Sam Vanderpump: From Reality TV to a Near-Death Battle with Sepsis

Cold open

00:00:00 Aleksandra King: Today's guest is Sam Vanderpump– a UK reality TV star best known for Made in Chelsea, but there's far more to him than what you've seen on the screen. He has survived a terrifying battle with sepsis, he's founded several businesses, and he has a sharp, often underestimated business brain. Both in his personal and professional life he goes for what he wants, and he does not hold back.

Interview

00:00:26 Aleksandra King: First of all, thank you so much for coming on Beyond the Boardroom, and we're very excited to have you here. First and most important question: who is Sam Vanderpump?

00:00:35 Sam Vanderpump: Good question. Yeah– deep. It's a deep one.

00:00:38 Aleksandra King: Go deep. Yeah– who are you? Who are you really?

00:00:41 Sam Vanderpump: You know what, it's actually an interesting question, because it's actually something I've only just realised recently, in the sense of– when you do a reality TV show, it is such a small snippet of your life, and it is such a surface-level conversation, and people really don't know who you are. I would say people who really know me would know that I'm a serial entrepreneur. I've worked in the same line of industry for the last 10 years of my life, and that's all I've ever done. The whole reality side and the public side of my life has only come around over the last year. And what's really interesting is, following on from that, you see a lot of comments online in regards to who they think you are, and it's so inaccurate.

00:01:26 Aleksandra King: Who do they think you are?

00:01:28 Sam Vanderpump: I do like to have a joke, and I am not serious at times, and that side comes across in my social life. But I take everything with a pinch of salt. I'm very, very lighthearted– it's very hard to offend me.

00:01:42 Aleksandra King: But that's a good thing.

00:01:43 Sam Vanderpump: It's a good thing, but people sort of twist it and take it the wrong way, and turn it all against you. But it's interesting to– they see that side of me and they think that that's it. And you know what, there are some really good comments– I mean, sometimes I see stuff like that was sent to me– and obviously there's this stigma when you go on Made in Chelsea– it's to do with wealth, and people coming from affluent families.

00:02:13 Aleksandra King: Yeah, definitely.

00:02:14 Sam Vanderpump: So it's something that keeps on coming up online, and it's really funny to see there is two completely different perceptions, all from the very, very small snippets of people– of what they've seen in my life. And one perception is– someone called me common the other day, which was like, okay, fine– common. I mean, I can understand– maybe I do– I like to believe I'm well-spoken. I did elocution lessons when I was younger, well-spoken, but there is certain things that I slip up on. I did live in Essex for a little bit, so my pronunciation of some words can slack. But then there's the other side, where it's like– oh, just cos my last name– Vanderpump– my auntie– and then, like, someone comments online, oh, you know, his aunt's worth 57 million– well, like, what's that got to do with me? And then there's a new article that's floating around which says I bought my fiancée a seven-figure engagement ring, and it literally reminded me of the Lewis Capaldi snippet on Snapchat where he goes, if the taxman sees this, I'm fucked. Sorry for my French there.

00:03:21 Aleksandra King: No, that's okay.

00:03:22 Sam Vanderpump: I'm thinking, when I'm reading that article– if the taxman sees that, I'm fucked. Because there is no seven-figure ring.

00:03:28 Aleksandra King: Did it upset you, annoy you? How did you feel when someone said you a common– and I absolutely don't agree with that, by the way– I think it's a ridiculous thing to say.

00:03:37 Sam Vanderpump: I just think it's all rather comical, because it's so clear how little people know. So when you see things like– firstly, there's a headline which says seven-figure ring, and then there's these people who are passing judgment– like, first some people go, 'oh yeah, he can't afford that'– it's like, okay, well, to be fair, I can't afford a seven-figure ring. I mean, I'm very proud of the ring I brought my fiancée, but it's very interesting to see people who pass a comment like that. And then someone else chimes in with a comment– well, his aunt's worth 57 million– which, again, is probably an inaccurate figure. I guess she's very, very wealthy, my aunt– but again, what auntie just gives you a million pounds for it– to buy your fiancée a ring? It's just all a bit ridiculous. So I just find it all very comical– everything from the idea that at one end of the spectrum I'm common, and then to the other end of the spectrum, which is– my auntie is a multi-multimillionaire, you've got it all, and there we go– must be just given seven figures to go buy my fiancée a ring. Which is, again– people will make those assumptions.

00:04:42 Aleksandra King: And it's good to have you on the podcast to clarify some things. We're going to clarify– who is Sam Vanderpump?

00:04:50 Sam Vanderpump: I think I've just kind of gone– it's funny to see all the different misconceptions of Sam Vanderpump. And I am a serial entrepreneur, I am very invested in my business, I'm very lighthearted, I'm not easily offended– anyone can say whatever they like online, and I'll probably turn it as a joke.

00:05:12 Aleksandra King: Good values too.

00:05:13 Sam Vanderpump: Yeah, I'd like to believe so. I quite like some of the– very loyal, yeah– a friendship, or if I've got a relationship–

00:05:20 Aleksandra King: Love that.

00:05:20 Sam Vanderpump: The most loyal person ever– I really do believe that. And I hold myself to my values, because what are we if we're not living by our own morals and our own values? So I like to believe I'm loyal, I'm a good friend, I like to believe I tell the truth– and so much so to my own detriment.

00:05:37 Aleksandra King: So some people say– yes, you get yourself into trouble.

00:05:39 Sam Vanderpump: I– it's– I'm just getting so excited– and honestly, I just get really excited in the situation, then I forget what can't be said. So someone tells you a secret, and– yeah. I don't necessarily mean it out of any malice or anything like that. It's more to do with just the fact I'm very excitable, and if I'm excited, everything pours out, and I don't have a filter.

00:06:02 Aleksandra King: You got a lot of stick– cos some of the viewers watching wouldn't have watched the Made in Chelsea episode– reality TV show– if anyone– but there was an instance where you did, you know, tell people a secret– one of your friends– and you meant it in good faith. But did you get into a lot of trouble for that?

00:06:18 Sam Vanderpump: Loads of– all occasions. But people who know me would know that if I was–

00:06:23 Aleksandra King: You didn't mean harm.

00:06:24 Sam Vanderpump: There was no harm by it. If anything, it was just to help a situation. So yes, it has got me into trouble– in the real world, in my real life, for sure– me having no filter has got me into trouble. There was another podcast where my aunt had told me a secret, and I kind of let that– my loose lips let that spill. And it wasn't a sense of, I'm going to try and tell a secret– it was, I was easily excitable. However, I'm very, very good at keeping secrets now.

00:06:53 Aleksandra King: Yes– but it's really important whether you said it in good faith or not. I mean, people can tell if you don't mean harm and you're just innocent– you wear your heart on your sleeve and you're just speaking normally.

00:07:02 Sam Vanderpump: And you trust my truth– exactly.

00:07:05 Aleksandra King: And you trust that people will take it in the same well-meaning way, but they don't always. Yeah– I mean, and that's the danger, I think– that you just don't know what the third party will do with it.

00:07:15 Sam Vanderpump: Yeah– I mean, that's the problem. I mean, I love doing Made in Chelsea, I really do. I love being on camera, I love the idea of presenting, I love doing social media– I find it fun. But with that comes a lot of misconceptions, and reality TV does come with that. It's not like when you're being an actor, or you're entering a new role– on camera you're trying to portray yourself, but at the same time you've got to make it– the TV– entertaining for your audience. It's also part of your job. So people have to bear that in mind– that all of these situations are blown up, are made more dramatic.

00:07:58 Aleksandra King: Oh, they must certainly be– you're being put in it. Okay– so for people watching that don't know, tell us who your aunt is.

00:08:08 Sam Vanderpump: So my aunt's like a second dad to me. I lost my dad when I– about 10 years ago–

00:08:13 Aleksandra King: Sorry to hear that. That's so sad.

00:08:15 Sam Vanderpump: But everything happens for a reason. And I'm extremely close to my aunt, and yeah– she's Lisa Vanderpump. Some call her the queen of reality TV. She's been on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, she's got her own TV shows– Vanderpump Villa and Vanderpump Rules– and she loves dogs–

00:08:34 Aleksandra King: She loves dogs.

00:08:35 Sam Vanderpump: And she is a fantastic businesswoman, and a philanthropist. So she really is quite an amazing woman, and if I end up being just a quarter of the person that she is, then I've done well.

00:08:48 Aleksandra King: So she's good inspiration. Did she– what advice did she give you about reality TV? What's the main thing– was she worried about you stepping into reality TV?

00:08:57 Sam Vanderpump: Because she knows how it's detrimental– she knows how it can go against you, it can be toxic, it can be detrimental. So she kind of turned around to me, like– you're a well-established businessman, you've got your business– you doing– going here? And she kind of gave me that, and I said– well, cos I want to do it, I want to enjoy it, it's something I always want to do– I don't enjoy my businesses. She went– okay, fine, go do it. And then lately she's been giving me advice on how to make it to my benefit. She went– why are you still doing it? And I explained to her why I do it and why I enjoy it.

