Zara McDermott hints her romance with Louis Tomlinson is heating up

Zara McDermott has offered another hint that her romance with boyfriend Louis Tomlinson is heating up as they prepare to celebrate their first Christmas together.

The broadcaster began dating the One Direction star earlier this year, following her split from boyfriend Sam Thompson.

Earlier this week it was revealed Zara had celebrated her 29th birthday with a cosy weekend away with Louis and his sister Lottie.

Ahead with less than a week to go until Christmas, Zara has shared a telling festive tribute to her boyfriend Louis.

It came as Sam also revealed that he needed therapy after he split from Zara at the end of last year. You can read the full interview for YOU Magazine here.

In a post on her Instagram Stories, Zara revealed she'd finished wrapping all of her Christmas presents, and asked if her followers needed any help with last-minute gifts.

Under Zara's tree were a pile of neatly-wrapped presents, and some of the labels showed they had been signed by both her, and her boyfriend Louis.

The Love-Island star-turned-documentary-maker moved on with the musician after a string of dates in March, and their relationship has been going from strength-to-strength since they confirmed they were officially an item back in August. 

Zara shared a loved-up selfie with Louis during a winter walk on Sunday and penned: 'The best birthday ever with you ❤️ & the final year of my 20’s!!'

The sweet birthday post came just hours after Sam Thompson finally went Instagram official with new girlfriend Talitha Balinska after confirming the romance earlier this month.

Made In Chelsea star Sam, 33, went public with his new relationship at the start of December, whilst throwing subtle shade to his ex.

Sam decided to make successful London DJ Talitha, 25, his girlfriend after months of dating - with the pair initially being set up by Sam's friend and business partner Reza Amiri-Garroussi.

And on Saturday night Sam shared a new photo to his Instagram, beaming beside the musician as they cosied up for a gorgeous snap during a London dinner date.

Zara and Sam dated for around five years - with the pair going official in May 2019 and later splitting in December 2024.

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While Sam was in a relationship with Zara at the time, he recently reconnected with Talitha after she was invited as a surprise guest to his live show at the O2 Arena and, as one source told the Daily Mail, 'the rest is history'. 

And speaking to best pal Pete on an episode of their Staying Relevant podcast, the TV personality revealed he was officially off the market once again.

He excitedly declared: 'I’ve got a girlfriend. I’ve got a girlfriend!' as Pete quipped: 'We've lost him again to the dark powers of a woman.' 

When probed about the details of the moment he asked Talitha the important question, Sam insisted: 'Mate, it was just super relaxed. It was so boring really, but that's kind of how I wanted it to be.

'We just went for dinner and I was like, "I really like you". And I just went "I'd love to be your boyfriend". I don't know why I'm panicking more now!'

He went on: 'Yeah, I just said, "Look, I really, really like you and you make me feel really… comfortable. I feel like I can be myself around you. I don't want to be dating anyone else. I'm 33, I wouldn’t be dating someone this amount of time if I didn’t think it had legs to last. So will you be my girlfriend?" And she said "yes". And so I said, "great."'

Pete was quick to congratulate his pal and point out how far he'd come in a year, after last Christmas marked the breakdown of Sam's five-year romance with Zara.

He said: 'Listen we're all very proud of you and we're pleased that the year has taken a full circle', as Sam echoed: 'Christmas is back on! I'm happy.'

And in a sign of how well their relationship is blossoming already, Sam showed how close Talitha has already become with his family, as he revealed he was planning on taking her skiing with his sister Louise Thompson and her fiancé Ryan Libbey in the New Year.

Made In Chelsea star Louise, 35, appeared to give her seal of approval to her brother's new girlfriend in October, as she shared a snap of Talitha and Sam roasting marshmallows with her and her son Leo, four.

But when Pete asked if he had any plans to go Instagram official with Talitha, Sam let slip a slight dig at his ex-girlfriend, saying: 'I don't think there's any need for it.'

As Pete clarified: 'I just want to confirm that there won't be a picture of the cats, you and Peep [Talitha] in Christmas pyjamas in Santa's grotto?'

Sam and Zara frequently shared Instagram content together throughout their relationship, and one Christmas donned matching festive pyjamas and posed with their pet cats, Albus and Cedric, in front of the tree.

However, Sam was quick to insist to Pete that he had no intentions of doing the same with Talitha, saying: 'I've done that before and I want to do a complete opposite of that this time...'