Heartbreaking moment Made In Chelsea’s Sam Vanderpump fights back tears as his doctor tells him his battle with end-stage liver disease is set to worsen

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Sam Vanderpump, known from the reality show Made In Chelsea, became visibly upset when his doctor shared difficult news in a new documentary: his severe liver disease is expected to get worse.

In a new E4 series called Made In Chelsea: Sam Vanderpump’s Story, the 29-year-old reality star documented his personal journey – including getting a life-saving liver transplant, getting married, and becoming a father – for cameras to follow.

The first episode, which aired Tuesday night on April 28th, followed Sam and his family as they learned more about the TV personality’s declining health from their doctor.

In late 2024, Sam got very sick with the flu, which quickly turned into a serious infection called sepsis. This caused his liver and kidneys to fail, and he was later diagnosed with permanent, end-stage liver disease. As a result, he was added to the list to receive a liver transplant.

Sam was born with two uncommon medical conditions affecting his liver and kidneys, but they didn’t cause major problems until he became seriously ill and his organs started to fail.

The new father, whose first child, Marmaduke, was born to him and his wife, Alice Yaxley, 24, in February, has been told he likely has only four to five years to live unless he receives a transplant.

The first episode of the documentary showed the heartbreaking moment Sam learned his health was going to decline.

The doctor informed Sam that his liver was swollen and contained a buildup of bile, a consequence of a pre-existing health condition that had worsened.

Sam explained to the cameras that congenital hepatic fibrosis, simply put, affects the liver’s ability to smoothly filter blood, like a normal, healthy liver would.

My liver isn’t healthy. It’s rough and scarred, has a cyst, and isn’t effectively filtering my blood.

‘And that disease has progressed over 28 years, which has obviously led to the inevitable.’

Honestly, hearing the doctor say it felt… strange. He pointed out that I’d actually been dealing with this for a while, which makes sense when you think about it. I’ve been hospitalized three times now with cholangitis – that’s a bacterial infection in the system that carries bile from the liver, and it’s clearly been a recurring issue for me.

These infections can cause severe health problems, quickly changing someone who appears healthy to someone critically ill in the hospital with failing organs. It’s a rapid decline from seeming fine to needing urgent medical care for end-stage liver disease.

Okay, so it’s not if he’ll need a heart transplant, it’s just… when. It’s like, everyone’s bracing for it, and honestly, I’m just constantly checking for updates, hoping for the best but knowing it’s inevitable. It’s terrifying, but I’m ready to support him through whatever comes next.

My heart absolutely shattered when Dr. Evans said those words. Sam… he was trying so hard to stay strong, but you could just see the hope draining out of him. It wasn’t going to get better, the doctor said, only worse. Honestly, it felt like a punch to the gut. I just wanted to run to him, but I couldn’t… it was awful.

The conversation then focused on Sam’s potential treatment options. His mother, Simone, volunteered to donate part of her liver in a procedure called ‘live donation.’ This donated portion would then grow into a full-sized liver inside Sam’s body.

During the appointment, Sam appeared distant and said, “I don’t want to do that.” He then added, as politely as he could, “Please, Mum, just be quiet.”

I am eligible for a transplant, but the process is really difficult. I either have to wait for a donor organ after someone passes away – which means my health might need to get worse to move higher on the waiting list – or I’d need to be willing to accept an organ from a family member or friend.

He admitted to Alice he was overwhelmed and didn’t know how to react. He said he wasn’t sure what he’d been expecting, but he felt completely overloaded with information.

The thought of a liver transplant makes me incredibly anxious. I couldn’t bear the possibility of a friend or family member dying during the surgery while I’m receiving a life-saving transplant. The guilt would be unbearable, and I wouldn’t want to live with that kind of grief.

Earlier this year, Sam shared on Instagram that he anticipates 2025 will be a challenging but rewarding year. This comes after he married Alice, who was then pregnant, while also facing a serious battle with end-stage liver disease.

Sam posted several photos from 2025, showcasing happy moments like his wedding and a picture of Alice’s baby bump. He expressed gratitude to his family and friends for helping him through a difficult year.

He wrote a long message saying that despite being a very difficult year, it was also one of the best, and he wouldn’t trade the experience for anything.

I’m a naturally optimistic and enthusiastic person, so I’m already looking forward to 2026! Bring it on – we can handle anything!

I selected these photos because they represent the people who matter most to me and the incredible support they gave me throughout a challenging year, ultimately making it a really memorable one.

The people who’ve shared this journey with me mean so much more than just these pictures and memories. I feel incredibly fortunate to have such amazing people in my life, and I’m truly grateful for all of you. I love you all.

Sam and Alice became parents in February, welcoming their son, Marmaduke. Sam chose the name to honor his father, Mark, who passed away in 2018 at age 59.

Alice had her baby at the Kensington Wing of Chelsea and Westminster Hospital on February 9th, just two months after her wedding.

Even though the future was uncertain, Sam and Alice decided to focus on their love for each other and get married while Sam was feeling healthy, before their son was born.

In a recent interview, while sharing new wedding photos, Sam revealed that the difficulties of the past year had been very hard on him emotionally.

I was so moved by what he shared with HELLO! Magazine. He admitted he was really going through it emotionally before the wedding, dealing with everything happening with his health. But honestly, hearing him say he’s been incredibly happy these last few days just warmed my heart. It’s so lovely to know he’s doing well.

The wedding was arranged within four weeks and was followed by a dinner at The Lanesborough.

The couple planned a simple wedding, picking out Alice’s dress together and skipping typical traditions like a first dance and long speeches.

The newlyweds plan to host a larger celebration in May 2027, after welcoming their son. 

Sam proposed to Alice in March, following a serious health scare. He’d been hospitalized in January with liver and kidney problems that led to a life-threatening infection.

The actor openly shared that he worried he wouldn’t live long enough to meet his son, after learning he urgently needed a liver transplant.

It really struck me when Sam shared his feelings. He lost his dad seven years ago, and he said his first thought always goes to his own child, who his dad will sadly never get to meet. It just breaks my heart to think about, and it’s so relatable – the pain of a parent not meeting their grandchild is something many of us can understand.

‘To now start having that thing dawned on you. Am I going to see my child? That’s terrifying.’ 

Made In Chelsea: Sam Vanderpump’s Story continues tonight on E4.  

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2026-04-29 17:20