00:09:33 Aleksandra King: You've been doing it for– sorry, just to–

00:09:36 Sam Vanderpump: Two years now.

00:09:37 Aleksandra King: A decent– that's a time.

00:09:39 Sam Vanderpump: This is coming to the end of the second year– yeah. So this will be– at the end of my fourth– this is– I'm going into my fourth season of Made in Chelsea already.

00:09:45 Aleksandra King: Right. So she says to you– why are you still doing it? And what do you say?

00:09:49 Sam Vanderpump: And I said– because I still enjoy it. And she turned around to me and she went– right, that's absolutely fine, but that will fade. How are you going to use this to your advantage? And we sat there– when I was last in LA, just a few months ago– and we sat there, and she really opened up my mind into understanding the benefits and how to take action, and I came back with such a plan in my head. It was really interesting. It was the advice– it's one of those things that's quite hard to hear, because it's quite intense advice, in the sense of critical– but it's constructive criticism, in the sense of– right, that's fine, you're doing this, but you're kind of doing this wrong, and if you want to keep doing it, make sure you're using it to your advantage. So at first it's quite hard to hear, but then you take it in your– in your esteem– whatever– the proper advice– it's proper advice. And it worked. I mean, I can't believe how much it's worked, and I won't go into the depths of how it's worked, cos there's a lot that I've got to reveal– and I'm working on at the moment– that I'm revealing over the next few weeks.

00:10:57 Aleksandra King: She gives you assignments– like– well, that's why it's hard, because she's not giving you the easy life, or just– kick back, yeah, you love it, oh, well done, you're enjoying yourself. I mean, she's trying to get the best out of you and going– well, okay– literally, here's some work for you– here's your homework.

00:11:09 Sam Vanderpump: Says it to me– she's just got– she goes– because she's very critical, but constructive criticism in a great way– in a fantastic way. She's an amazing person, and if you watch her TV shows, you'll see on her TV shows how she does the same stuff, and that is her– she is– that's amazing– and she's there to help people, and especially me, and it is fantastic to have that. And it is hard to hear, but I am very lucky.

00:11:34 Aleksandra King: Okay– so how did you get on Made in Chelsea? Did they see you in the street and go– we want you?

00:11:41 Sam Vanderpump: No. So when I was 18, 19, I was working in the city, and I was looking for a place to live, and I ended up moving into the Chelsea–Fulham area. And around that there is this kind of social clique, if you say– social group, social friends– everyone knows each other, in the– in their 20s, early 30s– everyone aspiring to do better, and work. And all of a sudden you get mixed into this very, very social group, and yes, everyone knows everyone. And I was asked to be on Made in Chelsea when I was 21, when I was 25 or 26, and then it was only the third time that I finally actually said yes– and I'm very happy I've done it. There are some elements of me– just goes, now I'm doing it, I wish I'd done it earlier– but I'm a big believer in everything happens for a reason, and fate. And so I believe the time wasn't right then, and it is right now, and it's worked out well, and I'm really enjoying it.

00:12:48 Aleksandra King: Okay– what do you like about it? What's the main thing– pull– is it the production side– that's interesting side?

00:12:59 Sam Vanderpump: I went to theatre school when I was– for about two or three years– the same as my auntie went to– the same theatre school, funny enough. And I always– I wanted to be a racing driver when I was very young. I did go-karting, raced cars, etc.

00:13:14 Aleksandra King: Nice.

00:13:15 Sam Vanderpump: And then after that ended– because my parents could no longer financially afford for me to keep going in that direction, because it was becoming stupid and stupid money. I mean, there are Formula 1 drivers out there now that I used to race against that were spending stupid money to get to where they are now. Okay, but that's a whole different topic. So after that, I was– what do I want to do? So I wanted to go to theatre, I wanted to become an actor, and for certain reasons that didn't work out– but I always had that dream. And then all of a sudden the opportunity entered to be on camera, and to be in that kind of situation, and I thought– this is an amazing opportunity, to firstly do it, and for the doors it could lead to. So I enjoy being on camera, I enjoy that kind of reality, and all– yeah, it's a buzz for me.

00:14:03 Aleksandra King: What do you dislike about it?

00:14:05 Sam Vanderpump: Really the misconceptions. And I think anyone who does reality TV– public land up thinking– really, because of the way something's shown, or because the way that they–

00:14:15 Aleksandra King: What– what is it that's annoying?

00:14:16 Sam Vanderpump: You say too much– cos I got told off last time– I said too much.

00:14:20 Aleksandra King: Yeah– don't say too much, just say enough.

00:14:24 Sam Vanderpump: So it's more to the misconceptions of what the public can get, right? So people have to remember is– when you really analyse a show, it's normally a three-minute scene, maybe less. Firstly, we've been sitting there for two hours– of course there's a lot more that's said, but they have to cut it and make it snappy, and make it punchy and juicy for the TV show. People seem to forget that when they're watching the show, and then it makes you look a certain way. Imagine we sit here for two hours, and I say– I'm talking for two hours about, let's say, my auntie– but then I say, oh, but she's harsh on me, or she's critical of me– imagine how that snippet can be taken out of context. Now I think my auntie is the most fantastic woman ever, but that one line could be taken out of context.

00:15:14 Aleksandra King: You put the right music with it–

00:15:16 Sam Vanderpump: Exactly.

00:15:16 Aleksandra King: Put to the PR– right, I'm giving you ideas now.

00:15:18 Sam Vanderpump: Yeah– no, no– not to the– we're not interested in it.

00:15:21 Aleksandra King: Yeah– no, I get it. I'm sorry for you.

00:15:25 Sam Vanderpump: That's one thing that I not struggle with, cos I find it funny, and I know my friends and my family– they know the real Sam– so that's all that matters to me.

00:15:35 Aleksandra King: It's like you feel slightly false accused– you feel like– well, hang on, that's not what I meant, that's not what–

00:15:39 Sam Vanderpump: Been very fortunate, right– in the last so many seasons, I believe it showed a very good conception of me. I'm lighthearted, I'm quite jovial, I don't take anything too seriously, I've got my morals. The one side where I don't like is it hasn't showed the entrepreneurial side of myself– the businessman that I am.

00:16:02 Aleksandra King: That's not the– the brand that much.

00:16:03 Sam Vanderpump: It's not the brand that much– not showed that side of me. But then on the last season, I would say I didn't like the misconceptions which started to come about.

00:16:12 Aleksandra King: Yeah– but I mean, imagine for people like– like us– Apprentice, ex-Apprentice– and where they make you look deliberately like– oh, come on, you're so thick.

00:16:20 Sam Vanderpump: I mean– I mean, imagine– you've got this– you had– I actually know someone who went on The Apprentice as well, and she told me it was– it's brutal– it was a crazy– I mean, they used to run in at 4:00 am, tell you to get ready in 10 minutes– deliberately stressed and strange.

00:16:36 Aleksandra King: But also we don't get to– we don't get to go home. You see, this is the thing– I feel like for you guys– I mean, I was going to ask you about the schedule for Made in Chelsea– you can actually get to go home, and then have a shower, eat your food, go to the gym, work out, and then you're going to film it. But imagine you didn't, and it was all like [unclear: essentialised?] and you get trapped and you can't– and there's all that going– it's diff–

00:16:53 Sam Vanderpump: Now that is a good point. Now, people walk away from scenes– they get to recompose, yes– but there's also a disadvantage to that, because people know what's happening in that scene. They go away, they think about it, and they think about what they're going to say for the next scene.

00:17:12 Aleksandra King: Yeah– it's like– it's like a cold drop– you start to find it in there, and you prepare for the battle.

00:17:16 Sam Vanderpump: And exactly– people– nail on the head– where in The Apprentice it's way more– people make more drama to get more airtime. It's– can be a really toxic environment. You understand why– why– I mean, anyway, won't go into that– the film–

00:17:34 Aleksandra King: No– go into it.

00:17:34 Sam Vanderpump: Well, you can understand why– okay, let's– let's talk about Love Island, so I don't get in trouble– okay. You can understand why Love Island have in-house therapists, and why a lot of reality shows– and actually, this isn't limited to reality shows– the moment you do something on a TV show or a radio show nowadays, with these corporate companies, they've got a responsibility to make sure you– talking about that doesn't affect you. So straight after doing all these shows–

00:18:02 Aleksandra King: The way– this is new stuff– I was–

00:18:04 Sam Vanderpump: Well, exactly– this is arranged very recently, and it's actually changed since a lot of people have been taking their own lives in the reality TV sector, because they couldn't deal with the onslaught.

00:18:16 Aleksandra King: And especially the reality show– because it doesn't happen so much for actors, presenters– because they're portraying someone else.

00:18:23 Sam Vanderpump: Exactly– but when reality stars portray themselves, and then all of a sudden you've got people commenting on that– and people read those comments, and then they end up taking their own lives. So there's a responsibility by these big organisations now to give you these in-house therapists to make sure that–

00:18:41 Aleksandra King: You need to also develop a thick skin if you're going to carry on in the business. Like– you've been on two years– you need to grow your thicker skin and learn to deal with all the stuff that comes with it, because it's part of the package. So you've got to toughen up as time goes by– I'm sure you– aren't you– you morph into someone, hopefully, if you're going to stick with it– into someone that's a little bit more resilient to what this kind of thing can throw at you. Cos it's not always nice– it can be, but it's not always.

