Made In Chelsea” star Sam Vanderpump has opened up about his heartbreaking battle with end-stage liver disease in a new emotional documentary.
In an emotional new documentary series Made In Chelsea: Sam Vanderpump’s Story, the reality TV star, 29, revealed his fight against liver failure and the devastating diagnosis of irreversible end-stage liver disease. The documentary follows Sam’s journey toward a life-saving liver transplant while navigating the life changes of becoming both a husband and a new father.
In the first episode, Sam, alongside his wife Alice Yaxley and family, visited his doctor for an update on his deteriorating condition. It was there that Sam learned his liver disease would continue to worsen without intervention. Fighting back tears, Sam struggled to hold his emotions in check as his doctor shared the news.
Diagnosed with congenital hepatic fibrosis and polycystic kidney disease, Sam’s liver and kidney began to fail in late 2024 after a battle with sepsis, ultimately leading to his liver transplant waitlist placement. Despite his diagnosis, Sam has a life expectancy of just four to five years without a transplant.
During the emotional doctor’s visit, Sam was informed that his liver was enlarged and struggling to filter blood due to the complications from his pre-existing conditions. “This is not going to get better, it’s going to get worse,” the doctor told Sam, as his family looked on.
With his organs shutting down, Sam’s future now depends on a liver transplant. In a moving moment, his mother, Simone, offered to donate part of her liver, but Sam turned it down, clearly distressed by the thought of putting a loved one through such a traumatic procedure.
Despite the grim prognosis, Sam remains optimistic. He recently shared on Instagram how 2025 had been “one of the toughest years” of his life, yet one of the best, as he married Alice and welcomed their first child, Marmaduke, in February 2026.
In an exclusive interview, Sam revealed his fear of not surviving long enough to meet his son. “Am I going to see my child? That’s terrifying,” he said, breaking down in front of the cameras.
Sam’s journey continues in Made In Chelsea: Sam Vanderpump’s Story, which airs tonight on E4.
