Yeah, I read this earlier this morning and was a little uncomfortable.
Isn’t the show aired on any of their cable networks?
Found this:
Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like “Married At First Sight Australia” S12 is currently scheduled to air on any U.S. channels. However, previous seasons have aired on Lifetime.
It doesn’t mean that VPN access should be advocated by fairly popular news sites when Nine could potentially sell the rights to a US network.
Similarly in the UK, even though MAFS isn’t scheduled yet on Channel 4 AFAIK, it will eventually appear, but the value will be reduced if UK viewers have used VPN.
Really has the potential to mess with the BVOD ratings for the show.
Perhaps Nine are happy with the situation 
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Absolutely agree with you.
Quite unethical behaviour from a large television blog.
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Married At First Sight Australia bride paired with ex-boyfriend who ghosted her
It just wouldn’t be MAFS without drama, and viewers will clearly be in for some with a never before seen twist set to air when the show returns tonight.
In a dramatic new preview ahead of Monday’s season 12 premiere, one bride walks down the aisle only to be met with her ex-boyfriend.
EPISODE 1
This year’s experiment kicks off with our 10 soon-to-be brides and grooms arriving to the inaugural Bucks and Hens.
Our first hen LAUREN doesn’t hold back - dating the modern man is like dating a wet fish – no ambition with a lack of masculinity. She describes her traditional view on gender roles, explaining that a woman’s role is to serve their husband and best placed as a housewife tending to them and their needs.
On the other side of town, our first buck to arrive is the uncompromising and polarising ELIOT; holding very high standards when it comes to the girls he dates, he threatens to cut and run on his wedding day if he isn’t attracted to his match at first sight.
AWHINA, a single mum of one, is entering the experiment to find her confidence again in the dating world, while big hearted, rougher edged JAMIE wants to find a tattooed partner who looks like he’s doing “20 to life”. TONY the Macedonian fisherman hopes to find the life-long relationship his parents cultivated, and 37-year-old KATIE hopes to find love again after being 10 years single and losing hope.
As the participants meet for the first time, we see friendships form, as well as battle lines drawn.
We meet our first two matches CARINA and PAUL and LAUREN and ELIOT, and these two couples couldn’t be any more different!
First we meet CARINA, who comes from a large Italian family where she’s the youngest of four siblings. Everyone in her family is married and she feels like the black sheep, being 31 and single. She wants to find a romantic ‘gentleman’ who holds the same old school values she does, and if he’s European that would be the cherry on top. PAUL is a good looking, charming Frenchman who moved to Australia 11 years ago. He arrived not speaking a word of English and has carved out a career as FIFO health coordinator in the mines. Both hail from Perth and are entering the experiment hoping to find the one.
Our second couple LAUREN and ELIOT have all the hallmarks of being a complete car crash. ELIOT is one of the most uncompromising grooms in MAFS history, he has an endless list of non-negotiables and tells us from the very first moment that he has no issue with cutting and running if his wife isn’t up to his expectations… enter LAUREN, an outspoken, slightly judgemental bride who says what she thinks – but despite appearances, these two couldn’t be more compatible. Both are looking for a particular kind of marriage…one straight out of the 1950’s! They seek specific gender roles in a relationship, their values align, and they are looking for exactly the same thing. It’s a high-risk match, but high reward if they put the work in.
We kick off the weddings with CARINA and PAUL. The couple make their way to the ceremony, full of hope and dreams of finding true love. They meet at the aisle and are instantly attracted, with the families all validating the match. It’s a dreamy and romantic ceremony, a match made in heaven. It’s not until after the ceremony when the bride and groom have a moment alone, that CARINA drops a massive bombshell, they already know each other!
The couple separately reveal they met last year but PAUL ghosted CARINA after only one date. She explains that he has some making up to do if she is to trust him again, meanwhile PAUL is thrilled to have a second chance at being with CARINA. He’s all in.
