Love Island’s Sam Thompson to explore whether he has chronic health condition in hard-hitting Channel 4 documentary
BEFORE becoming the new co-host of Love Island’s Aftersun, Sam Thompson was known for oversharing on Made In Chelsea and for his social media pranks.
But the reality telly joker is to follow girlfriend Zara McDermott into factual film-making and show a more serious side for a new Channel 4 documentary exploring ADHD.
Having first found fame on Love Island, Zara is now a major player for BBC Three with several documentaries to her name.
Turning 30 last summer prompted Sam to make the move himself.
Sam Thompson: Is This ADHD? will follow him as he undergoes testing after years of exhibiting signs of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
Sam told me: “As someone who has worked in television for nearly a decade, I’ve shared some of my most personal moments with the world.
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"But nothing has come close to this.
“This documentary is the most vulnerable I’ve felt in front of the camera, as I wanted to be totally open about how I react to people in situations, and whether these could be linked to ADHD.
“It’s been an incredible and, at times, scary experience, but by exploring what’s been going on inside my head, I hope people can see that we should be more understanding before judging others.”
The hour-long film, which will air on E4 later this year, includes self-shot video diaries to show what makers say is a “rawer side of Sam”.
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A production insider added: “Sam is warm, engaging and curious and never more than here when trying to dig deeper into something so close to home.
“He wanted to know more about ADHD and late diagnosis, how this neurodivergence presents in different people and if it could affect relationships like his and Zara’s — and how medication might work.
“And his niggling concern was if he did have ADHD, was there a chance that medication could change the creativity he’s built his career around?”
During the film Sam meets people who have been diagnosed later in their life to find out how they navigate their own ADHD.
Viewers will find out if Sam does have the disorder when the documentary airs later this year.
He added: “I want to encourage people to learn more about themselves, and be proud of everything that makes them unique.”
Good luck to you, Sam.
MARK LAD IS BEAST IN CLASS
GONE are the days when turning 60 meant you were over the hill – but The Chase brainbox Mark Labbett has already begun to plan for retirement.
And it sounds like top of the list for the 57-year-old star, aka The Beast, is ensuring his legacy lives on – by preparing his son to follow him on to the ITV quiz show.
Chatting proudly about four-year-old Lawrence, Mark told me: “This is a direct quote from his teachers: ‘He is exceptionally intelligent.’
“I am already training him to take over from me when I retire.
"He can be the Mini Beast, even though he will be taller than me.
“He is a bright boy and has a good memory, and most important of all is that he is happy.”
But Mark added: “I think I will retire in one year . . . or 20 years.
"It will take 20 years for them to find someone better than me.”
Mini Beast could be ready to rumble by then.
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STRANGER Things’ fifth and final series is not set to start until 2025.
Filming on the Netflix sci-fi show will resume soon.
But Finn Wolfhard , who plays Mike Wheeler, said: “By the time it comes out, I will be 22, I think.
"And I started working on the show when I was 12. That is insane.”
HINCH TV A CLEAN CUT ‘NO’
MRS HINCH has rejected an offer for her own reality TV show, saying she doesn’t want to invite cameras into her home in rural Essex.
The cleaning influencer – real name Sophie Hinchliffe – regularly shares updates about her life with her 4.6million Instagram followers.
But on the prospect of her own show, she told Radio 2: “I turned it down.
"Do you know what it is, I think I’d end up swearing when I shouldn’t swear.
“I’d love people to watch it but because I do my Instagram, I feel like that is a reality anyway.
“Sometimes you think, cameras in the house . . . It’s like my little safe space.”
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PAUL McCARTNEY’s life after the break-up of The Beatles will be explored in a new documentary called Man On The Run.
The film, which is yet to have a channel or release date, will draw on “unprecedented access to a never-before-seen archive of Paul and Linda’s home videos and photos, as well as new interviews
KAY CALL FOR FANS
PETER KAY is helping to make a new TV documentary about himself – and the comic wants his fans to get involved.
It is not known what channel the special is being created for, but the production firm has previously worked on shows about Tina Turner, Nirvana, and comedian Bobby Ball.
A message posted on Peter’s official Facebook page said: “Have you got a story about how Peter’s comedy has played such an important part in your life?”
The funnyman is now on his first tour in 11 years.
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In 2019, he called out Channel 5 for making an “incredibly misleading” documentary about him.
Now Peter will have the chance to have his say.