Married at First Sight (Australian TV series)

Married at First Sight is an Australian reality television adaptation of the Danish series Gift Ved Første Blik. The show features a group of strangers who participate in a social experiment and are paired together by experts. Due to the legal requirement to give one month's notice of marriage in Australia, participants in this installment are not legally married, instead proceeding with an unofficial commitment ceremony. The series first premiered on 18 May 2015 on the Nine Network. The show has had ten seasons between 2015 and 2023, plus a two-part reunion special which was broadcast before the eighth season in 2021.

Premise

Couples meet for the first time at the altar, before spending their "wedding night" in a hotel and then embarking on a honeymoon. Upon return, they live together for a period of time and each week decide whether they will continue their relationship at a commitment ceremony where they can choose to either stay or leave. The experts encourage contestants to fully immerse themselves within all stages of the experiment which focuses on relationship building and companionship.

Series overview

Timeline of experts

Season 1 (2015)

In the first episode, two couples (Michael & Roni, Clare & Lachlan) met and wed in Melbourne and Sydney respectively. In the second episode, another two couples (Zoe & Alex, Michelle & James) met and wed in Melbourne and Sydney.

The Nine Network announced on 26 June 2015 that Lachlan would participate in the network's upcoming revival of The Farmer Wants a Wife.

Couple profiles

Season 2 (2016)

In the first episode, two couples (Erin & Bryce, Christie & Mark) meet and wed in Melbourne and Sydney. In the second episode, another two couples (Clare & Jono, Simone & Xavier) met and wed in Melbourne and Sydney respectively.

Couple profiles

Season 3 (2016)

Season 3 was the first to feature five couples, including the series' first same-sex couple. In the first episode, two couples (Nicole & Keller, Monica & Mark) met and wed in Brisbane and Sydney. In the second episode, another two couples (Jess & Dave, Bella & Michael) met and wed in Sydney and Brisbane. In the third episode, one more couple (Craig & Andy) met and wed in New Zealand.

Couple profiles

Season 4 (2017)

In the first episode, two couples (Cheryl & Jonathan, Susan & Sean) met and wed in Sydney and Melbourne. In the second episode, another two couples (Scarlett & Michael, Nadia & Anthony) met and wed in Sydney. In the third episode, two more couples (Alene & Simon, Vanessa & Andy) met and wed in Sydney and Melbourne respectively. In the fourth episode, another two couples (Lauren & Andrew, Deborah & John) met and wed in Sydney. In the fifth episode, two of the women were twins and they were all married in the same ceremony in Perth, (Michelle & Jesse, Sharon & Nick). In the ninth episode, two previous contestants were matched up (Andrew & Cheryl).

Season 5 (2018)

In the first episode, the first two couples (Tracey & Dean, Sarah & Telv) met and wed in Sydney and Melbourne. In the second episode, another two couples (Jo & Sean, Alycia & Mat) met and wed in Sydney and Melbourne. In the third episode, two more couples (Davina & Ryan, Charlene & Patrick) met and wed in Warrawong and Melbourne. In the fifth episode, two more couples (Ashley & Troy, Melissa & John (a returning groom from season 4)) met and wed in Gold Coast and Melbourne. In the sixth episode, another two couples (Gabrielle & Nasser, Carly & Justin) met and wed in Sydney. In the seventh episode, the final couple (Blair & Sean) met and wed in Sydney.

Season 6 (2019)

In the first episode, two couples (Jules & Cameron, Cyrell & Nic) met and wed in Sydney. In the second episode, two more couples (Jessika & Mick, Melissa & Dino) met and wed in Byron Bay and Hawkesbury River, both in New South Wales. In the third episode, another two couples (Heidi & Mike, Ning & Mark) met and wed in Byron Bay and Melbourne. In the fifth episode, two more couples (Lauren & Matthew, Elizabeth & Sam) met and wed in Byron Bay and Hawkesbury River. In the sixth episode, the last two couples (Ines & Bronson, Martha & Michael) met and wed in Byron Bay and Melbourne. In the 18th episode, two new couples (Susie & Billy, Tamara & Dan) met and wed in Sydney.

The experts had to decide on a controversial request by Dan and Jess who wanted to leave their respective "spouses" but remain in the experiment as a couple. The experts allowed the couple to leave their previous matches and stay in the experiment as a new couple.

Season 7 (2020)

In the first episode, the first two couples (Poppy & Luke, Cathy & Josh) met and wed in Bilpin and Wyong Creek, both in New South Wales. In the second episode, another two couples (Natasha & Mikey, Amanda & Tash) met and wed in Stanwell Tops and Melbourne. In the third episode, another two couples (Hayley & David, Vanessa & Chris) met and wed in Melbourne and Sydney. In the fifth episode, two more couples (Connie & Jonethen, Aleks & Ivan) met and wed in Melbourne and Sydney. In the sixth episode, the last two couples (Mishel & Steve, Stacey & Michael) met and wed in Melbourne. In the 18th episode, two new couples (Elizabeth & Seb, KC & Drew) met and wed in Sydney and Central Coast.

Grand Reunion special (2021)

After Season 8 was delayed by three weeks due to a delayed Australian Open, the Nine Network commissioned a two part reunion special to fill the programming gap. Part 1 centered around a dinner party, whereas Part 2 focused on experts John Aiken and Mel Schilling catching up with each participant, where they reflected on their lives following their time in the experiment.