Later PAUL attempts to win back CARINA’S affection by talking to her parents and explaining their story. PAUL is upfront with CARINA’s parents saying he wasn’t in the right headspace when they first met. PAUL impresses them, which in turn softens CARINA’S heart…her family’s approval means everything to her and PAUL’s charm wins everyone over. The couple take a moment outside to connect and even share a kiss. Their first dance seals the deal and CARINA is ‘smitten’ with her hunky European husband.
LAUREN and ELIOT are up next, but ELIOT has already set the tone for the day, if he doesn’t like what he sees, he’s out of there. LAUREN on the other hand is dealing with a different issue, her sister and maid of honour Tamara. Tamara and LAUREN are not seeing eye to eye, a bride’s worst nightmare, with Tamara calling LAUREN ‘bridezilla’ ‘horrendous’ and even hoping she trips over her wedding dress. The feuding sisters bicker all morning and into the limo – and once Tamara arrives at the wedding location, she tells anyone who will listen that LAUREN is a ‘psycho’. As a nervous ELIOT waits for his new bride to arrive, he reminds us that he is ready to run if she’s not what he wants. LAUREN arrives and ELIOT turns his head…. and he’s…. happy! The ceremony is a romantic affair as the couple exchange vows which are almost identical, and they walk off down the aisle relieved and happy!
LAUREN’S sister Tamara dominates the reception giving little room for LAUREN and ELIOT to get to know one another. LAUREN attempts to diffuse the situation the best she can and as she tries to connect with her groom but Tamara flirts with the best man and kicks off at the waiters when they bring her the wrong meal. She shouts at LAUREN to ‘shut up’ and storms off to yell at the wait staff before calling the whole day ‘an abortion’. LAUREN calls her sister ‘unhinged’ and isn’t surprised she’s made this day about her.
If this wasn’t enough, Tamara derails the first dance by yelling at LAUREN that she’s ‘frigid’ as she tries to slow dance with her new husband. ELIOT and LAUREN are both unimpressed by her antics but somehow, they remain united by the end of the reception.
That sister will be on the payroll mark my words.
We probably won’t see much about these two for a while as the Male was reported to quit the show after the wedding, makes a return later in the series going off news reports from filming late last year.
EPISODE 2
Honeymooners CARINA and PAUL are in Vanuatu, savouring a second chance at love after the surprising discovery on their wedding day that they had met once before.
Back in Sydney, one of the experiment’s most demanding grooms, ELIOT, is waking up with a shock change of heart about his new bride, LAUREN, fearing she’s not matching up with his extensive list of non-negotiables.
With a question mark looming over ELIOT’S commitment, two more couples have been matched, KATIE and TIM, and JAMIE and DAVE. Firstly, we meet KATIE, a highly successful CEO seeking a soulmate. After ten years of being single, this brave bride is finally putting her heart on the line. The Experts have paired her with TIM, a primary school teacher who’s desperate for kids of his own and is looking for someone who just wants a nice guy with a big heart.
Next to enter the experiment is DAVE, but don’t judge a book by its cover. At a whopping 6ft 6” and covered in tattoos DAVE’s often misjudged as a bad boy, but that couldn’t be further from the truth – he’s a big friendly giant. DAVE’s as shy and reserved as he is tall and he’s looking for a confident woman with a big personality that can bring him out of his shell. The Experts have found just that. JAMIE is an outgoing Greek pocket rocket who is looking for a guy that looks like a bad boy but is soft on the inside, “someone to have the babies with”.
Over to KATIE and she is taking the first exciting step… wedding dress shopping with her bridesmaids. Overcome with emotion, a vulnerable KATIE breaks down in tears, scared by the prospect of marrying a stranger at first sight.
As TIM stands at the altar, KATIE’s parents comment that TIM seems kind and genuine and when KATIE arrives to meet TIM and sees him for the first time, she wholeheartedly agrees – she’s happy.
TIM and KATIE’s vows almost perfectly mirror each other. They seem to align on almost everything they want in a partner but minutes later as TIM wipes their first kiss as husband and wife away, it’s clear he’s not into his bride.
