A Married At First Sight bride has been granted a second shot at love after her original groom made a shocking exit just two days into their honeymoon.
Daily Mail Australia can reveal that Lauren Hall, who initially tied the knot with Gold Coast groom Eliot Donovan, will return to the show as an intruder bride in the highly anticipated 2025 series.
Lauren was spotted filming a second wedding in Sydney last Friday, where she was matched with professional golfer Clint Rice.
The two reportedly hit it off immediately, sparking hopes that Lauren’s tumultuous journey on the show may finally have a happy ending.
On Monday, the newlyweds were spotted arriving for their first dinner party hand in hand.
An insider close to Lauren revealed that the 36-year-old was thrilled with her new match.
‘She was absolutely delighted with Clint,’ the source shared.
‘He’s exactly her type—older, more mature, wealthy, and someone who really knows what he wants in life. Lauren felt an instant connection with him, and she’s hopeful this time around.’
Rice, who hails from Launceston, Tasmania, recently ended a long-term relationship, which cleared the way for his participation in the hit reality series.
The 44-year-old golfer, known for his calm demeanour and love of the outdoors, was a surprising yet perfect match for Lauren.
Friends of Clint describe him as ‘super chill and down to earth,’ qualities that made him an immediate hit with the show’s producers.
‘Clint is the kind of guy who’s well-spoken, always up for a good time, and really genuine,’ a close friend of the golfer shared.
‘He’s the type of person who can get along with anyone, and he’s taking this opportunity to find love very seriously.’
Daily Mail Australia revealed that Eliot packed his bags and booked a return ticket home before the ink was even dry on their marriage certificate.
According to insiders, Donovan struggled with the pressures of the show and felt overwhelmed by the rapid pace of the experiment.
‘Eliot just wasn’t ready for the intensity of it all,’ a source close to the groom revealed.
‘He thought he was, but once they were on the honeymoon, it all became too much, and he decided to walk away.’
Photos taken by Daily Mail Australia on August 6 showed the MAFS crew frantically trying to shield Lauren as she arrived solo at the first dinner party.
The first commitment ceremony also saw a shocking mass exodus, with three couples calling it quits within the first two weeks of filming in an ‘unheard of’ twist.
‘We’re already down six people, and it’s only been two weeks. The pressure on the remaining cast is enormous, and it’s creating a lot of tension,’ an insider shared.
Cast members are reportedly divided over the walkouts, with some expressing relief at the departure of those they deemed ‘toxic,’ while others are furious.
Joining newbie Clint and Lauren as fellow intruders to spice things up are couple Teejay Halkias and Bethy Kelly, who have already tied the knot in scenes filmed on Tuesday.
Amid the casting chaos, Daily Mail Australia recently revealed that the new batch of intruders have been brought in with one strict condition – to bring the drama.
Each has been handpicked for their potential to cause a stir among the existing couples after six contestants abruptly quit, an insider revealed.
‘They were told from the get-go that they need to create tension and keep the drama flowing,’ they shared.
Last season, two of three intruders couples failed to last the distance, staying on the experiment for a few days before sensationally quitting.
‘Producers have made it clear they don’t want a repeat of the Ash (Galati) and Maddy (Maxwell) situation, where they quit and gave up on their romance after three days.’
Determined not to let history repeat itself, the show’s creators are pulling out all the stops this time around.
Season 12, currently being filmed in Sydney, has already lost six participants within the first two weeks of filming, and the intruders have been warned to ride it out.
‘Even if they don’t hit it off romantically, they’ve been asked to ride it out until the end of filming,’ the insider added.
‘The producers want them to keep the drama alive no matter what.’
The strict conditions have reportedly led to some intense and fiery confrontations, with the intruders determined to make their mark.
From steamy affairs to shocking betrayals, nothing is off-limits as the new arrivals shake up the group dynamics.