It’s been six years since controversial Married At First Sight groom Mike Gunner lit up Aussie screens with his no-nonsense attitude, polarising one-liners and eyebrow-raising relationship antics.
Now, the 50-year-old electrician is back – this time taking a second shot at love on Stan’s spicy dating series Love Triangle.
And yes, he’s well aware of the irony.
‘Back in swinging again, I guess,’ Mike quipped to Daily Mail Australia when asked about his surprise return to reality TV. ‘Why are you surprised? What makes you think I didn’t like it?’
For those needing a refresher, Mike became one of the most memorable faces of MAFS Season 6, where his rocky relationship with Heidi Latcham kept viewers glued to their screens.
He was the groom who famously said, ‘I’m not your therapist,’ sparking nationwide debates on emotional intelligence and empathy – or a lack thereof.
But in 2025, he’s shaking things up again.
This time, he’s ditched the faux weddings and commitment ceremonies in favour of Love Triangle’s modern twist on dating – where singles get to know two mystery matches sight unseen before choosing one to pursue further… then, chaos inevitably ensues.
‘It’s a cool show. Cool concept, well shot, the story moves nicely at a good pace,’ Mike gushed. ‘It doesn’t linger too long like MAFS sometimes does. It’s salacious and it’s spicy. And I’m glad I took the opportunity.’
The decision to jump back into the dating fire wasn’t taken lightly.
‘I had to think about it,’ he admitted. ‘I saw the show, I really liked the show… And to be honest with you, it was just a cool opportunity. I’m glad I did it.’
Unlike MAFS, where you’re locked into one match from day dot, Love Triangle offers some flexibility – something Mike appreciated.
‘I mean, if you’re going to strike out with one, the chances are you might get along with the other one,’ he explained. ‘It was appealing in that way. But that still meant that you had to get along well with both.’
And while many returning reality stars are worried about being portrayed as villains, Mike is… kinda into it?
‘Were you worried you might be a villain?’ he was asked.
‘No. I hope I am, actually,’ he replied cheekily. ‘Villains are fun. Villains have all the fun.’
Still, he insists this time around, he was working hard to show growth.
‘I’m a little bit direct, I will admit that,’ he said. ‘But I try not to hurt people. I try to be kind where I can be… All I can do is do my best. I was working overtime not to respond emotionally to what people were saying, because there were some moments that, I’m not kidding you, f**king tested me.’
When asked about his apparent bad luck in love – and why reality TV keeps calling his name – Mike didn’t shy away from self-reflection.
‘Maybe I’m a little older and set in my ways,’ he said. ‘Maybe I’m a little intolerant of people, maybe a little judgmental, a little impatient – probably all the things you shouldn’t be to be successful in a relationship.’
But don’t count him out just yet.
‘I thought I was ready at the start of this show… I felt ready and I’m in a good place, the best place I’ve ever been. But I realise I still need a little work to do. I’m not all the way there.’
Unlike MAFS, where contestants are often trapped in tiny apartments under a punishing filming schedule, Mike says Love Triangle offered a breath of fresh air – literally.
‘It wasn’t as claustrophobic,’ he shared. ‘It was a little more freedom. And just the crew – everyone working on it made it really comfortable. They went out of their way to accommodate us.’
As for whether he applied or was scouted, Mike kept things coy.
‘What do you think?’ he smirked. ‘I reckon they came to me… But I can’t confirm or deny that.’
He did, however, make one bold prediction: this season of Love Triangle will trump every MAFS season before it.
‘I think this season of this show will be better than any season of Married At First Sight. They cast the hell out of this,’ he declared. ‘The cast themselves were amazing people – really interesting, compelling people. Everyone’s got strong personalities.’
‘It’ll be more compelling than any season of MAFS,’ he added for good measure.
And despite the highs and lows, Mike says the experience was well worth it.
‘There’s trauma at every turn,’ he laughed, referencing his now-infamous beach date. ‘But there’s also a lot of rewards as well. I’m glad I did this. I met some cool people, learned a lot, and was really well looked after.’
Now the only question is… did Mike finally find love?
‘I didn’t mean to give you that impression,’ he teased. ‘Perhaps that was to throw off the scent. You see what I did there?’