Meanwhile, boisterous bride JAMIE is getting ready for her wedding with her sister Georgia. For groom DAVE, today is bittersweet as he prepares for the biggest day of his life without his father by his side, who’s battling cancer.
DAVE’s wish to be paired with an outgoing girl with a big personality is about to come true. JAMIE can barely contain her excitement as she walks down the aisle and spots DAVE’S neck tattoos. “Is that a neck tatt?” she screams, before DAVE has a chance to turn around. It’s fun banter and fireworks at first sight, with the pair clearly approving of each other.
The all-important wedding photoshoots get underway and it’s the first chance for the couples to learn more about each other. A talkative JAMIE outdoes herself, asking DAVE 37 questions. Meanwhile, new bride KATIE is unaware that her husband TIM has been having doubts about their match because he didn’t feel an initial spark. TIM is disappointed and deflated that he didn’t get matched with a short, blonde, petite woman. When KATIE tries to hug away the awkward, TIM recoils.
After an awkward photoshoot KATIE is hoping TIM will be more open and relaxed at the reception, and they’ll to get to know each other better, however TIM spends most of the reception avoiding her and when it comes time to cut the cake things take a turn for the worse, leaving KATIE humiliated in front of her friends and family and questioning whether TIM actually likes her.
At JAMIE and DAVE’S reception the couple seem very happy with their match, connecting on wanting kids and not driving hatchbacks. The bride and grooms’ mothers can’t believe the instant connection between the newlyweds and are excited about the future for JAMIE and DAVE.
There are tears over at the other wedding as DAVE makes a heartfelt speech about his dad and JAMIE is impressed by DAVE’s vulnerability. DAVE is happy about how JAMIE supported him.
As JAMIE and DAVE finish the night on a high full of hope, KATIE has pulled her husband TIM aside, concerned his awkward behaviour is a sign he doesn’t find her attractive. Despite KATIE laying it all out for TIM, and directly asking him how he feels, TIM is not honest with her. KATIE walks away from the conversation buoyed by the fact that her husband does not "find her hideous” and that his awkward behaviour was all in her head.
Later that night, TIM finally tells KATIE, he has not been feeling a spark all day and KATIE is left devastated and humiliated, wondering whether she should go on the honeymoon.
Some pretty ordinary matching here. I mean, I get the whole ‘matching for drama’ thing, but the one tonight, Tim and Katie, bit of a fizzer really. She could have actually been a good one for the series if they had put her with someone decent.
Need to have that mix, the drama couples, but also that one couple on the side who is a bit boring, but working. Bit like Jules and that guy from way back. Wasn’t any drama around them, but they clicked and became an obviously successful couple.
On another note, most of these blokes look the same. Big chests, neck tattoos, Aussie bogan ish, same haircuts. 
There have been some ordinary people on this show but Eliot and Tim have jumped right to the top. Poor excuses for men! I felt really badly for Katie, wait she was matched by the experts. What a f***ing joke. Watching IAC and then later catching up on this has made me really appreciate how entertaining IAC is!
MAFS groom’s secret reality TV history exposed by viewers
Now, viewers have realised they previously saw Paul looking for love on 10 reality dating series The Real Love Boat that aired back in 2022.
Lol, nobody would’ve seen that
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Is that why it’s described as a “secret reality TV history”? Being on TV is not a secret but if nobody saw it…
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There were reports of this season being quite chaotic with the cast and we’ve got exactly that in the first 2 episodes.
On the Tim and Katie scenario - I personally wasn’t a fan of either of them. Tim did cop out too quickly but producers would have prodded for an honest opinion and then the editing just followed that path. At the same time Katie came across as quite irritating and awkward too. Her reaction when he was honest about how he felt and balling out crying (after having only met him yesterday) probably shows that she was not ready to be on a show like this. The editing of course was all done to make everyone like Katie, so Tim looked double as bad.
I don’t mind a bit of a twist on intruders bringing back early exits with another pairing. It’s all going to add to the drama. You wouldn’t want it to happen every season though, as it would only encourage people to quit early.