00:19:08 Sam Vanderpump: Even myself– and I believe I've got very thick skin– I am emotional, but I don't think I would ever get emotional at someone who I've never met before's comments– and I don't think I would– and I haven't. And people go to me on– online– oh, you care so much, cos you're replying. No– I'm replying because their comments make me laugh, and I just enjoy it, right? So people give me negative comments, and I just reply– right, I can see it all– I reply to the comments on my social media. And when people go– oh my god, you care so much, you're replying– I went– what, I care because I'm replying to a comment on my social media page? You're the one who's putting all this energy to go into someone's Instagram page– they find you– that you don't know, you've never met before– you've seen a snippet for two minutes on some TV show. You're putting all your energy of that evening to comment on my social media, and yet you're turning around to me and going– oh, you care so much? Well, it's my– it's my Insta.

00:20:09 Aleksandra King: They're feeding your– feeding your Instagram comments.

00:20:12 Sam Vanderpump: Kind of person really doesn't bother me.

00:20:15 Aleksandra King: Dubai Bling– have you ever watched it? Do you know about–

00:20:17 Sam Vanderpump: No– I've heard a lot about Dubai Bling.

00:20:18 Aleksandra King: To watch it– and there's a guy called Ebraheem Al Samadi– he's like a massive character on there– he's extremely funny and whatever– but yeah, he absolutely loves the trolls. He adores the comments– he says he needs them.

00:20:31 Sam Vanderpump: We all need– we all need trolls. Yeah– I think it's essential, to be honest, for life. And the funniest part about trolls is– the more they're– the ones who comment the most–

00:20:41 Aleksandra King: Brilliant.

00:20:42 Sam Vanderpump: They're the ones who comment the most, they're the ones who engage with your post, and they're the ones who send your post viral. So it's like– you know what, them engage with me more. And if you do engage back with them, and you create all this drama on your social media– within reason, and composing yourself still, yes– then all of a sudden your page has got so much engage– your post has got so much engagement, and it goes viral, and the trolls have– have paid your bills.

00:21:06 Aleksandra King: No, they have, for sure. Who's got the last laugh– the troll who's got his comments out, or the person who's been paid off of the troll? So– just a little bit more mental thing– we're going to move on from this. People want to know– who do you like? Who do you not like? Can you say that?

00:21:21 Sam Vanderpump: I can– I– I can. Is that a bit rude? I don't know– maybe it's a bit rude to say who you don't–

00:21:25 Aleksandra King: Going to say negative comments–

00:21:26 Sam Vanderpump: I think if you watch the show– you won't know– you'll– you'll know who I get on with–

00:21:29 Aleksandra King: To who you don't like. But just tell me who you like, then– who's your favourite?

00:21:32 Sam Vanderpump: Who I like– and if you watch the show, you'll know who I don't like, cos that's very clear– yeah. And– and then that is all truth, right? If I'm saying it on the show, I do believe– although things are taken out of context– everything I've said, I have said– I'll take responsibility for that. Regards to who I like– Rez– I've known Rez since– we've been good buddies– I've– since I've been 18. He's a good friend– he is a very good friend– I'll always love Rez. On the show, you know who I love– I love Freddy. He's a child– he's a child, he's a child– but I just love him. He's so funny, he's so– he's so real– he's just a child in a man's body– I love him to pieces. I love Becks– she's sweet, she's innocent– she– and Alice and I– my fiancée– like, yes– we actually sit there the other day, and we just love sweet people. Becks is one of those really sweet characters–

00:22:26 Aleksandra King: And Yaz too?

00:22:28 Sam Vanderpump: Yes– Yaz as well– sweet, sweet girl.

00:22:30 Aleksandra King: Yeah.

00:22:31 Sam Vanderpump: I would say they're our favourite people on the–

00:22:34 Aleksandra King: Okay– yeah– Rez, Becks, Yaz.

00:22:37 Sam Vanderpump: And I'll always love Rez.

00:22:38 Aleksandra King: So when we spoke about things that you like in people, you said loyalty is really important to you. What else is really, really important to you? What are the values that you look for in people– friends, and who you work with? What values are important?

00:22:51 Sam Vanderpump: Just anyone who's honest, anyone who's loyal, and anyone who's just got a sweetheart– that's all I really like.

00:22:57 Aleksandra King: Is really big– trust is a huge thing.

00:22:59 Sam Vanderpump: Yeah. I mean, if you can't trust your friend, they're not a friend– I mean, it's as simple as that.

00:23:04 Aleksandra King: I had a podcast with a professor of evolutionary science of human behaviour– Oxford professor– terribly advanced and all that stuff. And he said the number one reason relationship breaks up is lack of trust– it's a breach of trust– that's it. That's so important.

00:23:22 Sam Vanderpump: Which makes me laugh, because of all the relationships I've seen on Made in Chelsea– and a lot– a lot of them– I've seen a lot of them– can't trust each other. In the sense of– they will discuss things on camera with friends, and I find that unbelievable. Alice and I prioritise ourselves before anything else, right? I prioritise her before anything else– yeah– she's– everything else comes second. I'm her man– we prioritise each other. And I don't think you'll ever– I can pretty much swear to this– I don't think you'll ever see a situation on a reality TV show where we have a– we'll argue– or we would let any of our personal issues come to light, in my opinion, for entertainment. Time that they would come to light is if anyone that we thought we could trust had done something wrong. But at the moment, I don't see a situation where Alice and I could possibly have a drama on the TV show, because we wouldn't let that happen. Not that we– we've got an incredibly fantastic relationship– it's not– I've been in toxic relationships before– it's not that. It's so constructive– it's so honest with each other– we communicate so well, and there's real love there. So we're very, very lucky. So that's the– we've got the foundations to a fantastic relationship, but then we have the intelligence to build on that, and to make sure nothing gets in the way of that.

00:24:55 Aleksandra King: Can I just say– hearing you speak, I worry, in the sense that obviously you're in the Made in Chelsea environment, where you're in the business of people throwing each other under the bus for entertainment– let's just be really clear that that is part of the thing that goes on– and it's fun and whatever. But there is a– the element– you have drama, you get featured– you get featured, you get benefits, right? So when you've got something precious like your relationship, and it's there– it's always going to be a risk that someone– it can be just a– a lie– it can be a total fabricated lie– but it's almost like– prepare for it, because it's coming.

00:25:30 Sam Vanderpump: Oh, we're– we're prepared.

00:25:31 Aleksandra King: Okay– I'm just going to give you that.

00:25:32 Sam Vanderpump: Yeah– I hear you. Alice– I was actually in that scene, cos I lived in Battersea, and we kind of hung around together– and it's just– it's the young life, isn't it? It's like going out with your mates and everything– and when you do meet someone, there's people– and it's like a real relationship– there will be people that are jealous of that.

00:25:46 Aleksandra King: Of course.

00:25:47 Sam Vanderpump: I mean– yeah– I can– I can break it apart– and I have– found each other's person. We're– we're getting married– we're planning a wedding.

00:25:58 Aleksandra King: Let's talk about this. So how old are you?

00:26:00 Sam Vanderpump: I'm 28.

00:26:01 Aleksandra King: You're 28– you found the love of your life–

00:26:03 Sam Vanderpump: Yeah.

00:26:04 Aleksandra King: And you proposed in– in– in what– months? Within six months. And that's totally cool– but you're getting a lot of stick for that.

00:26:10 Sam Vanderpump: Yeah– a lot. I mean, this is funny– you say a lot– but what I have found is– the people who comment are the ones– are the trolls, right? The people who engage with you, the people who give the comments online– they're the ones who normally like to attack. So– and it doesn't reflect– the people who are commenting doesn't really reflect the overwhelming feel of the audience. Because think about it– and I'll say this to the people listening– is– everyone listening at home who has a positive thing to say– are you the type of person who goes on a 28-year-old man's or a 23-year-old girl's Instagram and comments a nasty comment? No– you're probably not. Yeah– type of person who– even– even if it's a nice comment, you've got to be a very particular type of person to go out of your way– especially if you're over the age of 30– 40s, 50s, 60s– to be commenting negative comments on a 23-year-old girl's Instagram. It's– it's very weird– it's a very strange kind of person.

00:27:18 Aleksandra King: But let's just– let's just re-establish something here, whilst we're speaking to a wider audience. It's brilliant that you proposed, and that you thought– this is the woman for me, I love this– this person– I want this partner, and I'm going to go for it. It's just how it should be. Why does it– ideally– why do you have to wait– we have to wait approximately two years and six months before we can get– what is all that? Absolute garbage– forget it.

00:27:46 Sam Vanderpump: It's people– the people who say negative comments are the ones who are jealous.

00:27:50 Aleksandra King: Yeah– it's an old-fashioned saying that– you say that– your mum would say to you– they're just jealous, darling. But it's true, right?

00:27:58 Sam Vanderpump: Something wrong in themselves– they're worried– like, what about me? Why isn't it happening for me? So it's a worry from within them– they– they insecure– something– something's not quite right there.

