Married At First Sight is taking a new direction for its 2025 series, opting to cast a bevy of familiar brides and grooms from Australian TV.
Season 12 will feature a line-up of personalities who have already had their brush with fame, including The Real Love Boat’s Paul Antoine, Sierah Swepst one, who vied for Jimmy Nicholson’s heart on The Bachelor and Big Brother star Teejay Halkias.
Also among the mix is actor Jeff Gobbels and professional golfer Clint Rice.
Despite the criticism, expert John Aiken has defended the producers’ decision, shedding light on why they chose to bring in these familiar faces.
‘Ultimately, we were looking for people who want love and can cope with the scrutiny of the cameras and the media,’ Aiken, 54, told Daily Mail Australia.
‘Some have less experience, but ultimately they’re all looking for love and they’re doing things wrong in the dating games. They come on our show, and we try and give them a chance.’
Aiken emphasised that while some participants have previous TV experience, it doesn’t mean they’re not serious about finding love.
He said the spotlight can sometimes help those who have struggled with romance in the past, giving them a unique opportunity to work through their issues in a controlled environment.
This shift to include more recognisable faces has already stirred up backlash on social media, with some fans vowing to boycott the show.
Critics accused the producers of straying from the essence of MAFS, claiming that the decision to cast former reality stars undermines the series’ original premise of helping ordinary Aussies find love.
‘MAFS has lost its authenticity,’ vented one frustrated viewer on Instagram.
‘It’s supposed to be about genuine people finding love, not giving more airtime to people who are already famous.’
Another fan wrote: ‘I’m so done with MAFS. Bringing in people like Paul and Sierah just shows how desperate they are for ratings. Boycotting this season for sure.’
A third chimed in: ‘For the last time Australia wants to see real, genuine, everyday people… not these types!! For the love of God.’
Others questioned the sincerity of the cast members’ intentions, accusing them of using the show as a platform to boost their social media profiles rather than a genuine search for a life partner.
‘Why can’t they find people that genuinely want to find a partner, not someone that’s after social media fame?’ voiced another.
‘So over seeing all these people that are just social climbers,’ another commented.
Meanwhile, according to sexologist Alessandra Rampolla, fans can brace themselves for plenty of emotional turbulence.
‘We can expect, of course, a lot of drama,’ she revealed.
‘It’s really interesting because when the participants come in, they always say they want something different from what they’re living in the outside world with dating.
‘And yet, when given the opportunity, sometimes they choose exactly what they were choosing prior.’
‘So, it’s really interesting to delve into human behaviour and the way that adults are facing the prospect of finding a match and getting into relationships.’
Married At First Sight will return to screens on Channel Nine in 2025.