“We love seeing people’s lives change for the better”

29 April 2026 - The incredible work of our liver transplant unit will be showcased in an E4 docuseries.

Made in Chelsea: Sam Vanderpump’s Story follows Sam as he comes to terms with his diagnosis of end stage liver disease, his wait for a liver transplant, and the care and support her receives from liver specialists based at King’s.

One staff member who features on screen during this evening’s episode is Matilda Guyatt, Live Donor Liver Coordinator at King’s. We spoke to Matilda about her role, and why being a live donor liver transplant co-ordinator is such a varied and rewarding profession.

“The job involves lots of logistics, but also supporting people emotionally, during what is an incredibly stressful period,” says Matilda, who has been in her current role since 2024, but has been a transplant co-ordinator at King’s for over a decade.

“We love seeing people’s lives change for the better, and we see the huge impact that liver transplant surgery has on people’s lives.”

Matilda, who is one of 16 transplant co-ordinators based at the Trust, says the most challenging part of the role is its unpredictably, but this is also what makes it exciting: “There is always something going on, particularly given the size of the liver unit here at King’s. In my role, I work with families, often with incredibly young children who are awaiting transplant, and managing their expectations is key, as even patients with great outcomes will face challenges before, during and after surgery.”

“Many patients will be waiting for a donor organ, whilst others will receive part of a relative’s organ. But all patients, and their families, will experience a real roller-coaster of emotions, and we are here to help them with that, as well as the clinical and logistical components of getting ready for transplantation, recovering afterwards, and returning to a normal life.

“As transplant co-ordinators, we work with the wider multi-disciplinary team to ensure that whatever the patient needs, we are there for them. We will also follow patients up for years – we are here for transplant patients whenever they need us, be that four or forty years after their operation. This ongoing support is vital for them.”

Watch Made in Chelsea: Sam Vanderpump’s Story on E4 to see Matilda and her colleagues in action. Tune in to the latest episode on E4 on Wednesday 29 April at 9pm, or catch up on All 4.