00:28:07 Aleksandra King: One thing I would say is– the comments online normally tend to be the negative things– the small percentage–

00:28:13 Sam Vanderpump: No– but hear this, right–

00:28:15 Aleksandra King: That's the norm.

00:28:16 Sam Vanderpump: Yeah– that's the norm. It was seen as– like, there was some people that said some negative things online– in– on the show– but the overwhelming support– I mean, there's a post that we did– someone put something on a podcast we did– like a kind of a stitching– a joke, or a reply– yeah– it got million views, and I would say 90% of the comments were like– my parents got married, they're– they're happily married– I got married when– here– after three days– or whatever– everyone putting their experience and saying how happy married they are. The support on that was overwhelming.

00:28:50 Aleksandra King: Listen– when you know, you know.

00:28:51 Sam Vanderpump: Yeah– 100%. I mean, I was in other relationships– for three years, five years, two years– and I always knew I wanted to get married, but they were never the right people. Yes– the moment I found my right person, it wasn't about time– it was– let's– I know it's the right person– why would I waste time?

00:29:12 Aleksandra King: It's a beautiful level of emotional maturity that you've got– because– and– and bravery– because you've got to have the guts to be able to go for stuff– you go right at it. And that's the same in business, as we'll talk about– it's like– you go for the things that you know– you know it's right. Yeah– so why would you hold back? That would– that's a disaster– that's a risk– someone's going to snap her up, that Alice, will say, and take her.

00:29:31 Sam Vanderpump: I– I think– I think everyone who's met Alice is– they go– I understand why you proposed so quickly. And you can tell– you guys are jealous. Personality– she's stunningly beautiful, but her personality is just– someone– I could put her in a room with my school friends, or I can put her in a room with my auntie, I can put her in a room with my mum, I can put her in a room with anyone– and they all love her.

00:29:54 Aleksandra King: You can also put her in a– in a tank with sharks– like on Made in Chelsea– and she can stick up for herself– which is great. Very upset about the Made in Chelsea– she didn't like the way–

00:30:04 Sam Vanderpump: Yeah– we– she didn't like the way she came across– which we didn't feel like it reflected the sweetness of herself– and she is just such an amazing–

00:30:15 Aleksandra King: Yeah– but you also don't want to– she's– she's amazing and everything– but someone got called vanilla on the show– which is– is sad, or whatever– but with Alice, you can see– yes, she's amazing, all that stuff– but it's also amazing to be able to– when you are thrown in a shark tank, and there are some sharks in there– you can actually stand up for yourself. That is admirable– she should be proud of that. It's okay to do that, you know– and you've got a bit of spice in there– good.

00:30:35 Sam Vanderpump: Her first season of doing reality TV– and it's going to be– I mean, even I struggled my first season. The first time you see yourself on a TV show, and then your first time you see negative comments towards you– it's hard to deal with. You've got to be very strong to deal with that.

00:30:51 Aleksandra King: But– but let's– let's talk about this. There's more to Alice than you know– she's a fiancée, she was on– she's on TV with you, she's great and all this stuff– she saved your life. Okay? So you had sepsis, and it was awful, and it's in the newspapers and everything. I would like you to talk to us and tell us what happened– okay– and how she saved your life– because that's incredible. She literally saved your life.

00:31:18 Sam Vanderpump: Yeah– it's amazing. I– so let's paint the picture, right? Going into November, December time– to everyone who knows me– to– I was perfectly healthy– cycling 20 km a day.

00:31:32 Aleksandra King: Wow.

00:31:33 Sam Vanderpump: You know, I love my fitness, and I love– you know, I go through ups and downs in my fitness, but I love it– and I was in a mode of being very, very fit. And I had this– irrelevant to me and pretty much everyone– you know, something I got checked up for– pre-existing condition– but it was never a thing, right? You're doing your gym– you're– young guy– was, to everyone, perfectly healthy. Then all of a sudden, very early December, I got the flu– and I just couldn't shake it. Then I got an asthma attack on the back– I've got my asthma as well– got an asthma attack on the back of it. So I was hospitalised for the flu, and hospitalised for–

00:32:12 Aleksandra King: Your asthma attack.

00:32:13 Sam Vanderpump: Literally hospitalised two times– hospitalised just cos I couldn't get my breathing under control– but one overnight stay, let out, back to normal. But there was something not– I was not feeling right– but just like when you have the flu–

00:32:25 Aleksandra King: Tired.

00:32:26 Sam Vanderpump: Just when you have the flu– just aches, pains– yeah– just not feeling back to 100%– just like if you'd had the flu or a cold, maybe times five. And for some reason, I was not getting back to 100%. And all of a sudden, it just– I would have this back pain– and I remember this back pain being so bad that my housemate having to massage me so much– like, I was in so much pain. No– it was actually a specific, pinpoint back pain– which, if we now know– if we knew then what we know now, I would have been in hospital straight away.

00:33:04 Aleksandra King: Where is the back pain? Just tell us, so we– we all know.

00:33:06 Sam Vanderpump: Well, for me, it's right in the shoulder blade– so it's right in the–

00:33:09 Aleksandra King: Like a– like a needle-like pain? Or–

00:33:11 Sam Vanderpump: So basically– I– I'll get to that in a minute– but it's this pain in the shoulder blade, and basically what it is– it's the pressure on the nerve that's coming up from somewhere else. So I had– that was the first sign– this pain in the shoulder blade that wouldn't go. And then I'm getting worse, and flu-like symptoms– just like– got no energy, got a temperature at times, a bit breathless. And then it comes to, I would like to say, the 14th of December– which I believe is a Saturday– I might be out one or–

00:33:44 Aleksandra King: Okay– I don't– I– I wouldn't know.

00:33:46 Sam Vanderpump: So I believe it's 14th December, Saturday– or 13th December, on a Friday. We go to Selfridges to do our Christmas shopping. I was carrying around my glass of water– yes– and– on– my bottle of water– and I couldn't keep myself– quench my– my thirst quenched. So I kept on drinking it– but after an hour, I drunk a litre of water.

00:34:07 Aleksandra King: Oh.

00:34:08 Sam Vanderpump: And I turned around to Alice, and I went– I need to go home. I just can't quench my thirst– thirst– and I– I feel really exhausted– I don't feel right. So we just stopped our Christmas shopping– okay– even buying her another friend a gift– wasn't really sure– I was becoming a little bit delirious at this point, and we weren't checking the signs– we just knew I was struggling. Everyone said it was the asthma, probably, or whatnot– and you know, we'd been in that– of hospitals– no one could really pinpoint what was going on.

00:34:38 Aleksandra King: At this point, nothing determined.

00:34:40 Sam Vanderpump: No. So I just got home, went to bed. And I'm meant to be going to Dubai on Monday, I believe, for business– which would have been the 16th December– booked my flight and everything– so precious there– precious. So we watched a movie– I didn't move from bed all night. All day Sunday, I did not move from bed– okay– and I'm a bit delirious now, and it's getting a little bit worse– and I must have had a temperature– I was exhausted– I didn't move from bed– I'm delirious. My– my lip– no– not really– my– I don't remember now most of this– okay– I'm just– this is just what I can recollect from photos– what people have told me.

00:35:19 Aleksandra King: Okay– so you're really getting sick.

00:35:21 Sam Vanderpump: So from that Friday– I went from– I remember that– and it went– it just deteriorated really fast, really quickly. Okay– to the point on Monday morning, Alice had to go to work, and I was taking care of my brother's dog– and she goes to me– you've got to walk the dog, and you've got to, you know, get your bag packed– you're leaving for Dubai in six hours.

00:35:43 Aleksandra King: Gosh– no.

00:35:43 Sam Vanderpump: And she's thinking– she's– she's looking at me– but she's got to go to work– and she's going– there's something wrong here. She comes back– I haven't moved– dog's not being walked– bearing in mind that this is my brother's dog that we've been taking care of– dog's not moved– I think one of my friends came around and actually took him out for a walk– and I have not moved from the bed. My lips are dry– there's actually a photo of me in my dressing gown– so I'd got into the shower, but I got out of the shower and just laid in the bed. And she took a photo of me, and she sent to my mum– and she went– and she called my mum, or FaceTimed my mum– again, I don't remember any of this– and I think she put my mum on FaceTime in front of my face. I don't remember a single thing. Apparently, I started to make sense then– so then they thought that I went from– and I was taking a lot of pain medication– loads of codeine– for this– for this pain, which we thought was irritation. So in their head– they've got no idea what's going on– no one knows– cos we've got– so they think– and then they were– cos I'm delirious– they're asking me how much codeine I'm taking, and I'm going– I– I don't remember– maybe this. So in their head, I've taken too much codeine. Well– luckily– something stemmed a thought– I can't remember exactly what happened, or in exactly what order, but they made the group decision– I mean, between them– to get me into hospital. So– but this was like the fifth time we've called an ambulance– and I can't say to you when, because there was so many different things going wrong– with asthma, flu, this or that– and at those times, they did check my blood. So what happened later wasn't what was present at the start. So it was like– the flu or the asthma had weakened my immune system so much– it wasn't just a flu, it wasn't just asthma– but it weakened me so much that it meant– then– it allowed me to contract an infection around the Thursday or Friday– which then just spiralled out of control till the Monday, the 16th December– where I was still– now– in a hospital. And all I remember– don't remember anything– all I remember was– in a lot of pain, sort of rolling around on this hospital bed– and this doctor comes in, and he goes– he's shocked in face– cos the blood results just come back– and he's got– he's just turned to us– and I don't think he's known that– cos they've– he wasn't really paying attention at first. He'd seen me like four times– I'd had asthma, I'd had the flu– there was nothing wrong– he'd seen me– looks good– nothing wrong with that– and he done– done my blood before– nothing had been wrong. They were well within their right to send me back home. So we don't know what point– don't know what point I contracted the infection, and we don't know how we got to the situation we got to. But he turned around to me– and he went, to me and my mum– I'm going– you're– you're going into liver and kidney failure.

