Married at First Sight (Australian TV series)
Married At First Sight is an Australian reality television series, based on the Danish program of the same name, on the Nine Network. The show featured couples getting married by being matched by "experts". However, unlike other versions of the show around the world, the couples do not partake in a legally-binding marriage due to legal restrictions in Australia, but instead meet as strangers at the altar of a commitment ceremony. The couples spend their wedding night in a hotel, then leave for a honeymoon. Upon returning they live together for a period of time, during which they meet at commitment ceremonies and choose whether or not they will continue their relationship.
The first season premiered on 18 May 2015 on the Nine Network. A second season began on 4 April 2016 with the third season premiering later in the same year on 29 August 2016. A fourth season premiered on Monday 30 January 2017. The fifth season premiered on Monday 29 January 2018. The sixth season premiered on Monday 28 January 2019. The seventh season premiered on 3 February 2020.
Season overview
Season 1 (2015)
During the first season, a panel of "experts" matched four females with four males. In the first episode, two couples got married at their first introduction. In the second episode, another two couples did the same. The couples embarked on married life for the rest of the season. In the fourth episode, the couples met each other for the first time and discussed their current experiences.Couples
Lachlan and Clare
Lachlan and Clare met and wed in Sydney on the show's first episode. Despite their decision to continue their relationship at the end of the season, the couple revealed they had split but remained good friends. The Nine Network announced on 26 June 2015, that Lachlan would participate in the network's upcoming revival of The Farmer Wants a Wife.Roni and Michael
Roni and Michael met and wed in Melbourne on the show's first episode. By the fifth episode, they found their relationship was not working for them and they both agreed to split.Zoe and Alex
Zoe and Alex met and wed in Melbourne in the show's second episode. Following the conclusion of the season, Zoe and Alex were the only couple still together. In March 2016, Zoe and Alex revealed they are planning to get married legally. After suffering a miscarriage in June 2015, Zoe and Alex revealed they were expecting their first child in October 2016. On 14 November 2016, Zoe gave birth to their baby girl named Harper-Rose Garner. On 17 April 2018, Zoe announced via Instagram she and Alex had split up.James and Michelle
James and Michelle met and wed in Sydney in the show's second episode. The two are no longer in contact with each other.Season 2 (2016)
After airing only one episode, the Nine Network on 19 May 2015, announced the series had been renewed for a second season which began to air on 4 April 2016. During the second season, four female contestants were matched with their 'perfect' male partner by a panel of "experts". In the first episode, two couples meet and wed. In the second episode, another two couples did the same. They all embarked on married life for the rest of the series. In the fifth episode, the couples met for the first time and discussed their experiences.Couples
Erin & Bryce
Erin and Bryce met and wed in Melbourne on the show's first episode. In the final episode, they decided to stay together. They are the only couple currently still together. Since the show ended Erin has started her own fashion label called Boy Is Mine and is writing a fashion lifestyle blog, erinbateman.com.Christie & Mark
Christie and Mark met and wed in Sydney on the show's first episode. In the final episode, they decided to stay together. On 15 June 2016, they announced they had split up.Clare & Jono
Clare and Jono met and wed in Melbourne on the show's second episode. By the fifth episode, Clare decided their relationship was not working as she felt 'uncomfortable' with Jono's constant aggressive outbursts. She decided to end the relationship prior to the couple's dinner.Simone & Xavier
Simone and Xavier met and wed in Sydney in the show's second episode. In the final decision, Simone decided to walk away from the relationship and they are now separated.Season 3 (2016)
It was announced in February 2016 the show would return with two seasons, seasons two and three. There would be a bold casting move this season. It was the first to have five couples and included the series' first ever same-sex male couple. During the third season, four female contestants were matched with their 'perfect' male partner and for the first time a male contestant was matched with his 'perfect' male partner by a panel of "experts". In the first episode, two couples met and wed. In the second episode, another two couples did the same. In the third episode, one more couple were wed. The couples embarked on married life together for the rest of the series. In the sixth episode, all couples met for the first time and discussed their current experiences.Couples
Keller & Nicole
Keller and Nicole met and wed in Brisbane in the show's first episode. In the final episode, they decided to stay together. Since filming, the couple have called it quits.Mark & Monica
Mark and Monica met and wed in Sydney in the show's first episode. In the final episode, they decided to stay in the relationship. Since filming, the couple have decided to break up.Jess & Dave
