gary Anderson, meanwhile, compiled a nine-dart finish in his first-round match against Krzysztof Ratajski, before he lost in the last 32.

There are 34 Players Championship events across the year and the second part of the Leicester double-header will take place on Tuesday.

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  • Darts

US slaps sanctions on top Chinese, Hong Kong officials for rights abuses

The United States has imposed sanctions on six Chinese and Hong Kong officials to punish China for its ongoing crackdown on democracy advocates in the financial hub, which was returned to Chinese rule in 1997.

The US Department of State announced the sanctions on Monday. They target prominent figures, including Hong Kong Police Commissioner Raymond Siu Chak-yee and Secretary for Justice Paul Lam for playing a role in efforts to “intimidate, silence and harass 19 pro-democracy activists”.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on X that Beijing had “broken its promises” after pledging to allow the territory a high degree of autonomy, “depriving Hong Kongers of freedoms” and engaging in “acts of transnational repression targeting activists on US soil”.

The sanctions, marking a rare foray into human rights by the administration of President Donald Trump, will block any interests held by the six individuals in the US and generally criminalise financial transactions with them under US law.

They also target Dong Jingwei, a former senior official at China’s main civilian intelligence agency who is now the director of Beijing’s Office for Safeguarding National Security in Hong Kong, along with senior security and police officials Sonny Au, Dick Wong, and Margaret Chiu.

‘ Aggressive ‘ crackdown

Beijing promised a separate system for Hong Kong when Britain handed over the financial hub in 1997.

But it then went on to launch major crackdowns on dissent, imposing draconian national security rules after large and at times destructive protests in favour of democracy swept the city in 2019.

The State Department’s latest Hong Kong Policy Act Report, published on Monday, pointed to two laws – the Beijing-imposed 2020 National Security Law and the Hong Kong government’s Safeguarding National Security Ordinance – which it said had been used to “aggressively” prosecute pro‑democracy and media freedom advocates.

Targets included the two former chief editors of the now-defunct independent news outlet Stand News – Chung Pui-kuen and Patrick Lam – who were last year jailed on charges of conspiring to publish seditious publications.

Chinese and Hong Kong authorities said the National Security Law – which punishes subversion, collusion with foreign forces and terrorism with up to life in prison – has brought stability to the Chinese-controlled territory since the 2019 protests.

The six sanctioned officials were targeted in line with a US law that champions Hong Kong democracy.

Chelsea report £128.4m profit after sale of women’s team

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Chelsea have reported a pre-tax profit of £128.4m in their financial results for the year ending June 2024.

The figure was an improvement on the first full year under the ownership of Todd Boehly’s Clearlake Capital consortium, in which the Premier League club announced pre-tax losses of £90.1m.

Chelsea’s overall revenue fell from £512.5m in 2023 to £468.5m, which the club attributed to the absence of Champions League football for their men’s side.

The club credited the profit to the “disposal of player registrations” worth £152.5m and the “repositioning” of their highly successful women’s team.

Chelsea announced a restructuring and a long-term strategic plan for the women’s team in May 2024 which saw them sold to become a standalone business from the men’s side while remaining a part of the club owners ‘ wider portfolio.

Chelsea said matchday revenue increased to £80.1m for its financial year, from £76.5m in the previous results.

Sale of women’s team crucial to profit – analysis

Chelsea’s statement on Monday pointed to how the club improved their financial health, avoiding breaking Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules (PSR).

The position was strengthened in the previous financial results by the sale of two hotels by Chelsea FC Holdings Ltd to BlueCo 22 Properties Ltd, a deal between companies under the control of the Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital ownership.

That £76.5m sale meant Chelsea made a loss of £89.9m instead of £166.4m in their 2022-23 accounts.

Chelsea may have made an even greater gain with the sale of the women’s team to BlueCo, with that 2024 transaction worth either part or all of the £198.7m “profit on disposal of subsidiaries” mentioned in the club accounts.

Without that, Chelsea may have made a significant loss.

In a season without European football, the club again made substantial player purchases while not having a front-of-shirt sponsor.

Only when the full financial results are released on Companies House will it be absolutely clear what impact the women’s team transaction has made.

Chelsea’s strategy is entirely within Premier League rules. Uefa has more stringent rules and it remains to be seen whether European football’s governing body considers any action.

Related topics

  • Chelsea
  • Premier League
  • Football

I’m A Celeb’s Maura Higgins ‘blanks’ Danny Jones on jungle group chat after kiss

I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! star Maura Higgins reportedly blanked her co-star Danny Jones in the group chat

I’m A Celeb’s Maura Higgins ‘ blanks ‘ Danny Jones on jungle group chat after kiss

Love Island star Maura Higgins reportedly ‘snubbed’ Danny Jones on the I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! group chat on his birthday. The duo hit headlines when they were spotted sharing a late-night smooch at a BRIT Awards afterparty, with McFly singer Danny later issuing a grovelling apology on social media.

He was also pictured with his wife putting on a united front as they enjoyed a casual stroll as they dealt with the fallout of the drunken kiss. Maura ignored the drama as she flew to the US for work projects and posted only about her events and gorgeous looks to her Instagram Fans.

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Maura Higgins
Maura reportedly snubbed Danny in the group chat(Image: Dave Benett/Getty Images for Universal)

On March 12, Danny celebrated his 39th birthday and his I’m A Celebrity co-stars reportedly wished him a happy birthday in their WhatsApp group chat.

“No one really ever speaks in it but on Danny’s birthday, everyone was pinging him a message in there”, an insider said to The Sun. “Maura didn’t send a message, which isn’t surprising”.

They have been wrapped up in scandal since video footage emerged as the kiss put strain on Danny’s marriage to former Miss England Georgia Horsley.

Danny Jones and his wife Maura Higgins
Danny and Maura hit headlines after being spotted kissing(Image: Getty Images for the NTA’s)

Danny and Maura, who met on the latest series of I’m A Celebrity, were seen looking close at a glitzy party before heading onto the five-star Nobu Hotel in London for more drinks.

Danny recently apologised for what happened in a grovelling apology shared on social media while his wife moved out of the family home temporarily to spend time with her friends and “get away” from all that is going on.

In a statement, the McFly singer said: “Hello everyone, sorry it’s taken me a while to post this but I’ve taken some time out to be with those closest to me.

” I want to deeply apologise to my wife and family for putting them in this situation. I love them so much and we’ll continue to deal with this privately.

“I love you guys, thank you for your patience, understanding, and support. See you all soon, Danny”.

Meanwhile, Maura recently took part in a huge shoot for fashion brand Oh Polly and shared snaps from her American getaway on social media. Despite painting a picture she has brushed off the scandal, sources have told The Mirror it has been a tough few weeks for the star.

Maura recently gave her own insight into her thoughts on being involved in the scandal as she ‘liked’ a fan comment on her recent post. A follower supported Maura and wrote: “You are unreal. Don’t listen to the haters. U are a diamond.”

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