EXCLUSIVE: Sam Vanderpump only met his model girlfriend Alice Yaxley six months ago – but after bonding even more during his near-death hospital dash, he knew she was The One
It’s been a whirlwind six months for Sam Vanderpump since meeting his model girlfriend Alice Yaxley. As we sit down for an exclusive chat for OK! with the smitten couple, they’ve got some big news to share. “When you know, you know,” beams the Made In Chelsea star as he reveals he proposed to Alice earlier this year after a whirlwind romance and a health crisis last December which he was lucky to survive.
“We’re both on cloud nine at the moment”, adds Alice, whose engagement ring sparkles beautifully on her left hand. While the news may come as a shock to many fans of the reality show, which, last series, saw Sam as a single man, he tells us it was a natural next step for the couple, who met in July last year.
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“Alice and I have only been dating for about six months, but we’ve gone through such a lot in such a short period of time. From day dot, Alice has been with me pretty much 24/7. And over Christmas we went through a bit of an episode together where I got really, really ill,” he says. Explaining his sudden deterioration, Sam adds, “I got an infection due to a genetic disease I’ve got, which led to sepsis and it ended up quite bad. I was in hospital and it was a close call, I could have died.”
At the time, the 27-year-old explained how his quick-thinking girlfriend phoned an ambulance after he became “delirious”, having spent days in bed suffering from dehydration and severe back pain. Shockingly, Sam was later told by doctors if he was admitted to hospital 24 hours later it would have been too late, as his liver and kidneys had stopped working. It was a traumatic experience, but as it turned out, one with a huge silver lining.
“That experience brought us very, very close. I think I walked out of that looking at Alice and thinking, ‘ This is the girl I want to marry. ‘ So, my thinking was, ‘ If I’m saying that now, why on earth am I waiting? ‘” After deciding to pop the question, Sam wasted no time in getting the approval of 23-year-old Alice’s family and enlisting his Made In Chelsea co-stars to assist him with the grand proposal – in scenes that will play out on screen.
“I planned the whole engagement, asked her family and got permission from her dad. I was worried about what they would say since we hadn’t been together long, but everyone was so supportive. It was only the second time I’d met Alice’s dad and he said everything I’d want him to say! It was great. I got help from Ollie and Sophie [MIC co-stars Ollie Locke and Sophie Hermann] with ring shopping, which was fun. Sophie was literally getting a ring-measuring kit out during dinner and asking Alice what shapes she liked – not suspicious at all!”
Although Sam feared that his co-stars might blow his cover, Alice didn’t put two and two together until after the engagement. She says, “I really didn’t, but now I know I can pinpoint times where he was acting weird. He’d leave his phone on the bed and then come back to grab it two minutes later. I was thinking, ‘Why is he doing this?’ Sam laughingly adds, “I think it would have been easier to cheat on you! I have a newfound respect for people who propose, it’s not easy.”
Finally making it onto one knee, he proposed in a private boutique viewing room of a jewellery shop – which he had decked out with violinists and flowers for the perfect romantic setting”. I completely choked on my words, “he admits”. I’m not even sure what I said. I blurted out a few words and her full name, and managed to get the, ‘ Will you marry me ‘ out, which was the most important bit! Then it was just loads of tears from the both of us. We were emotional wrecks! “
After Alice said” yes”, they celebrated with a family dinner set up by Sam, which was the perfect way for their relatives to meet for the first time – and they are now planning an engagement party with pals. Yet, while the couple are filled with joy to be entering an exciting new chapter, Sam admits the dramatic health scare which sparked his big proposal has cast a grey cloud in recent months.
While he may have recovered physically, his near-death experience with sepsis has left him with emotional scarring and health anxiety”. Mentally, it probably is the most challenging thing I’ve gone through, “admits Sam, visibly nervous when we ask how he’s feeling”. Coming out of those situations, it’s the health anxiety that follows, which I struggle with.
“There were signs which can so easily be mistaken for common flu symptoms. So now, every time I get a pain or feel a little lethargic, I think, ‘ Oh God, am I getting sepsis? ‘ rather than, ‘ Do I have something completely minor? ‘” The doctor said one more day without urgent medical care and I would not have made it. So, it’s just scary that you can miss it. I’ve definitely been struggling. But I’m hoping time heals all and the longer I feel OK, the more confident I’ll become. “
Sam has been back and forth to hospital since, something which hasn’t helped with the mental recovery process”. I remember the last time you were in the hospital, you weren’t doing great, were you? “interjects Alice”. I think that’s probably mentally draining for you. You spent a lot of time going back into hospital for a week at a time, doing nothing because you were being monitored. “
” But there is comfort in going back to hospital as you feel safe if something does go wrong, “says Sam, who admits he couldn’t have endured the ordeal without Alice. Time is a healer and the support’s been amazing, so that’s helped. I was very fortunate to have Alice there, but also, it took the pressure off the rest of my family. Alice, knowing me the shortest amount of time, took one of the biggest burdens, which was amazing. I think that’s why my family are so happy we’re engaged. They saw everything she did for me”.
As Sam opens up about his family, we have to ask about his famous aunt, Lisa Vanderpump, best known for her time on reality show Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills. Revealing their close relationship, he says she has been a parental figure for him since he lost his dad in 2018. “Since my dad passed away, Lisa really has been like a father figure to me – which sounds very strange to say,” Sam adds.
“I’m not sure she’ll appreciate the manly comparison, but she sees me as a son in that sense, and has always taken that role of authority in my life, making sure I’m making all the right decisions. She gives me direction when it comes to reality TV and business alongside my personal life”.
Assuring us that Alice has got the seal of approval from Lisa too, Sam says, “I was scared to tell her, because I always want to impress and please her and I was worried she would say we hadn’t been together long enough. But she was so supportive and said if I was happy, then it was great”. She’s met Alice on FaceTime but we’re going to the US to meet properly in April. “Lisa later said”, I am extremely happy and very proud. Sam is like a son to me, and I am so excited there will be another Vanderpump – and hopefully soon lots more new little Vanderpumps. “
And no doubt Lisa will be sharing some pearls of wisdom with Alice too, as the model has joined her fiancé on the new season of Made In Chelsea, which airs on Monday nights on E4. While fans will get an insight into their relationship, we may not see the big day itself on screen.
” We’re doing some things for the show and a cast celebration. But for the wedding itself, we like the idea of an intimate family wedding abroad, then a big reception party in the UK, “says Sam, who tells us they are planning a long engagement before tying the knot in 2027.
” We definitely want kids, “says Sam with a smile, adding”, But we want to get married first, I’m very traditional like that. “” Sam is going to be the best dad, I can already tell, “adds Alice.
Watch Made In Chelsea on Mondays at 9pm on E4 or stream on Channel 4.
