Zara McDermott breaks down as insiders reveal cracks in her whirlwind romance with Louis Tomlinson just four months in, after secret splits, solo tents and mounting pressure to settle down - suong

   

They looked like a couple in love strolling around Glastonbury festival last month. But Closer is hearing whispers that all is not well between One Direction heartthrob Louis Tomlinson and reality TV darling Zara McDermott.

After just four months of dating, insiders say that there’s already tension behind the scenes. A source tells us, ‘Zara and Louis have already split and reunited twice in the space of a few months. It’s all moving very quickly. Too quickly for Zara. She’s taking things slowly and wants to be 100% sure of everything before jumping in.’

 
Louis Tomlinson
Louis Tomlinson ©Skip Bolen/Getty Images

The lovebirds’ weekend on Worthy Farm was apparently full of ups and downs. Zara, 28, was seen cuddling up with Louis’ sister, Lottie, but the pair reportedly didn’t stay in the same tent as he camped with a group of mates while she stayed off site. Louis, 33, was said to be living it up with the lads before sneaking off to support Zara on the Refuge charity panel titled How To Create Societal Change: Tackling Violence Against Women And Girls.

Our source says, ‘Zara wants to be taken seriously, and Louis is there for it. He admires a strong woman. Zara, on the other hand, is still finding her way with Louis. She is less about lads’ trips and unpredictability and more about building a serious relationship to see where it goes. Ultimately, she just wants someone who is willing to settle down and start a family in the future’.

They add that Zara’s ‘not sure if Louis is ready for that just yet, but she’s willing to find out if it can go in that direction’. But Louis definitely seems smitten with Zara after he hard-launched their relationship by sharing photos of them together on his Instagram from their time at Glasto.

Sam Thompson and Zara McDermott
Sam Thompson and Zara McDermott ©Jim Dyson/Redferns

Zara was previously with Made In Chelsea’s Sam Thompson. They dated for five years before announcing their split in December last year, around the time that she and Louis’ paths first crossed as she was working on a documentary involving Louis’ twin sisters, Daisy and Phoebe. Rumours that the pair were dating didn’t emerge until March, and they were soon spotted together on a dinner date.

Our source tells us that ‘Zara and Louis made sure they were respectful to Sam. They didn’t start anything until Zara had officially ended it with Sam, and it was clear it was over.’

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Meanwhile Louis’ dating history includes Eleanor Calder, who he had his longest relationship with from 2011 to 2015, and then 2017 to 2022. He also had a brief relationship with US stylist Briana Jungwirth, with whom he shares a nine-year-old son, Freddie.

 

Tensions rose last month when Louis came face-to-face with Zara’s ex Sam as they both attended training for Soccer Aid’s charity football match. And while Zara has moved on with Louis, things aren’t looking as rosy for Sam, whose alleged relationship with Love Island’s Samie Elishi is said to have fizzled out due to ‘conflicting schedules’.

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