Lisa Vanderpump's Nephew Sam Announces Baby News Amidst Terminal Liver Disease Diagnosis
Sam Vanderpump, the nephew of Lisa Vanderpump, shared the news that he and his partner, Alice Yaxley, are going to have their first baby — a disclosure that came only a few weeks prior to him making public his diagnosis of advanced liver disease.
On September 16, Sam, who is 28, wrote in an Instagram post announcing the pregnancy, “Life brings many unexpected turns, but this is undeniably the most wonderful one so far.” He added, “Our joy and anticipation are beyond description!”
Accompanying the announcement was an image featuring Alice’s ultrasound picture encircled by white roses arranged into a heart shape, with the couple’s hands gently placed below it. Another picture showed Sam tenderly kissing his fiancée’s expectant stomach while displaying the ultrasound for the camera.
The day prior to their Instagram reveal, Sam and Alice, aged 24, discussed their impending parenthood with The Daily Mail.
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“It certainly caught us off guard. I had skipped a menstrual cycle, but given my polycystic ovarian syndrome, a missed period wasn’t inherently surprising,” Alice elaborated. “However, I took a test as a precaution, not anticipating any result, yet it showed positive. It was a monumental revelation. We exchanged glances, thinking, ‘This is huge,’ but considering how well everything else in our lives was aligned, we knew we were meant to be together, and perfect timing is an illusion, so we decided to adjust our existing plans.”
Alice further mentioned that she had previously believed she might not be able to conceive, making the pregnancy a source of “relief.”
Concurrently, Sam informed the publication that they are expecting a son and have already chosen a name for him: “Marmaduke.”
“My father has passed away, but he consistently wished to name my brother ‘Duke,’ envisioning that he would one day serve as Prime Minister, Duke Vanderpump,” Sam explained. (Sam is the offspring of Lisa’s elder sibling, Mark, who tragically took his own life in October 2018 at 59 years old.)
“I genuinely adore the name. My mother wasn’t fond of it, leading to my brother being named Jack. My father, however, managed to have the final say by bestowing upon him the middle name Daniels. I believe Marmaduke is splendid, and we plan to use Duke as a shortened version,” he went on to say. “There’s a memorable scene in Downton Abbey featuring Maggie Smith and her daughter conversing about a character named Marmaduke, which only solidified our affection for it.”
Sam and Alice, who had revealed their engagement in March following a six-month courtship, shared their pregnancy news with Lisa, 65, on a recent installment of Made in Chelsea.
“This is wonderful news,” she expressed to the pair. “My happiness for you both is immense. I am truly delighted on your behalf.”
In the episode of the U.K. reality series that aired on Monday, October 27, Sam disclosed his diagnosis of terminal liver disease.
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“My liver holds no prospect of recovery, and the doctor stated, ‘I would not be speaking with you if I believed you could survive the coming four or five years.’ I am being referred for a liver transplant evaluation,” he recounted during a discussion with fellow cast member Ollie Locke.
When Ollie, 38, inquired about Sam’s current state of mind, he replied, “My perspective is that I am currently well. My hope is to maintain this health until the moment they contact me for surgery. Afterwards, upon waking, I anticipate being in better health.”
Previously, Sam had been admitted to the hospital in December 2024 following kidney and liver failure attributed to a hereditary ailment. Subsequently, he received a diagnosis of life-threatening sepsis.
“Despite having a pre-existing liver and kidney ailment, it had never impacted my daily life. Medical professionals had assured me that I could lead a normal life and that it might never pose an issue,” he shared on Instagram in January. “While my underlying condition contributed to the severity of my illness, the truly terrifying aspect was sepsis, an affliction that can strike anyone. In the UK, one in five fatalities are associated with sepsis, and globally, 11 million individuals succumb to it annually. A substantial number of these deaths are preventable if symptoms are promptly identified and addressed. Sepsis is a critical race against the clock, and I was perilously close to succumbing.”