Part 1 aired on 31 January 2021. Part 2 was scheduled to air on 7 February 2021, however was brought forward to 1 February 2021, as counter-programming to the Seven Network's premiere of Holey Moley.

Participants

Season 8 (2021)

In the first episode, two couples (Melissa & Bryce, Rebecca & Jake) met and wed in Richmond and Hunter Valley, both in New South Wales. In the second episode, three more couples (Samantha & Cameron, Booka & Brett, Coco & Sam) met and wed in Sydney and Hunter Valley. In the third episode, another two couples (Alana & Jason, Joanne & James) met and wed in Sydney and Vaucluse. In the fifth episode, two more couples (Belinda & Patrick, Beth & Russell) met and wed in the Hunter Valley and Sydney. In the 14th episode, an additional two couples (Kerry & Johnny, Georgia & Liam) met and wed in Richmond and Helensburgh, both in New South Wales. In the 15th episode, the final couple Jaimie & Chris met and wed in Sydney.

Season 9 (2022)

In the first episode, two couples (Selin & Anthony, Tamara & Brent) met and wed in Richmond and Sydney. In the second episode, two more couples (Domenica & Jack, Ella & Mitch) met and wed in Helensburgh and Sydney. In the third episode, another two couples (Holly & Andrew, Selina & Cody) met and wed in Sydney and Cattai, New South Wales. In the fifth episode, two more couples (Olivia & Jackson, Samantha & Al) met and wed in Sydney. In the 14th episode, an additional two couples (Kate & Matt, Carolina & Dion) met and wed in Sydney and Oatlands, New South Wales. In the 15th episode, the final couple Jessica & Daniel met and wed in Richmond, New South Wales.

Season 10 (2023)

In the first episode, two couples (Lyndall & Cameron, Bronte & Harrison) met and wed in Byron Bay and Sydney. In the second episode, another two couples (Sandy & Dan, Claire & Jesse) met and wed in Sydney. In the third episode, two more couples (Tahnee & Ollie, Janelle & Adam) met and wed in Sydney and Byron Bay. In the fourth episode, another two couples (Caitlin & Shannon, Alyssa & Duncan) met and wed on the Gold Coast and in Byron Bay. In the fifth episode, two more couples (Melissa & Josh, Melinda & Layton) met and wed in Sydney. In the 14th episode, the final two couples (Tayla & Hugo, Evelyn & Rupert) met and wed in Sydney.

Season 11 (2024)

In the first episode, two couples (Sara & Tim, Cassandra & Tristan) met and wed in Sydney. In the second episode, two couples (Lucinda & Timothy, Tori & Jack) met & wed in Gold Coast Hinterland and Sydney. In the third episode, two couples (Natalie & Collins, Eden & Jayden) met & wed in Sydney and Gold Coast. In the fourth episode, one couple (Ben & Ellie) met & wed in Sydney. In the fifth episode, two couples (Lauren & Jonathan, Andrea & Richard) met & wed in Gold Coast & Tamborine Mountain. In the fourteenth episode, two couples (Stephen & Michael, same sex couple and Madeleine & Ash) met & wed in TBA & TBA. In the fifteenth episode, the final couple (Jade & Ridge) met & wed in Sydney.

Viewership

Season ratings

Season 1 (2015)

Season 2 (2016)

Season 3 (2016)

Grand Reunion special (2021)

Controversy and legality

Before the first season went to air, an online petition calling for the series to be axed attracted over 15,000 signatures.

Contestants have also criticised the show, such as second season participant Simone Lee Brennan described the program as "never [being] portrayed to its full authenticity," suggesting the man she had been paired with, Xavier Forsberg, had been recruited by producers and was seeking a sports-presenting role rather than a relationship.

At the show's commitment ceremonies, each contestant chooses to remain in the production or withdraw, the latter of which the contestant's partner must agree to mutually. This has been criticised as sending "the worst possible message" to people who may be in a toxic relationship. Due to interpersonal complexities in Season 10, contestants Caitlin McConville and Josh White were permitted to withdraw without input from their respective partners.

Some of the contestants of the show have also spoken out against the program claiming it to be fake, including Dean Wells from Season 5. Other former contestants have been abused in the street, received death threats online, attempted suicide, or been taken to a psychiatric hospital.

International

Broadcasters

In The Netherlands the show is called "Married at First Sight" and is broadcast at primetime on RTL 4.

In Belgium the show is broadcast as Blind getrouwd - Australië and runs every weekday on the Flemish channel VTM2. The parent network VTM also produces and runs an own installment of the format, called "Blind getrouwd" ("Married in blind faith") and which features Flemish couples.

In Spain, the show is broadcast as Casados a ciegas and runs every weekday from 6:15 pm for three hours each day on TEN.

In the United Kingdom, in 2020, E4 aired the fourth series (2017), following this the fifth series (2018) was aired and then in early 2021, the sixth series (2019) was broadcast on the channel. By 2021 the series had become a hit with British audiences, earning a number of celebrity fans that included Sam Smith, Michael Ball, and Duncan James.

In New Zealand, the show is broadcast on Three and screens four nights per week.

In the United States, the show is broadcast on cable network Lifetime on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 9pm ET/PT.

In Poland, the show is broadcast on a VOD platform Player.pl.

References

External links

• Official Website
• Nine.com.au website