00:38:28 Aleksandra King: Ah– no.

00:38:29 Sam Vanderpump: And then they– they start– so you heard him saying this– and I think then they start– they're going– we're taking you to resuscitation. So all of a sudden, you're– you're thinking you've come in here for maybe taking too much codeine– pain– and my liver and kidney are failing. Now all of a sudden, everything started to click– cos I've got a pre-existing liver condition– so we obviously know it's something– but we don't understand how it's all connected– and we don't– we– we really don't. And they rushed me to resuscitation department. I mean– I– I don't– I don't think I cry a lot– but I– I broke down at that point.

00:39:04 Aleksandra King: Had a cry.

00:39:04 Sam Vanderpump: Yeah– I broke down. And my fiancée, Alice– she was up in– on the way to a job up north– and she was on a train– and I called her, and she just– she broke out into tears, and she got on the train straight back. Yes– they're rushing me into resuscitation team– and yeah– I mean, we don't know how anything happened, and a lot still doesn't make sense to us. We're still seeing clinics to understand what's really gone on– what's happened with my liver disease to mean this can now happen. But with the disease I've got– basically, what we found out recently is– they don't know anything about it. They know I've got something wrong with my liver– they know it could impact me in the future– and they're just there to help along the way. Right now, I'm fine– but it could deteriorate to a point where I need a liver transplant.

00:39:56 Aleksandra King: And– okay– shoot.

00:39:59 Sam Vanderpump: They will take care of me from A to B– hopefully I never get to B, and hopefully I stay around A. But we have had situations where the liver is showing signs of struggling. So yeah– I don't– I don't drink anymore– I– I don't– yeah– I– I don't do anything which could impair my liver function– I'm completely– yeah– just very, very careful– eating very healthy– getting back into my exercise– very slowly– yes. But yeah– it was–

00:40:25 Aleksandra King: That's tough. That– that is stressful and scary for you– I can imagine that was horrible. So they– you went in– you thought it was something else– and then they said to you– you– you know– you're going to have this– you're going into all this failure– organ failure– here– you've got sepsis– tell me– did they– but they knew you had–

00:40:43 Sam Vanderpump: No– they didn't– essentially– they didn't know. They just could see my liver and kidney function were going wrong. They didn't know– they didn't know what I'd got. They– they were just– they were asking me all the questions, doing all the tests. They– I was– they– my bed was wheeled around all different parts of the hospital to try and find out what was going wrong– and it wasn't– they never came to an exact decision– it was more– we've ruled out everything else. So it– and then when we spoke to a liver specialist, it was very much confirmed– now we actually know you've got this disease– this all makes sense. And yeah– they put me on these industrial cleaning– like– antibiotics– those are the words they said– went– they– they're going to destroy everything in your body.

00:41:28 Aleksandra King: Real deal.

00:41:29 Sam Vanderpump: Yeah– they're like– she was like– they're like the– the most– the strongest antibiotics you can get– strongest antiviral you can get– throw them in– throw those babies in. And for the first two days, I didn't respond– liver func– of anything. The– the liver– my CRP, which shows the liver performance– it kept on going up– into– I was in the 400s– like, really high. Like– basically, my liver– they were literally saying to me– your liver might give up– and at that point, we're going to take over your liver function– so we'll put you on dial– and your kidney function– we'll put you on dialysis– and we'll– we'll get– we're here– we're in ICU– we're ready for you– we've got your bed. And this is what I'm being told. And you know– luckily– they– something worked– started to kick in– and they got the infection under control.

00:42:15 Aleksandra King: The liver is one of the few organs in the body that can fully regenerate.

00:42:19 Sam Vanderpump: So unfortunately, that doesn't apply to my liver.

00:42:21 Aleksandra King: It doesn't?

00:42:22 Sam Vanderpump: I've got congenital hepatic fibrosis. Okay– so the way my liver is– is it's got cysts on it, and bumps– and although the liver regenerates, mine still regenerates with this disease. Okay– so it's got the cysts, but it can regenerate to some point still– but it– that's not what it– every time–

00:42:41 Aleksandra King: Not the issue.

00:42:42 Sam Vanderpump: That's not the issue. The– the liver has a disease in it– so its norm is with this disease. So every time– if– if– let's say– if it does take impact– it's regenerating with the disease, and the disease is getting worse.

00:42:55 Aleksandra King: So how long have you had this, then? Your whole–

00:42:56 Sam Vanderpump: Since I was four.

00:42:57 Aleksandra King: Since you were four.

00:42:58 Sam Vanderpump: They very much said to me– I've gone in for six-monthly– annual– annual checkups– and they're like– you're fine– yeah– you're good– you can have a drink– you're healthy– you look great.

00:43:06 Aleksandra King: You ever got any of this? No– no symptoms?

00:43:09 Sam Vanderpump: Nothing– nothing.

00:43:10 Aleksandra King: Oh.

00:43:10 Sam Vanderpump: But then they give me some medication– and this is what they said– is always– but they don't tell you this– because it could never happen with my disease– they don't know any– they don't know enough about it, basically– going to start learning now. Well– I thought they– we– we were going every year– I thought we were going to a clinic for my disease– and what I found out– is from a doctor in the last clinic– was– actually, no– my clinic is for liver diseases– and in that clinic, I'm like one of four people that she's seen in her history of being a doctor with my disease.

00:43:46 Aleksandra King: Wow.

00:43:46 Sam Vanderpump: Or it was something ridiculously low like that. The– the scary thing with doctors, when you do get ill, is you realise that not all of them know enough about you– and you think– but why don't you guys– surely you guys should know– come on. Yeah– and they don't always know– or there's some very specific thing– or this one might have a bit of that information, that might have a bit– but no one really knows– one person with everything– or it's rare to find that. Don't get me wrong– and this is something I want to say very clearly– I think the NHS have been amazing. They're the reason I'm here, alive, today. Their care is fantastic. We are so fortunate in the UK– and God– hope– right now, with everything going on with the NHS– let's hope it's saved– because I think we are one of many countries that have got a healthcare to be proud of. America are letting their people die on the streets because they don't have private insurance. Be thankful– we are lucky to have– to have– going to say that– and I will– I will sing their praises– praises– all day, every single day. But yes– it is very scary to see how little they know about some things– but that's to be expected. You know– they don't– they are human– they are– they are [unclear: fallible?]– if a new disease comes out, there are some– scary– to have to– to get the work together, to get the information out– and– and to find it out– find it out and get it out.

00:45:11 Aleksandra King: So for those people that don't know sepsis– it's– it's blood poisoning– I mean, in the simplest– what is it, then?

00:45:17 Sam Vanderpump: So this is– sepsis is really as simple– and this is what– sepsis isn't a disease, like congenital hepatic fibrosis. Sepsis isn't cancer– it isn't leukaemia– it isn't a specific type of disease. Sepsis can happen to anyone. It's any type of infection which gets out of control. That's why you must treat infections. If you're feeling ill, if you're feeling unwell, if you've got a chest infection, a throat infection– anything like this– if you've got a rash appear, if you've got a lump– any of these kinds of infections– whether they are– they can all become septic.

00:45:57 Aleksandra King: Exactly– so what's the difference, then, between–

00:46:00 Sam Vanderpump: So what sepsis is– understanding– really– and this is real– really the crux of it– is understanding of– let– not letting things go untreated. If things go untreated, they can become a lot, lot worse. And so there's something like one in five deaths are sepsis-related– because of infections they've– got out of control– that you've picked up in hospital– a splinter– my uncle got a splinter and lost his toe, because of the infection getting out of control. It's all of these different things– you can pick them up anywhere. Now– I think– I don't know the exact percentage– so what there is– one in five deaths are sepsis-related– and of those one in five deaths, there's a very high percentage– I'm not going to say what the percentage is, cos I don't know it– but there's a very high percentage of those deaths which are avoidable if caught earlier. Now that is– for finding out stuff that is sepsis-related, do follow the UKST website. There is a slogan there which– it spells out SEPSIS– and those are the symptoms. So shortness of breath–

00:47:08 Aleksandra King: Which is what you had.

00:47:09 Sam Vanderpump: Temperature–

00:47:10 Aleksandra King: Yeah– what you had.

