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Back to Reality: Made In Chelsea’s Sam Prince on being a rebel and falling in love at first sight with Inga Valentiner-Sam Prince-Entertainment – Metro
‘You need to get a real job.’ That’s what my parents said when I first told them I’d been approached by Made in Chelsea producers.
For the next few weeks, Metro.co.uk will be speaking to reality TV fan favourites about what time on their show was like – and how things have changed now they’re Back to Reality. This time… Sam Prince from Made in Chelsea
‘You need to get a real job.’
That’s what my parents said when I first told them I’d been approached by Made in Chelsea producers. I was 18, not working, and partying a lot.
All my friends had gone to university and I’d moved to London with the dream of starting a business. While I had begun something – selling hats – I was just living the student lifestyle… without being a student.
Four nights a week I’d be out clubbing, and because I was dating people who were in the public eye, I’d often be pictured leaving nightclubs looking a bit worse for wear.
I was young, naïve, and my biggest concern in life was whether my hair looked good and where my next pint was coming from.
But when I was approached for the show, I was cautious. I was recently single, and I really liked my life as it was. I wasn’t sure I wanted to change that.
My parents had concerns (Picture: Sam Prince)
There was nothing in particular that flipped my mindset on this, just time.
I’d seen the show when it first launched years before – although I hadn’t watched it for a while – and I vaguely knew some of the cast from nights out in Chelsea.
I know I’m a big character, I like chatting to people, and I’ve always enjoyed being in front of the camera, so in the end the pros outweighed any worries I had.
My parents, however, had concerns. They asked practical questions like: ‘How does it work? How long will you be doing this for?’. They wanted me to start acting a bit more grown up and get a job in the city.
That’s what they still want, to be honest! For me to be a city boy, and wear a suit every day, and be on the phone a lot.
I’ve always been a bit of a rebel, ever since I started school. I was an absolute nightmare; I was constantly getting in trouble for being the class clown and making sure that everyone had their attention on me.
If someone says ‘no’ – in this case my parents who decided it wasn’t ‘the best idea for me’ to go on reality TV – I’ll say ‘yes’.
And that’s how I ended up on Made in Chelsea series 13.
The Sam on Made In Chelsea was exactly the same as the Sam in real life (Picture: Sam Prince)
I got a job as Jamie’s intern at Candy Kittens and my first scene on the show was being interviewed for the role. Surrounded by cameras, I didn’t really know what to think, but it was really fun and I enjoyed it.
The Sam on Made In Chelsea was exactly the same as the Sam in real life – I wasn’t thinking whether I should act up, or tone down my behaviour.
That did get me into trouble though. In Ibiza, I slept with someone else in Toff’s bed – my on-off girlfriend at the time – and that was just horrific. It was the first time I had done something really wrong and I realised it quite quickly.
In my sober state I would have never done that and I do deserve all the criticism, but I was 18 and just a baby, really. It was a mistake and I definitely learned a life lesson afterwards.
Still, I think because I was so young when the show aired, I didn’t get a lot of backlash. I was a relatively minor cast member too, which means that people didn’t start social media pile-ons, or stop me in the street.
Even though I had loads of fun during those two series, I decided to step away from Made In Chelsea for a while after season 14.
Reality TV wasn’t going to be for me forever (Picture: Sam Prince)
While I’d been filming, my friends had been at university and were now graduating and getting jobs. I wanted to make sure I found a good career path.
Reality TV wasn’t going to be for me forever and I needed to start somewhere if I wanted to achieve my dream of owning a successful business. I couldn’t be filming and clubbing all the time – I had to put the work into launching something special.
I moved back home to the country – which dovetailed with the pandemic – and realised it had to be houseplants.
I formed a company called Bellr, which delivers them to your door, and started a plant nursery out in the country with a couple of friends. I’ve always been fascinated by plants and their impact on people and their environment, so it seemed like the perfect fit.
I personally love a zebra plant – it’s got such a beautiful stem – and I also have three cheese plants in my living room alone!
While some people hate me for what I’ve done, others love it (Picture: Sam Prince)
Taking some time back for myself was really important. I stopped watching the show – I mean, if I wasn’t on it, there was no point – and just got on with normal life. I was genuinely really happy and hadn’t even considered going back.
That all changed when I met Inga Valentiner. It was fireworks from the moment we met at Olivia Bentley’s 26th birthday. Inga and I often talk about that night; we knew straight away that we were going to have something special.
I feel like she really sees me. Shortly after our first date, I remember being in her flat and she was like: ‘Do you have ADHD’?.
I was pretty taken aback and replied with something like: ‘I have nothing wrong with me, I’m perfect’. She then explained that ADHD didn’t mean I had a fault.
Not too long later, I received my diagnosis, and everything started to make sense. I remember being back in school and always trying to do everything all at once. I have so much energy and will bounce around the room.
I’d always thought it was just my personality, but Inga saw straight away that it was ADHD. For me, it’s who I am, and Inga knows that it’s part of what makes me, me. I love her for that.
It was fireworks from the moment we met (Picture: Sam Prince)
Back when we first met, I had no idea that Inga was on Made in Chelsea. After we had been dating for about a month, the show’s producers got in touch and asked me whether I would consider coming back.
I was loving life with Inga and the idea of getting to spend even more time with her sounded too tempting.
Now aged 25, it was a completely different experience. Not only was I a little bit older, but I was going into the show with relationships on the brain. Still, I was ready to dive back into all things Made In Chelsea.
Being back has been amazing. Going to Bali with Inga was epic – she’d lived there before – and we did so many road trips and got to explore by ourselves away from the cameras, too. When we stopped filming, we stayed out there for an extra month, just the two of us.
But again, I’ve made a few mistakes; I had a few fallings out and a feud with Julius, which is now all resolved – and some bad decisions saw Inga and I break up before reconciling.
I would definitely say I’ve got more hate from viewers this time around; I’ve clearly done stuff that has upset a few people. I’ve had people say some not so nice things, but I couldn’t tell you specifics – I try not to look at these sorts of comments.
I’m aware I’ve messed up, and I own it – I learn from my mistakes – but I’m also human. I don’t want to censor myself while filming to be someone I’m not. What you see is what you get with me.
Like everyone else, I’m not perfect. I apologise when I’ve hurt or offended someone but I’m not going to let people’s criticism change me completely – I still want to be the jokey, piss-taking Sam that I am.
Thankfully, the negative is balanced with the positive. I get loads of amazing feedback.
While some people hate me for what I’ve done, others love it.
I’m happy with my life as it is, I don’t want it to change too much (Picture: Sam Prince)
I get more interactions online than in person. I’ve been stopped a handful of times while out and about living my life, but it doesn’t happen that much – I’m no Brad Pitt.
But I’m not really looking to be noticed – I’m happy with my life as it is, I don’t want it to change too much.
More: TV
My day-to-day at the minute involves balancing my businesses, personal life and filming. I’m filming three days a week, and when I’m not I’m focusing on Bellr and Brosé – a wine company for men that I’m a co-founder of.
Around that, I’m hanging out with Inga, buying plants for our east London flat, shopping, and travelling. I’m not planning too much for the future – I’m a live in the moment type person – but I’m very content with where I am.
What I do know is that I’ll never be a city boy.
Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing jess.austin@metro.co.uk.
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