Made in Chelsea‘s Sam Vanderpump has declared 2025 the ‘toughest but best year’ after tying the knot with pregnant co-star Alice Yaxley, amid his battle with end-stage liver disease.

The reality star, 24, married the model, 24, in an intimate ceremony last month, ahead of them welcoming their first child, a baby boy, on Valentine’s Day. 

The couple’s wedding came after a hugely difficult period, during which Sam became seriously ill with flu in late 2024, developing sepsis and suffering liver and kidney failure.

He was later diagnosed with irreversible end-stage liver disease and is now on the transplant waiting list.

Taking to Instagram, Sam shared a slew of snaps of special moments from 2025, including his wedding and a photo of Alice’s blossoming bump, as he thanked family and friend’s for their support throughout his ‘hard’ year. 

In a lengthy caption, he penned: ‘This has been one of the toughest years of my life but also one of the best, and I wouldn’t change a thing’. 

Made in Chelsea's Sam Vanderpump has declared 2025 the 'toughest but best year' after tying the knot with pregnant co-star Alice Yaxley, amid his battle with end-stage liver disease

Made in Chelsea’s Sam Vanderpump has declared 2025 the ‘toughest but best year’ after tying the knot with pregnant co-star Alice Yaxley, amid his battle with end-stage liver disease 

The reality star, 24, married pregnant model Alice Yaxley, 24, in an intimate ceremony last month, ahead of them welcoming their first child, a baby boy, on Valentine's Day.

The reality star, 24, married pregnant model Alice Yaxley, 24, in an intimate ceremony last month, ahead of them welcoming their first child, a baby boy, on Valentine’s Day.

‘If you know me, you know I’m one of the most optimistic and excitable people you’ll ever meet, so with that in mind, thank you 2025 and bring on 2026, we got this!’.

He continued: ‘The photos I chose all mean something to me because they’re about the people I’m with and how they’ve supported me, helping make a hard year into something really special. 

‘And the people who’ve been there aren’t limited to these photos or these incredible memories. I’m so lucky to have such incredible people around me. Thank you, truly. I love you all’.

Before adding: ‘And most importantly, my wife @alice.vanderpump’.

It comes after the couple  gave their first interview since tying the knot, where Sam admitted he was ‘struggling emotionally’ in the run up to his nuptials.   

He told HELLO! Magazine: ‘I was struggling emotionally in the weeks leading up to the wedding because of everything going on with my health.

‘But I have been so over the moon happy these past few days.’

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

The couple's wedding came after a hugely difficult period, during which Sam became seriously ill with flu in late 2024, developing sepsi sand suffering liver and kidney failure

The couple’s wedding came after a hugely difficult period, during which Sam became seriously ill with flu in late 2024, developing sepsi sand suffering liver and kidney failure

Taking to Instagram, Sam shared a slew of snaps of special moments from 2025, including his proposal to Alice

Taking to Instagram, Sam shared a slew of snaps of special moments from 2025, including his proposal to Alice 

The couple also posed alongside their Made In Chelsea co-stars

The couple also posed alongside their Made In Chelsea co-stars 

He also posted a glimpse of their sonogram

He also posted a glimpse of their sonogram 

There was also a photo of him with aunt and fellow TV star Lisa Vnderpump, who he credits with helping him through his illness

There was also a photo of him with aunt and fellow TV star Lisa Vnderpump, who he credits with helping him through his illness 

In a lengthy caption, he penned: 'This has been one of the toughest years of my life but also one of the best, and I wouldn¿t change a thing'

In a lengthy caption, he penned: ‘This has been one of the toughest years of my life but also one of the best, and I wouldn’t change a thing’

The couple opted for a low-key approach, choosing Alice’s dress together and deciding against traditional elements such as a first dance and extended speeches.

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

As for their Chelsea ceremony, Alice walked down the aisle with her father, Jason, wearing a white silk and lace gown, while Sam opted for a white jacket and black trousers and later.

‘I was very nervous and very emotional,’ he told the publication. ‘Alice looked absolutely stunning.’

Sam popped the question to Alice in March, after he was hospitalised in January with liver and kidney failure that developed into life-threatening sepsis.

In November, he announced on an episode of Made In Chelsea that he’d been diagnosed with irreversible end-stage liver disease, with his life expectancy limited to four to five years without a transplant.

He was born with the rare conditions congenital hepatic fibrosis of the liver and polycystic kidney disease, but they lay dormant until last December, when his organs began shutting down.

He was born with the rare conditions congenital hepatic fibrosis of the liver and polycystic kidney disease, but they lay dormant until last December, when his organs began shutting down after developing sepsis

He was born with the rare conditions congenital hepatic fibrosis of the liver and polycystic kidney disease, but they lay dormant until last December, when his organs began shutting down after developing sepsis

Sam and Alice announced they were expecting a baby boy in September, due on Valentine's Day next year, with the couple already having picked out his name

Sam and Alice announced they were expecting a baby boy in September, due on Valentine’s Day next year, with the couple already having picked out his name 

In an episode of the We Need To Talk podcast with Paul C Brunson, Sam described how he later discovered the devastating truth behind his symptoms, soon after learning Alice was pregnant.

Recalling the ‘terrifying’ moment, he said: ‘I don’t remember the day, it could have been eight weeks ago, ten weeks ago, 12 weeks ago. I think when you have that trauma you block it out.

‘I got this notification on the NHS app. Alice is at work. I’m home alone and I go, “Oh, it’s a letter from King’s College.” I open it up and it’s literally a four line letter.

‘And it goes “Dear Sam, after reviewing your latest CT scan, these are in line with your condition, we’re sending you for a liver transplant assessment.” I mean, that was… receiving that I think your heart stops, your tummy drops.’

The star candidly revealed how he feared he would die before getting to meet his son after first being told he needed a liver transplant to save his life.

Asked by Paul what he was thinking of in that moment, he became teary-eyed as he confessed: ‘Fear. Yeah. Terrified. Am I going to die?’

Sam, whose father passed away seven years ago, went on to explain how his thoughts went straight to his unborn child, saying: ‘I always get sad when I think my dad’s never going to see his grandchild.

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

Register as an NHS organ donor at: https://www.organdonation.nhs.uk/register-your-decision/ 

What is liver disease? 

Most types of liver disease do not cause any symptoms in the early stages.

Once you start to get symptoms of liver disease, your liver is already damaged and scarred. This is known as cirrhosis.

Symptoms of cirrhosis include:

Feeling very tired and weak all the timeLoss of appetite – which may lead to weight lossLoss of sex drive (libido)Yellow skin and whites of the eyes (jaundice)

Source: NHSÂ