05 December 2023 , 19:29
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At just three years old, he was already at one with wildlife - be it a stranger’s dog he befriended on holiday or his favourite local pony Mrs Warthog.
But it was his “cheeky chappy” smile that helped this “little angel” run rings around his family. Now that same very grin and infectious energy is making I’m A Celeb’s Sam Thompson one of the most popular campmates in the jungle - as well as one of the frontrunners to get the crown. For his mum Karen, it’s been both poignant and wonderful to watch. For, not only is this the TV star and podcaster’s first time actually camping... but the so-dubbed “Duracell bunny” is refusing to let his recently-diagnosed ADHD hold him back.
Speaking from the family home in Berkshire, property developer and interior designer Karen says: “Sam was definitely a very cheeky chappy when he was little but he looked like such a little angel he probably got away with far more than he should have - nothing much has changed! It’s been very surreal watching Sam on I’m a Celebrity. It’s a dream come true for him. [But] I will secretly be happy and relieved when he’s safely back home in one piece!
Sam, aged three, giving us his 'best butter wouldn't melt' pose during a shoot in London (DAILY MIRROR)“Seeing your child so exposed is quite nerve-wracking for any mum, so I have had some difficult moments watching. Yet I’m incredibly proud of his achievements and of the way he hasn’t let his ADHD dull his ambitions - perhaps it drives him even more.”
Sam’s condition came to the fore on the show this week after Nigel Farage accused him of doing “f*** all” in the camp and leaving Hollyoaks’ Nick Pickard to fetch all the water alone. Distraught Sam, who first joined Made In Chelsea in 2013, apologised to Nick, later explaining in the Bush Telegraph that his condition makes him forgetful. He said: ”Nigel, what a d***..I want to help the camp but I’m really forgetful so I just won’t remember to do it.”
TOWIE's Chloe Brockett makes cheeky dig at Saffron Lempriere during filming
Sam always knew he had boundless energy, a short attention span and other signs of the condition. But it wasn’t until he did his Channel 4 documentary Is This ADHD? in May this year that he was diagnosed. It suddenly made sense of what he was like growing up. He was born to the affluent parents, two years after sister and fellow MIC star Louise, in London’s affluent South Kensington, and went attended the exclusive Bradfield House public school, in Berkshire. But Karen, can see exactly why her son earned his camp nickname.
Animal lover Sam, aged three, proves he's always had the super friendly gene - after befriending this pooch on holiday (DAILY MIRROR)“Yes, Sam really is like the ‘Duracell Bunny’,” she laughs. “But, long after we’re all exhausted, he does eventually wear himself out and has to stop and recharge! It was always obvious that Sam had an incredibly short attention span but I didn’t know anything about ADHD at that time. So the diagnosis explained a lot about his struggles as a child, such as not being able to sit still or complete any task. The diagnosis has been very beneficial for him. His brain works in a slightly different way and he’s incredibly imaginative and creative. “Fortunately, he’s made it work for him. And I couldn’t be prouder.”
His time as camp leader certainly impressed his mum. She knew he would be fine with the animals - he loved riding as a child, and did a safari in South Africa aged six. But the actual camping is more of a first. He has never, as far as I’m aware, been camping,” she says. “He loved playing sports but, given the choice, he usually preferred to stay indoors with the dogs and watch the National Geographic channel. He was quite a little homebody. So he’s doing brilliantly, considering this is well outside of his comfort zone.”
Sam, then three, and Louise, five, loved riding lessons with their favourite local horse, Mrs Warthog (DAILY MIRROR)One of scarier moments was hearing about the poisonous snake caught making a beeline for her son when he slept. But despite being “extremely worried” when she read about it, Karen reckons Sam’s kindness towards all creatures might kickstart a new career for him, after he announced he was quitting reality shows, having also been on Celebrity Big Brother, the Circle and more. “He always loved (and still loves) animals and they seem to love him too - perhaps he could start a new career as an animal whisperer!,” Karen laughs.
Sam with his mum Karen and sister LouiseKaren has watched episodes with Sam’s girlfriend-of-four-years, Strictly star Zara McDermott - and they’ve already planned to get together for the final, regardless of whether Sam’s actually in it. “Obviously it would be incredible if Sam made it that far but we’ll watch it anyway,” she says. “To win ‘I’m A Celebrity’ would mean the absolute world to Sam - it would be all his Christmases rolled into one. To be honest I can’t even imagine how excited he would be - we’d probably never hear the end of it! So is there anything she wishes she could tell her “little angel” after this hard week? “I would like to tell him that I love him and am so incredibly proud of him,” says Karen. “And to try and focus on getting through one day at a time.”