Sam Vanderpump: Joy of Pregnancy Amid Health Battles

Sam Vanderpump and Alice Yaxley have experienced many challenges since they began their relationship, but only six weeks ago, they shared the joy of their pregnancy. On Monday night’s episode of Made in Chelsea, Sam, 28, revealed his diagnosis of end-stage liver disease, a condition that could significantly reduce his lifespan unless he receives a liver transplant.

Sam is the nephew of Lisa Vanderpump, a star from Vanderpump Rules and Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, and he is engaged to 24-year-old model Alice. The couple announced their pregnancy on Instagram in mid-September, receiving numerous messages of support from fans and co-stars. However, just weeks later, Sam had more difficult news to share.

In the latest episode of the E4 reality show, Sam told his friends Ollie Locke and Tabitha Willett, “There is no hope of my liver getting better, and he [the doctor] said I wouldn’t be having this call with you if I thought you could make it through the next four or five years. They’re sending me for a liver transplant assessment, so yeah.”

Last year, Sam nearly died over Christmas after his liver and kidneys failed, leading to life-threatening sepsis. End-stage liver disease (ESLD) is the final stage of liver damage where the organ can no longer function properly. This irreversible condition results from chronic liver diseases like advanced cirrhosis or acute liver failure. Symptoms include fatigue, jaundice, swelling, confusion, and abdominal pain. Treatment may involve a liver transplant if the liver function is severely compromised.

In March, Sam told The Mirror, “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.” He credited Alice for saving his life at the time by calling the ambulance and explained that some symptoms could be mistaken for the flu. “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?’” he said.

Sam and Alice have been dating for around 15 months, according to the Daily Mail, and have reached several milestones. They were introduced through their Chelsea connections, with Alice catching Sam's eye at her birthday party in July 2024, as reported by Grazia. They started dating shortly after and became engaged in March of this year. A few months later, Alice fell pregnant.

In their engagement post featuring the couple on the streets of London, Sam’s aunt Lisa commented, “Perfect couple.” Although their relationship has been fast-paced, the couple plans to marry in 2027. Sam told The Mirror, “We like the idea of an intimate family wedding abroad, then a big reception party in the UK.”

The couple announced their pregnancy on September 16. They posted an Instagram post with the caption, “Life is full of surprises, but this is the best one yet. I can’t put into words how happy and excited we are!” In an interview with the Daily Mail, they revealed the name they chose for their baby boy: Marmaduke. Sam explained, “My dad is no longer with us, but he always wanted to call my brother ‘Duke’ because he believed my brother would one day become Prime Minister, Duke Vanderpump. I really love the name.”

Mark Vanderpump, Sam’s father, passed away by suicide in 2018, and his death has been a struggle for Sam. In a Made in Chelsea episode following their pregnancy announcement, Sam became emotional while discussing his father’s death during a baby scan. He said, “I know I never really talk to you [Alice] about it… I just find it really difficult to talk about my dad. I struggle with the fact my dad’s not going to be there at our wedding, and I struggle with the fact that our child’s not going to know their grandad. It’s very sad—especially with the way he went.”

In the same episode, the couple shared the news with their Made in Chelsea friends. Tabitha and Ollie were delighted and emotional upon seeing pictures of the baby scan. During another recent episode, Sam and Alice were nervous about telling “Aunty Lisa” the news. She responded with shock, asking if they were sure, before expressing her happiness.

Alice Yaxley is a model and now a reality TV star who joined the Made in Chelsea cast in 2025. She is from London and has modeled globally, including in China and Bali. Her impressive career includes work with brands like ASOS, Motel Rocks, and Missguided. In 2023, she suffered first-degree burns after her friend’s car overheated and exploded. She told The Sun, “I remember screaming and crying, it was the worst pain I have ever felt and only got worse.” After surgery, she lost vision in her left eye for days and was advised to avoid direct sunlight for at least two years. She said, “The firefighters saved my modelling career, that’s for sure.”

Since joining the show, Alice has had some clashes with Jules Pollard and Tristan Phipps, but she prides herself on being “straightforward.” In promo material before joining season 29, she said, “If you say something I don’t agree with, I will definitely call you out on it.”

After Monday’s episode aired, Sam’s fiancée shared a video on TikTok addressing his liver disease diagnosis. Alice admitted, “I can’t deal with watching myself back, it really just cringes me out, but I did watch last night’s one because it’s obviously a very emotional time for Sam.” She added, “So I watched it and Sam telling Ollie and Tabs… I just couldn’t deal, really made me cry.” Fans showed their support in the comments, with one user saying, “I’m so sorry about Sam’s news. You weren’t cringe at all, you’re handling everything with such grace.” Another user, Emma Townsend, wrote, “It made me cry. You are both carrying yourselves beautifully and should be proud.” A fan named @nixonnight added, “You’re such a selfless caring person. Sam couldn’t have a better person by his side.”

Made in Chelsea returns on Monday, November 3, at 10.15pm on E4.