In an exclusive interview with OK!, a loved-up Sam Vanderpump and his model girlfriend, Alice Yaxley, couldn’t hide their joy as they announced some major news. The Made In Chelsea hunk couldn’t help but smile as he declared, “When you know, you know,” sharing that he popped the question to Alice earlier this year following their fast-paced romance that was nearly derailed by a health scare last December which he narrowly escaped.
Alice chimed in with equal enthusiasm, “We’re both on cloud nine at the moment,” while flaunting her dazzling new engagement ring. Although fans might be stunned by the revelation given Sam’s single status in the most recent series of the reality hit, he sees the proposal as the perfect progression for them since locking eyes back in July.
Sam delved into the intensity of their relationship, “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 elaborated on his frightening brush with illness, explaining, “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.”
Opening up about the harrowing health scare that saw him hospitalised with failing organs due to dehydration and severe back pain. the 27 year old reality star credits the ordeal for bringing him closer to his girlfriend, Alice, revealing it made him realise she was the one he wanted to marry.
“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?'” he shared. After the life-changing epiphany, Sam didn’t hesitate to involve Alice’s family and his Made In Chelsea pals in planning a memorable proposal.
“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!” Sam recounted with a laugh, teasing how the proposal will unfold in upcoming episodes of the show.
Despite Sam’s worries that his co-stars might spill the beans, Alice remained clueless until after he popped the question. She recalls, “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 jokingly 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 getting down on one knee, he proposed in a private boutique viewing room of a jewellery shop – which he had transformed with violinists and flowers for the ultimate romantic setting. “I completely choked on my words,” he confesses. “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 arranged by Sam, which was the perfect opportunity for their families to meet for the first time – and they are now planning an engagement party with friends.
However, while the couple are overjoyed to be starting this exciting new chapter, Sam admits the dramatic health scare which prompted his grand proposal has cast a shadow over recent months. While he may have physically recovered, his near-death experience with sepsis has left him emotionally scarred and dealing with health anxiety. “Mentally, it probably is the most challenging thing I’ve gone through,” Sam confesses, visibly anxious when asked about his current state. “The aftermath of such situations is a struggle, especially dealing with health anxiety.”
“There were signs which can so easily be mistaken for common flu symptoms. So now, every time I feel a bit off or lethargic, I fear, ‘Oh God, am I getting sepsis? Rather than thinking it might be something minor,” he shares. “The doctor said one more day without urgent medical care and I wouldn’t have survived. It’s terrifying how easily you can miss it. I’ve definitely been struggling. But I’m hopeful that time heals all and the longer I feel OK, the more confident I’ll become.
“Sam’s mental recovery process hasn’t been helped by his frequent hospital visits since the incident. Alice interjects, “I remember the last time you were in the hospital, you weren’t doing great, were you?” She adds, “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.”
Sam confesses that returning to the hospital brought him a sense of comfort and security. “But there is comfort in going back to hospital as you feel safe if something does go wrong,” he explains, crediting Alice for being his rock throughout the ordeal.
“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 the conversation shifts to his family, Sam fondly speaks about his aunt, Lisa Vanderpump, a renowned reality TV star from The Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills. Since losing his father in 2018, Sam reveals that Lisa has taken on a parental role in his life. “Since my dad passed away, Lisa really has been like a father figure to me – which sounds very strange to say,” he admits.
Sam describes Lisa’s influence in his life, saying, “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.”
Sam has confirmed that his girlfriend Alice has received the thumbs up from Lisa, saying, “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 expressed her joy, stating, “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.”
Alice, who is also a model, will be joining her fiancé on the new season of Made In Chelsea, which airs on Monday nights on E4. While fans will get a glimpse into their relationship, the actual wedding may not be televised. “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, revealing plans for a lengthy engagement before they tie the knot in 2027.
“We definitely want kids,” Sam shares with a grin, adding, “But we want to get married first, I’m very traditional like that.” Alice adds, “Sam is going to be the best dad, I can already tell.”