00:47:11 Sam Vanderpump: Dehydration– delirium– these kinds of things. Do look at the UKST website– the Sepsis Trust– they are fantastic. I'm– I'm an ambassador for them– I'm working with them as much as I can.

00:47:23 Aleksandra King: So you used what happened to you in a positive way to– to shine a light on this thing– cos not many people know about it at all.

00:47:30 Sam Vanderpump: Exactly. I think– come on, seriously– I think– where– we– I've got a somewhat of a social media platform– I was on Good Morning Britain– I do Made in Chelsea–

00:47:38 Aleksandra King: Decent stamp– you need to get yourself down–

00:47:41 Sam Vanderpump: Well– there are the critics out there who have to chime in and go say whatever– about– when– when I try and say I'm using the platform for whatever– they go– okay, well– we're– we're standing– we don't know who he is– or whatever– grow their platform– who cares. My point is– even if there is just one of my friends following me– one of my friends who sees this– forget the platform for a second– one person, one friend, one family member– plus who else– whoever else sees it– if all of a sudden they see this, and someone they know– or themselves– or someone related to them– has these symptoms, and they spot it out earlier than what they would have before– and by that, get them treated– and by that, save a life– well– me– if I don't do my job–

00:48:23 Aleksandra King: Yeah– then you've done– you've done your job.

00:48:25 Sam Vanderpump: Well– because I would not wish on my worst enemy what I went through. Waking up in a hospital bed– [unclear: swept?]– not knowing where you are– not knowing if you're going to make it out of that– if you're going to see the outside world again– scary– wondering– should I have had a will set up? Does everyone know where everything is?– thinking– at the age of 28. No one needs to go through that.

00:48:46 Aleksandra King: I– I came across the article about you with sepsis, and it– it's touched me closely, because my dad is still in hospital in Poland.

00:48:56 Sam Vanderpump: Sorry.

00:48:56 Aleksandra King: Yeah– it's okay. He had a hernia operation– but then he developed– out of the hospital– he came back home, and he developed this sepsis. So he had a wound that basically became septic. And the thing is– my parents– they're both very good at– they understand medical things– they're very smart, and that stuff. They always told us– oh, you need to do this– and they always have the recipes and the things of– when something's going wrong with you– they always tell you natural medicines and real medicines– and why aren't you on antibiotics yet– they're so good at health. But– so I'm surprised that my mum– it took her a while to– to realise that he had this– because he just looked like he was sleeping, with rosy cheeks– and he looked like he was resting so nicely. But then– when she actually– eventually– she woke him up– she was like– come on, man– you sleep– like– this is too long– what? Yeah– and then– you know– I'm not going to go into the details– it was all awful– awful. And then the sepsis antibiotics they talk about– they put it inside– in a sponge format– into the wound– to lap it up– and then all this stuff– it's– it's quite– but that– you can deteriorate very, very, very quickly– it's just crazy– the sepsis thing.

00:49:57 Sam Vanderpump: Yeah– I– I– I think that's the biggest thing– is– it's– that's why you must not let anything go untreated– anything at all– whether you're 1 or 99. Anything that goes untreated– it's because you don't think– it will take too long in A&E– or you're not going to get seen to by your GP– they are excuses. Do not do that. Go and see your GP– if you're really concerned, get to A&E.

00:50:24 Aleksandra King: Yeah– it's not normal– the symptoms that you– the breathlessness, and the fever– and it– that is the delirious– it's not normal. And you're not getting up– and it's like a day's gone– you're still in bed– why are you in bed so long?

00:50:34 Sam Vanderpump: And I think that's the biggest thing– is– it's not right. Because when you're in that situation, you may not spot it yourself– because– or you're– you don't– not even think in the right way–

00:50:43 Aleksandra King: Exactly.

00:50:44 Sam Vanderpump: So it's about people around you to be spotting those. You know– for me, I'm very lucky and thankful to my fiancée and my mum– and for other people, it's about those people around them.

00:50:55 Aleksandra King: Exactly– in your case, it's Alice, and in my case, it's my mum– because eventually she picked up that phone. Because if she hadn't been there– if she had gone out for the day, and just not come back till– I don't know– late at night– my dad–

00:51:06 Sam Vanderpump: And you– so it's like– these people around you– they need to keep an eye on their– on their patients– and just check in.

00:51:12 Aleksandra King: And thank God we've got those loved ones around us to– to look after us.

00:51:15 Sam Vanderpump: But I appreciate– it's like– health anxiety– and I mean– I think that's been the hardest. I mean– physically– I have been– I've– I've– I've healed, right? It's only been– it's been six months. I would say I lost an extreme amount of weight– felt extremely weak– but that all comes back. And with your physical health, you can see the progression line, right? You can see yourself getting better– you can see yourself getting healthier. But you can't see that with your mental health– and you don't– and– and that's the same in– in real life– with other situations– in– with mental health, you can never see how well your mental health's doing– or what's on the inside. It's not a– there's no sign– there's no result or mathematical equation to it. So I– it's something I really struggled with– and not in the sense of being depressed– more in the sense of the health anxiety that follows– and constantly worried that if I get another symptom– could that lead to an infection? Could that be sepsis?– constantly worried about that– the unknowing– there's no aftercare– the support. You know what was really interesting, though– I– there was someone recently– someone recently– I watched The Theory of Everything again the other night– and someone like Stephen Hawking– I mean– obviously out-of-this-world intelligent person– but forget about that for a second– at the age of– I think it was 18, 19, 20– around that age– when he was in university at Cambridge or Oxford– wherever he went– I believe it was Cambridge– he was told he had two years left to live. And it was how he managed to deal with that mentally–

00:53:11 Aleksandra King: God.

00:53:12 Sam Vanderpump: And then still do what he did– and live to the age he lived to– while losing control of all his body. I turned around to myself, and I went– yeah– if he can do that– then– yeah. You know– that– to me– I'm very big believer in manifestation– positivity– and what you believe in, what you attract. So I was like– if he can deal with that– yeah– he was put on this world to do that, I believe– I can. I don't have to focus on– what if my liver gets worse progressively– what– what happens if I have to have a liver transplant– cos it might not– as well– say it might not– so don't focus on that. Focus on what I want to do, and what I'm going to believe in.

00:53:52 Aleksandra King: He's– I mean– what an impressive– incredible. And I think– and you know– we spoke about this before this podcast– where I said– the fact that– you know– about what's happened to you– you've been through it– you heard what the doctor said– you've got all this organ failure thing happening– and you've got– it's like– really stressful situation. You now know that– and in a way, this becomes your tool– and– and it's your friend– because with that information, you are better equipped– you're more knowledgeable– you're just in a better position to then– if there is a symptom– you are– you will much better diagnose this. Okay– yes, it will give anxiety– but that's a good thing. Anxiety is a good thing when it's protecting you. Yeah– so I don't think you should be like– oh, I've got anxiety– actually, this is all your friend– this happened to make you stronger– and it's– it's a tool in your toolkit.

00:54:42 Sam Vanderpump: For sure. And– and since the first infection– I now know what the signs are. Yeah– I've had infections since– and because I've spotted the signs early, I've not become sick sick– I've not been hospitalised– and fine– we're now knowing how to deal with that.

00:54:58 Aleksandra King: You'll be building your immune system– and you're building your knowledge as well– and you're learning about the condition that you have– the pre-existing condition. So all of that stuff– it's– it's all tools that you take with you. It's making you better, sharper, stronger– better equipped in every way. And I– I mean– I just think– you use this stuff, don't you– in life– you use it. And what you're doing now– speaking about sepsis as well– what we're doing here– it's a good thing. This is all a positive– I mean– off a terrible thing that happened– and my dad as well– it's actually also good.

00:55:25 Sam Vanderpump: Yeah– and that's– that's it. We've got to– you know– there was a horrific case– especially– which– you know– UK Sepsis [Trust]– heavily working on– which was of a lady who was a nurse. Her son had gotten an infection– I don't know the ins and outs of these particular story– but if you see– you'll see– you would have seen it, maybe– around. But the big thing is– unfortunately– she knew– it was– she could spot sepsis. She called ahead– she was a nurse– called ahead to the A&E department– she went– I think my son's got sepsis– I'm bringing him in. Some things weren't carried out particularly well– and unfortunately, her son passed away.

00:56:05 Aleksandra King: No.

00:56:06 Sam Vanderpump: Out of that horrific situation– and God– you know– nothing will ever bring back her son– he literally passed away– from– there's– there's nothing that will ever bring back her son– and I'm– I'm so, so sorry to her– for her– to have to have gone through that.

00:56:21 Aleksandra King: Oh my god.

00:56:22 Sam Vanderpump: But there– and there is a but here– but the– the time– there is a positive to have come out of the situation– although the positive does not outweigh the negative– and I need to make that very, very clear– there is still a positive to come out of the situation– and that is this massive inquest which has now gone on– into how this– how the– how it happened– and how we avoid it happening again in the future. That's what's motivating her– she's– she's heading this inquest– she wants to make sure no mother goes through the same situation as what she went through.

