Married At First Sight 2025 is welcoming three new couples into the experiment in the coming days, including two returning participants who are set to be re-matched after their previous relationships failed to take off.
As first revealed by Daily Mail Australia, runaway groom Eliot Donovan and Lauren Hall will be given a second chance at love—this time with completely new partners.
Lauren will now be paired with Clint Rice, while Eliot is set to take another swing at romance with personal trainer and actress Veronica Cloherty.
Clint, 43, from Tasmania, is a pro golfer and entrepreneur who has dedicated much of his life to sport and business.
After coming out of a 10-year relationship, he has spent time focusing on personal development and now feels ready to find someone to share his life with.
A self-confessed romantic, Clint is looking for a partner who is empathetic, affectionate, and driven.
However, he has one major red flag—he won’t tolerate someone who isn’t open to self-growth.
Veronica, 32, from Sydney, is a personal trainer and actress who has struggled with modern dating and is hoping the MAFS experts can help her find the right match.
Loud, fun, and full of life, she has built a career in the fitness and entertainment industries and even competed twice in Miss Universe Australia.
Having experienced heartbreak in past relationships, she’s looking for a partner who values respect, kindness, and emotional depth.
However, she’s also set clear boundaries – a lack of manners and empathy are deal-breakers for her.
Meanwhile, business development manager Teejay Halkias will be matched with salon manager Beth Kelly, another hopeful looking for love in the experiment.
Beth, 28, from Queensland, originally hails from Lancashire, England, having moved to Australia 12 years ago with her family.
Despite being fun, loyal, and outgoing, Beth has never had a boyfriend before and is determined to find her first serious relationship.
She’s ready to settle down with someone who makes her laugh and allows her to be herself.
Known for her brutal honesty, Beth isn’t afraid of confrontation but is also the type of person people turn to for advice and support.
Insiders have revealed that cast and crew were blindsided when Eliot suddenly reappeared on set, arriving late to a dinner party and leaving jaws on the floor.
‘It was like the ultimate plot twist,’ a source close to production said.
‘Lauren and Clint had just started to get comfortable with each other when Eliot showed up out of nowhere. The look on Lauren’s face was priceless – she was completely gobsmacked. And Clint? He was not impressed at all.’
‘Lauren’s new groom Clint let Eliot absolutely have it,’ they added.
Eliot’s dramatic return came after his abrupt exit from the experiment just days after his wedding to Lauren, saying he wanted someone younger and less materialistic.
His departure angered viewers, with many questioning his motives for signing up in the first place.
Eliot was reportedly offered a lucrative five-figure sum to rejoin the show, with insiders claiming producers were desperate to shake things up mid-season.
‘Eliot feels like he was misunderstood,’ a well-placed source dished.
‘He’s back to clear his name, but he’s not apologetic about his behaviour. He and Lauren were a complete mismatch and he hasn’t changed his mind about wanting out of their romance.’
Behind the scenes, whispers suggest that producers orchestrated Eliot’s return as part of a major twist – blindsiding Lauren just as she was moving on with Clint.
According to a source close to production, the entire situation was a ‘stitch-up’ from the start.
‘Lauren was initially hesitant about returning at all,’ the insider revealed.
‘She had been promised full support – everything from her vows being written to her wedding dress being sorted. But the night before her wedding to Clint, nothing had been arranged and she was left scrambling to find a dress at the last minute.’
It’s also claimed Lauren developed reservations about her return, but was pressured by producers into coming back.
‘She was running a business and only given two days’ notice – it was a lot to take on,’ the source continued.
‘She was put under relentless pressure until she said yes. The morning of the wedding she even tried to escape with friends, but producers and makeup artists turned up at her house at 5am and kept pushing her to go through with it.’
Despite the chaos, Lauren had started to build a promising connection with Clint, a charismatic and successful golfer known for his composed nature.
‘Lauren and Clint were really starting to hit it off,’ the insider shared.
‘Clint’s been a rock for her, and she was finally getting a fresh start. Eliot showing up has completely thrown a wrench in the works.’
Joining Clint and Lauren as 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 the new batch of intruders were brought in with one strict condition – to bring the drama.
Each were handpicked for their potential to cause a stir after the early exit of three couples – and the stable contentment in other marriages – left plotlines thin, the 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.’