Episode 3
The first four matches of the 2025 Married at First Sight experiment have set off and dived headfirst into their honeymoon experience. While CARINA and PAUL’s romance continues to blossom on the beautiful island of Vanuatu, newlyweds JAMIE & DAVE have arrived at Daydream Island, where disaster hits when JAMIE’s fake tan leaks through her suitcase, causing chaos.
Across the Pacific on Queensland’s K’Gari Island, LAUREN & ELIOT are waking up to the first day of their Honeymoon. LAUREN is keen to get to know her husband and is hopeful he’s woken up in a better mood, open to learning more about one another. But after asking ELIOT what he’s hoping to learn from the Experts, she discovers ELIOT’s stubborn ways, saying he could teach the Experts a lesson or two.
Over in Tasmania, KATIE & TIM have finally arrived at their honeymoon, after TIM left KATIE feeling blindsided the morning after their wedding. TIM’S lack of spark and attraction to KATIE is apparent, but despite a difficult journey leading up to the honeymoon, KATIE remains hopeful that a spark with TIM can grow.
It’s now time to meet one of the most lovable grooms on this year’s experiment, 31-year-old BILLY from Perth, who is a certified mumma’s boy and family man. BILLY is matched with 31-year-old SIERAH, who is a financial planner from Melbourne. Stemming from a tumultuous upbringing, SIERAH struggles to be open and vulnerable with romantic partners, using humour as a defence mechanism to push people away. SIERAH wants to use the experiment to help break the cycle and find the love of her life.
Our next bride to be is AWHINA, who is a single mum and twin from Perth. Having been in a long term relationship with her son’s father for the last 15 years, a newly single AWHINA is ready to be in a relationship that challenges her and helps her grow. AWHINA is matched with 31-year-old ADRIAN who is also a twin and business owner residing in Sydney. ADRIAN, confident and certain of himself, having done a lot of self-improvement over the last few years, hopes to find a bride that he can share the rest of his life with.
At AWHINA and ADRIAN’S wedding ceremony, the energy is high when it’s discovered that the bride and groom are both twins! AWHINA is absolutely besotted with her groom, declaring that he’s too hot for her, avoiding eye contact with him during her vows. ADRIAN’s vows impress AWHINA but then reveals that he has a 6-month-old… Aussie shepherd… and tells AWHINA not to worry, he doesn’t have kids. AWHINA is immediately thrown, and nervous to tell ADRIAN about her 6-year-old son.
At SIERAH and BILLY’S wedding, a nervous SIERAH is immediately put at ease once meeting her groom at the end of the aisle. After some adorable banter, sparks fly between the two, as they connect over their vows and align hopes to find a best friend in a partner. After a wonderful ceremony, SIERAH and BILLY sit down with friends and family at reception where the couple continue to get along.
Meanwhile, at AWHINA and ADRIAN’S wedding reception, AWHINA’S sister Cleo is caught out when questioned by ADRIAN’S brother about whether AWHINA has kids. Once the newlyweds enter, AWHINA tries to find the right time to reveal to ADRIAN that she is a mum, but is cut off by the beginning of speeches. Her mother and step-father are first up, and accidentally reveal the bombshell that AWHINA is desperate to tell ADRIAN. AWHINA panics and calls an immediate time out, taking ADRIAN outside to address the elephant in the room.
AWHINA apologises for the blindside, and is met with an icy reception from ADRIAN, who reveals that he is unsure how he feels about the fact that she has a child. AWHINA and ADRIAN head back inside and part ways, where AWHINA confides in her friends, ultimately declaring that her son comes first, and that ADRIAN should be worried about whether he’s good enough for her son. After chatting to his sisters, ADRIAN declares that he came in with an open mind and wants to see where things go with AWHINA, because ultimately there is a connection there worth pursuing.
It’s the morning after the weddings, and our two newlyweds are setting off on their honeymoons to Perisher Valley and Fiji. But in Queensland’s K’Gari Island, things go from bad to worse when LAUREN and ELIOT sit down to dinner and ELIOT is eager to get to the bottom of their incompatibility. After a tense meal and misaligned views, the next morning ELIOT comes to an abrupt decision, deciding to leave the honeymoon after two days.