00:56:51 Aleksandra King: Yeah– what a fantastic woman she is. And we have to– we have to work on the positive– helps with the mental side of it– to– mental health side of it– to try and just turn it to help other people with it as well. So I think– yeah– and I– and I hope for you as well, Sam– that you just– this doesn't define you. It's a part of you– it doesn't define you. So you've got to just– it's something that happened– and you've got– you're engaged– you've got– you've got all this stuff going on– and you've just got to fly, and spread those wings as wide as you possibly can– and enjoy– enjoy the– the journey.

00:57:22 Sam Vanderpump: Exactly.

00:57:23 Aleksandra King: The other side of you that I really want to talk about is your business side– cos you're– you're a pretty smart guy– you're a founder– you've got this business side to you that people don't know about. So for those that don't know– tell us a little bit about your business side.

00:57:35 Sam Vanderpump: Yeah– so I– since the age of 18– I didn't go to university– I always wanted to work, and work hard. I worked in my grandfather's building sites– I worked as a DJ for my mum and dad's DJ agency– yeah– I worked as a barback in bars. I– I wanted to work in the real world. I didn't want to– I wasn't an academic– my brother was an academic man through and through– straight A-star student– Cambridge grad.

00:58:02 Aleksandra King: Wow– okay.

00:58:03 Sam Vanderpump: He was real competition to deal with. I was– I wasn't by any means not intelligent enough to go to university– I had offers from great university– but that was not my personality. I was someone who wanted to get into the working world. So I left my A-levels– and I– well– I finished my A-levels– but I didn't go to university. I went straight into the city– started working for another young man who had just started his own foreign exchange brokerage business– and started working for him. And my mum said I could sell– the classic sounds– I could sell sand to the Arabs– I could sell to the Eskimos– that was my gift– it was– I would talk. Hence why I was– went to a big school– hence why I'm– reality TV–

00:58:46 Aleksandra King: Gone on Apprentice– yeah– I mean– you would be good on Apprentice.

00:58:49 Sam Vanderpump: Loved to have done The Apprentice– really, really would have loved to– yeah. Don't know why I never applied– but would have loved to have done it.

00:58:55 Aleksandra King: Can still do it.

00:58:56 Sam Vanderpump: Yeah– potentially. And so I started working for this guy– and he wasn't the most intelligent person– but fair play– give credit where credit is due– he was a hard worker– he'd worked in the industry– he'd had experience– and he– you could just tell– I went for other interviews as well– and I could just tell– even at that young, naive age that I was at– 18 years of age– I could tell that he was going to build something pretty amazing. So I worked for him. I lied to my mum about where his offices were– because he was a young man working in the garages above– his dad's– the offices above his dad's garage– cos his dad had a car garage. Yeah– and there was us– a bunch of 21-and-unders– working– selling currency– to– it was quite like Wolf of Wall Street moments.

00:59:46 Aleksandra King: Yeah– selling currency to– are– doing your own thing.

00:59:49 Sam Vanderpump: Yeah– we were– we were selling currency to import–export companies– anyone who needed it– and saving the money. So we were doing– we were doing good thing– we were helping people save money– and we were making money. And we were– we were grafters– and we went out and we grafted– and we built this business into– the business is still going today, I believe. I think he does– I– I think he's still doing very, very well. I was the head of sales for the company at one point– yeah– and we're talking– we grew this from nothing– when I started, it was doing under 10,000 a month gross profit– yeah– to the point where I left, and it was doing in the hundreds of thousands a month– in the millions a year– and I believe it's far outgrown that now. And I went– and unfortunately– situations happened where I didn't– you know– I butted heads with the senior director of the business– and it wasn't right for me– and I had this opportunity, with two of the other guys that I'd worked with, to start my own business. And my grandfather had always said to me– it's like– you know– he– I was work– doing– earning good money at the age of 18, 19, 20 for this individual– but he always turned around to me, and he went– it's fantastic you're doing well– but there's nothing like working for yourself. And I come from a family of entrepreneurs– yeah– you know– my grandfather owned his own–

01:01:00 Aleksandra King: It's different– it's just different.

01:01:01 Sam Vanderpump: My dad– mum and dad– owned– owning their own music business– DJ agency.

01:01:06 Aleksandra King: You've got that bug– yeah– you've caught it– it's contagious.

01:01:08 Sam Vanderpump: It was– it was more– it was more about– proving I can do this too. So it was a perfect opportunity– me, along with two of the guys I used to work with.

01:01:17 Aleksandra King: You either have it or you don't.

01:01:19 Sam Vanderpump: Yeah– 100%. And we went and started our own business– and that went really well for three, four years. And then my grandfather says the next follow-up comment– which was– yeah– but you've got business partners. And you know what– it's my grandfather's comments– my mum's father– and it really– it really resonated with me– they really stuck in my head. And it's the same as the way I– you know– I get annoyed at him for saying those things– you know– why can't you just be– you know– proud of me? But at the same time– it's those kind of constructive criticism comments that come out that pushed me to– you know– now I run my own business– completely– 100% on my own. So yes– I have run a mixture of different foreign exchange businesses– but essentially worked my way up the ladder– from working for someone– to having my own business with business partners– to now being share– share– singular shareholder of my own current company– and now we're expanding at the moment.

01:02:16 Aleksandra King: So the company– what are you doing?

01:02:18 Sam Vanderpump: Vanderpump FX– so everything's got to be in line with the branding of the last name– yeah. We– we're currency exchange brokerage– we– we do– we exchange quite a lot– I think in January, we exchanged 10 million– so that was one of our record months– which was fantastic. And yeah– we– we're growing– we're growing year on year– so that's all really, really exciting stuff.

01:02:39 Aleksandra King: You wouldn't see that about you– Made in Chelsea– you've got this entrepreneurial spirit.

01:02:43 Sam Vanderpump: And– and then I got called– in– by some relevant person on the show– called me a– a nepo baby. And you know what's really funny is– firstly– my dad– when he passed away– passed away and– get– passed me on debt– so–

01:03:00 Aleksandra King: Okay– oh.

01:03:00 Sam Vanderpump: That's– you know– the idea that someone has given me something to get to where I am– these are all self-built.

01:03:08 Aleksandra King: That right now– no one's given Sam anything– and he's built this by himself. So let's clear that up. It is a horrible comment– a–

01:03:19 Sam Vanderpump: It's a ridiculous comment.

01:03:20 Aleksandra King: Not true.

01:03:21 Sam Vanderpump: So it's not true. The only person that could potentially have given me something would be my auntie– who's– yes– worth tens of millions, if not hundreds. But can I ask you this– what auntie– yeah– just gives you stuff? Yeah– yeah– yeah– oh– there– it– does anyone have an auntie that just gives you a couple million quid? Or let's say your auntie's got a hundred– let's put it like– let's– you know– it doesn't have to be whatever money– but if your auntie's got a few hundred thousand– what auntie just comes along, gives you a thousand pounds to start your business? It's all relative– and it's all–

01:03:51 Aleksandra King: What she has given you is some really good advice.

01:03:53 Sam Vanderpump: That can be– [unclear] advice– and– and I– you can– and I would want that every day– far more.

01:03:59 Aleksandra King: And I'm looking into the camera to really– that's going to make you the money. No– but it's good to clear– we're clearing this up now– like– you are building stuff by yourself– okay?

01:04:07 Sam Vanderpump: And I value the advice I've got from my family more than anything.

01:04:11 Aleksandra King: Totally.

01:04:11 Sam Vanderpump: And that's all that I've ever got– because that's what you can take with you– and that's what's going to make you money– your own money– and not any hand-me-downs from anybody. And I've gotten to places of debt at point– you know– in– in starting my own businesses– and I had to work my way out of those– those debt holes. You know– when I first started– one of the first companies– when we had business partners– I remember at a point– because we were self-funding the business ourselves– we built up a– a pot of money– we'd gone in to start this business– but obviously it takes a bit of cash– so we put all this cash in– and we were all extremely low on cash– me and the other two business partners– to the point where I think I essentially had a credit card which I probably owed 10 grand on– yeah– I was really– I was struggling– until the company started to do really well– and we– we skyrocketed– we slingshot. But we did that knowing what we'd built at another company– knowing we'd build it again. And when I went and started the third business– there was never any doubt in my mind that– that– that I had to go into a little bit of a hole to–

01:05:11 Aleksandra King: Well– you– you take risks– you take risks– but they are calculated risks. You know– you're doing it backed on– on evidence and everything. And you know– fair play to you– because you could be like most people– and you can go and get a job– and I'm not downplaying– downplaying a job– cos you can get great jobs and work really, really flipping hard– but it takes something of a special kind of personality and risk-taker to– to put themselves in a risky situation– where you're going to get into debt– where it might not work– the world's going to be like– oh, you failed– you've done this– you– I mean– you go try being an entrepreneur, then– go on.

