Zara McDermott breaks silence following ‘awkward’ BBC appearance with ex Sam Thompson: ‘Scariest thing’
Zara McDermott has broken her silence on her “awkward” TV appearance with ex-boyfriend Sam Thompson, which aired on Michael McIntyre’s Big Show this weekend.
The 28-year-old former Strictly star took to Instagram Stories to react to the segment, which was filmed just days before the couple’s shock split.
The pair appeared on Saturday night’s episode of the BBC show as part of McIntyre’s Midnight Gameshow segment, where the comedian surprises celebrities in their bedrooms.
The footage was shot at the London home they previously shared, before Thompson moved out following their recent separation.
The segment nearly didn’t happen when McIntyre discovered the couple’s bedroom door was locked, despite having gained access to the house using a key left by Zara’s brother.
Instead of his usual surprise entrance, the comedian was forced to knock on the door, leaving the couple terrified inside.
Taking to her Stories, Zara commented on the chaotic moment: “I am not joking when I say, we thought that it was a burglar, we thought we were being robbed.”
She described the filming as “the scariest thing” in her life, particularly when McIntyre shouted “housekeeping” through the door.
“You poor things I’m so sorry,” McIntyre told the couple once they realised what was happening. “We can only imagine how terrifying that was. I’m so, so sorry.”
The segment took another awkward turn when Celebrity SAS star Jason Fox appeared to challenge Thompson.
Fox had Thompson answer questions about his relationship with McDermott while holding heavy weights.
In a particularly uncomfortable moment, Fox demanded “Do you actually love her?” after Thompson failed to remember gifts McDermott had bought him during their relationship.
The appearance prompted immediate reactions on social media, with one viewer posting on X: “Now that Sam and Zara have split up this is absolutely awkward.”
Others questioned whether the show played a role in their separation, with one user asking: “Did Michael break up Sam and Zara?!”
A source close to the couple recently told MailOnline: “Sam and Zara have ended their relationship. It’s been an incredibly difficult decision for them to part ways, they still care and have a lot of love for each other.”
The split came after the pair spent both Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve separately, with Thompson partying at London’s Kensington Roof Gardens while McDermott stayed home.
Thompson broke his silence on the breakup last week on the Staying Relevant podcast, saying: “It was tough. It’s been a tough month. A real tough month.”
A source told The Sun that at the time of filming: “Zara and Sam were really happy and in love when they agreed to take part in the Midnight Gameshow.”
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Speaking on the show, McIntyre revealed the moment he feared the segment wouldn’t work: “They were terrified as I had to knock on the door – but thankfully they then had the time of their lives.”
Before airing the chaotic scene, he had addressed the awkward timing during The One Show the previous night, saying: “We have a Midnight Gameshow tomorrow night with Sam Thompson and his girlfriend, possibly at the time, Zara.”
He added: “They were together when I was in their bedroom!”
Despite the initial fears and subsequent relationship developments, the segment went ahead as planned on Saturday night’s show.