20 new singles have been matched by the show’s experts in what Hamish Turner, Director of 9Now and Programming,describes as a roller coaster season to underpin Nine’s entire first quarter.
“Everybody comes to the table looking for love … the sustainability of these brands comes because of the cast and having unique ways to look into relationships, holding a mirror up to society and being able to discuss those things through the lens of Reality TV,” he tells TV Tonight.
“This year will be no different, with a cavalcade of big characters, and they’re all going on the journey to find love. Wthout giving too much away we’ll obviously have some who do and some that don’t.”
There have been reports some of the cast this year have featured on other reality shows?
“Invariably, there may be people that you recognise from other places, but none that I think are high profile.”
And many more looking for their 15 minutes of fame! 
I watch this (in solitude as my partner hates it), as it’s like some kind of disaster, it’s terrible but you can’t keep your eyes off it. I would love to see statistics as to how many people really go on here looking for love!
Episode 4
From the stunning landscapes of Australia to the tropical paradise of Fiji and Vanuatu, our already matched couples have already embarked on the next phase of the experiment - the Honeymoons.
In Queensland, following ELIOT’S sudden departure from their honeymoon, LAUREN wakes up alone. She is disappointed by his lack of effort to make their marriage work and hasn’t heard from him since.
Meanwhile in Vanuatu, CARINA and PAUL are indulging in a relaxing couples’ massage. The pair continue to hit it off on their honeymoon, their sexual chemistry through the roof.
In Cradle Mountain, Tasmania, following the revelation that TIM did not feel a spark for KATIE on their wedding day, the couple are off to an uncomfortable start to their honeymoon. Despite everything, KATIE is still hopeful and wants to focus on getting to know TIM and understand why the Experts matched them together. TIM, on the other hand, remains closed off and still does not feel an attraction toward his wife.
Two new couples are entering the experiment. First up is thirty-nine-year-old JEFF, who feels the pressure to start a family. He is matched with thirty-four-year-old RHI, who shares his desire for a family and finding a loving relationship. Both have struggled with modern dating apps and are now placing their hopes in the hands of the Experts to find their forever partner. When JEFF and RHI meet at the end of the aisle, they realise they already know each other! They had dated previously but parted ways amicably as they were both fresh out of relationships and not ready for something serious. Although their relationship is currently platonic, they are both open to seeing if the experiment can help them discover a deeper connection.
The next couple to wed are ASHLEIGH and JAKE. High school teacher JAKE, the quirkiest groom of this year’s experiment, is full of love but has struggled to find the right partner. He dreams of someone with great banter, a light-hearted nature, and a desire to start a family—qualities that perfectly describe ASHLEIGH. As a dance teacher, ASHLEIGH finds it hard to meet potential partners due to her work environment. At thirty-four, she feels the pressure to start a family and hopes the Experts can help. On the wedding day, groom JAKE is a bundle of nerves, worrying about his frizzy hair and even mistaking the maid of honour for his bride. However, upon meeting ASHLEIGH, his nerves dissipate, and the pair instantly click.
Overnight there has been a new development for our honeymooners SIERAH & BILLY, AWHINA & ADRIAN and CARINA & PAUL as they took their relationship to the next level. However, not all couples are having the best of times. In Cradle Mountain, a quiet tension lingers as KATIE and TIM set off on their hike. KATIE’s constant attempts to get to know TIM are met with cold, uninterested answers. She’s confused and begins to feel frustrated by TIM’S lack of effort.
As the honeymoon nears its end, the next task of the experiment arrives – the honeymoon box. Despite a romantic honeymoon, cracks begin to form when the topic of family comes up, and ADRIAN’S answer does not meet AWHINA’s expectations.
Back in Cradle Mountain, KATIE wants to check in with husband TIM after feeling the lack of effort on the first day of their honeymoon.