01:05:40 Sam Vanderpump: And– you know what's really interesting is– I love the risk– and I still take risks this day. And I think it's– it's really interesting– I– I take– I like the risk– and I take more and more risk with investments. I've taken risks– I've lost tens of thousands– if not hundreds of thousands– of pounds on risks. But my– my philosophy is– one of those risks– like– I took the risk when I first started one of my businesses– and I lost 10, 20,000 by going down– and that one– that risk worked– and I got where I am today. Now I take bigger risks– and I've lost risks at the time– but the bigger the risks are what slingshot you that extra mile. And if you're not willing to take the risk, then you're not willing to be an entrepreneur.

01:06:25 Aleksandra King: Yeah. Well– what I would like to call you is– is like the modern-age entrepreneur– cos you've got like this mixture of your– your own brand– which we'll talk about– there's your brand– there's your family name– which is also brand– and then you're bringing that into– you're sort of merging that in with the reality TV– and then you've got this business thing– it's almost like the perfect little– little mix. So let's talk about that. Is that a deliberate thing– or you using the reality TV thing to boost the business? How important is your– let's talk about this branding.

01:06:55 Sam Vanderpump: So this is a really, really interesting question– and I've only worked out the answer to this myself recently.

01:07:01 Aleksandra King: Okay– let's go.

01:07:02 Sam Vanderpump: I knew how to be an entrepreneur– I knew how to start my own business– I knew how to make money– yeah– fine– and that's done very well. Then I wanted to do reality TV– because in my head, I wanted to do something– or I wanted to turn to more of a personal brand– something I enjoyed. I've done foreign exchange– it makes money– it's fantastic– but it's so blooming boring.

01:07:24 Aleksandra King: You've got too much personality to as well be hidden in– in a foreign exchange business.

01:07:28 Sam Vanderpump: My dad said to– behind a computer– who's– no one's going to see you behind the computer all day long– get out there.

01:07:33 Aleksandra King: It's a similar thing.

01:07:34 Sam Vanderpump: You've hit the nail on the head. So I build my personal brand– fantastic– but now I've got these two paths which are very, very different. I've got me being an entrepreneur– making money– well– here we go– and I hadn't worked out– for the last year and a half– how these paths were going to overlap. And it's only recently that I've worked it out– and– and it was again off the back of some advice that my auntie has given me.

01:08:05 Aleksandra King: Lisa– yeah.

01:08:06 Sam Vanderpump: Really– really has been– and something I'm working on at the moment is really exciting. So– you know– with Made in Chelsea, you get this built-in kind of platform– and then with my FX business, I've got this amazing network and clientele and friends– you know– some really amazing people– you know– which– and they're two– they're going– is– the stories are going to waste. And I thought– I've always wanted to do a podcast myself– like– I'm on one right now– and I've always wanted to put one together. How is this all going to connect? And I realised– you know– it will be the built-in crowd of Made in Chelsea who will help this podcast slingshot– and the podcast is essentially about Vanderpump FX– Sam Vanderpump– the client, the friends, the network– and all these people who are doing currency exchange through my company are some of the most interesting businesses– you want to be talking to them. Yeah– so we've got some fantastic stories coming up. The– the series is called– a Vander– VanderPod– play on– on podcast. So we're in the process of filming at the moment– so it's going to be coming out in the next month or two months.

01:09:19 Aleksandra King: Okay– well– I'll update the description– you send me those links– and people can have a little– yeah.

01:09:22 Sam Vanderpump: So VanderPod– it's a play on Vanderpump and podcast– yeah. Cos we have a lot of– in business and entrepreneurship– and they like reality TV– oh– these are going to be some fantastic stories. You know– without mentioning too much and spoiling the– the promos– we've got some great– lengths of history to modern-day moguls– business moguls.

01:09:43 Aleksandra King: Yeah– really good stuff. Okay– so when we started the podcast, I said– who is Sam Vanderpump– and now– we're coming to the end now– so I'm going to tie that back in. But like– who is Sam Vanderpump the brand? Because you're very– you're well put together– you're kind of like curated– and aesthetically– like– you go on your Instagram– you've got the nice shots– you've got suits– you present very well– you speak really nicely– you come across as polite and all that kind of thing. I mean– some people might say a bit controlled– you have the critics that say– but I just– we're going to forget about the trolling vibes– cos let them try– yeah. But so– like– talk to me about your brand– and why– why is it important to you to dress the way you do, and be the way you are– and is that actually your brand?

01:10:29 Sam Vanderpump: Yeah– is it– interesting. I guess with– when you put yourself into this like– kind of limelight– you have to think about the way you– you're branding– because your– your personality is your branding. And then if you're going to put yourself in this kind of spotlight– if you haven't given your brand off in a certain way– then if people don't buy into your brand, why they ever going to buy into anything else you do? And what I mean by that is– but I– I– I'm a big, big believer of– be authentic. So yes– there is a branding side– but I believe I'm very authentic. There are people out there who take calculated risks– calculated moves– to give off a perception of their brand to make them business. But I don't believe in that– because I don't want to ever look back and go– well– that wasn't me– yeah– that wasn't me– so I was pretending to do this or that or whatever.

01:11:36 Aleksandra King: But is it you– is it you to dress so well– to be very– do you– were you taught that? Like– do you–

01:11:43 Sam Vanderpump: Yeah– I think I was. From a young age– I was always told– especially by my mother– to– you know– to take care of yourself– yeah– whole family– to present– be presentable– actually something which was ingrained from a young age– for yourself– get dressed nicely– you know– brush that hair. I mean– when we went to school, we weren't allowed hair products in our hair– we were– shoes had to be polished– our ties had to be done properly– respect your uniform. Like– as we entered our school, we would shake our teacher's hand on the door– and we'd go– good morning, Mr– you know– basic– I don't know if I can say my school teachers' names on this– but who knows– good morning, Mr Yarlett– would be one of them. And you know– we would go through these– these– these protocols– and then we'd have assemblies– and we'd have public speeches– you know– all to– and debating societies and stuff like that– to really help grow–

01:12:35 Aleksandra King: You know– I– I– I would say– you're– we're all– even if you're not in the public eye– you've all got your own brand.

01:12:40 Sam Vanderpump: Is a brand– school's a brand– so you're reflecting the brand. So I went to– I went to a school– boarding school– and they– for example– say that we're not allowed to walk linked arms and eat food– like– burger or something– like– whilst we're walking– cos it gives the– the school a bad vibes. You've got to walk a certain way– talk a certain way– because there's a brand of the school.

01:12:57 Aleksandra King: But now we're– we're evolving– especially if you're doing a mixture of reality TV star–public figure–business– you are the brand. The personality becomes the brand– and the clothes– how you carry yourself– how you speak– how you deal with conflict– for example– the fact that you're controlled in conflict on Made in Chelsea– you don't ever lose it on TV.

01:13:14 Sam Vanderpump: No– I think that's very unbecoming.

01:13:17 Aleksandra King: Hotheaded– no.

01:13:18 Sam Vanderpump: Yeah– it's very unbecoming to lose your temper– right? I just– I just think– even– like– there've been situations– if– if you ever catch me in a situation– I wouldn't be hotheaded– yeah– maybe when I was younger. It's bad manners– you know– it's– it's unbecoming– yeah– it's unbecoming. It takes– it takes a very, very much bigger man– or person– to be able to control yourself and articulate yourself. And the person who shouts and swears loses the argument.

01:13:52 Aleksandra King: She's doing it in public and on camera– surely you must have some self-awareness– you know that– that cannot possibly be good– unless your brand is selling something like that.

01:13:59 Sam Vanderpump: Also– I'll say– I'll say something– if– God– this could all be to my detriment– when next season– I'll say that– I'm losing my temper and I'm screaming and shouting– but I think if you can't control yourself in that situation on TV– yeah– what are you like behind that?

01:14:17 Aleksandra King: Oh– yeah– yeah.

01:14:18 Sam Vanderpump: You know– because that is a controlled environment. So if you can't control yourself in a controlled environment– I think you're represent– something way scarier behind closed doors. So– you know–

01:14:31 Aleksandra King: Yeah– well– I think you come across really well– and I do wish you all the best with your businesses. It'll be interesting to see how you– how you evolve and progress– and how things turn out on Made in Chelsea.

01:14:44 Sam Vanderpump: You know what's really interesting– for the first six months of this year– it was very hard– it was very much just– focus on my health–

01:14:48 Aleksandra King: Yeah– of course.

01:14:49 Sam Vanderpump: Building– rebuilding those– after– like– sort of– from the start of June– I have been– as I came back from LA– after I got my updated advice– I have been so– working on so much– so there's a lot happening.

01:15:04 Aleksandra King: You're pretty focused– you're a– yes– you're– you're in– you're in a yes mode kind of thing.

01:15:08 Sam Vanderpump: 100%. You know– life is my oyster– I'm so thankful to be here– I'm thankful to be alive. And you know– I'm working with Sepsis Trust– I'm working on a new podcast– I'm working on a new business– so– and I'm working on so many different things– and they're all going to start to come out over the next few months. So if– if you do follow me on social media, you will see some of those things.

01:15:27 Aleksandra King: We'll put all your links in the description. Sam– it's been amazing having you.

01:15:30 Sam Vanderpump: Thank you so much for having me.

01:15:31 Aleksandra King: Thank you so much.

01:15:32 Sam Vanderpump: Thank you.