Jess and Dave met and wed in Sydney in the show's second episode. In the fifth episode, Dave felt their relationship was "going nowhere" so they broke up.Bella & Michael
Bella and Michael met and wed in Brisbane in the show's second episode. In the final episode, they both agreed to stay together. Since filming, the couple have decided to split up.Craig & Andy
Craig and Andy met and wed in New Zealand in the show's third episode. In the fifth episode, Craig decided to walk away from the relationship during the honeymoon, due to a "lack of intimacy".Season 4 (2017)
It was announced on 12 September 2016 the programme would return in 2017 with an extended series which saw 10 couples being wed. During the fourth season, 10 female contestants were matched with their 'perfect' male partner by a panel of "experts". In the first episode, two couples met and wed in Sydney and Melbourne. In the second episode, another two couples met and wed in Sydney. In the third episode, two more couples met and wed in Sydney and Melbourne respectively. In the fourth episode, another two couples met and wed in Sydney. In the fifth episode, the final two couples met and wed in Perth at the same time.Couples
Season 5 (2018)
In February 2017, the season was renewed for a fifth season which began airing on 29 January 2018. On 11 October 2017, the fifth season was officially confirmed at Nine's upfronts and again includes 11 couples like the previous season. During the fifth season, 11 female contestants are matched with their 'perfect' male partner by a panel of "experts". In the first episode, the first two couples met and wed in Sydney and Melbourne. In the second episode, another two couples met and wed in Sydney and Melbourne. In the third episode, two more couples met and wed in Warrawong and Melbourne. In the fifth episode, two more couples met and wed in Gold Coast and Melbourne. In the sixth episode, another two couples met and wed in Sydney. In the seventh episode, the final couple met and wed in Sydney.Couples
Season 6 (2019)
Unlike previous seasons, all couples were wed on the same week. They met in a series of dinner parties and weekly re-commitment ceremonies, and were only permitted to leave the experiment if both were present and consented to do so. If one partner chose to stay, and the other chose to leave, the couple were required to stay behind for another week. They would then be sent off on their honeymoon, before moving in together in a hotel room for 2 weeks.In a series first, the couple were permitted to spend time apart as the men and women spent a night together. They were then sent off in groups to Gold Coast, testing each couple's bond. Unlike in previous seasons of the show, 2 new couples wed and began appearing on the program midway through the original experiment.
In the first episode, two couples met and wed in Sydney. In the second episode, two more couples met and wed in Byron Bay and Hawkesbury River. In the third episode, two more couples met and wed in Byron Bay and Melbourne. In the fifth episode, two more couples met and wed in Byron Bay and Hawkesbury River. In the sixth episode, the last two couples met and wed in Byron Bay and Melbourne. In th eighteenth episode, two new couples met and wed in Sydney.
The "experts" had to decide on a controversial request from Dan and Jess. The couple asked to stay in the experiment as another couple by leaving their "spouses" from the initial phases of the experiment. Controversy surrounded the "experts" which allowed the couple to stay in the experiment, even though there was evidence and admission that they were cheating on their spouses. An online petition garnered thousands of votes to have the show cancelled.
Ceremony History
Couple Profiles
Season 7 (2020)
In the first episode, the first two couples met and wed in Bilpin and Wyong Creek. In the second episode, another two couples met and wed in Stanwell Tops and Melbourne. In the third episode, another two couples met and wed in Melbourne and Sydney. In the fifth episode, two more couples met and wed in Melbourne and Sydney. In the sixth episode, the last two couples met and wed in Melbourne. In the eighth episode, two new couples met and wed in Sydney and Central Coast.Ceremony History
Couple Profiles
Viewership
Season ratings
Season 1 (2015)
Season 2 (2016)
Season 3 (2016)
Season 4 (2017)
Season 5 (2018)
Season 6 (2019)
Season 7 (2020)
Controversy and legality
Before the first season went to air, an online petition calling for the series to be axed attracted over 15,000 signatures.There was also criticism that, unlike the original Danish series, such marriages would not be legal under Australian law. Channel 9 admitted that participants would not actually marry. A spokesman said "In order to comply with the Australian Marriage Act which requires one month and one day notification, a marriage in law was not conducted. Each participant embarked on a commitment ceremony with a wedding celebrant with all due intention to commit fully to this union for the duration of the experiment. At the end of the experiment, they are given the option to continue with the relationship or go their separate ways".
Second season participant Simone Lee Brennan described the program as "never portrayed to its full authenticity," suggesting the man she had been paired with, Xavier Forsberg, had been recruited by producers and was seeking a sports-presenting role, rather than an applicant also looking for a relationship.
In the sixth season, the "experts" had to decide on a controversial request from Jessika Power to stay in the experiment with Dan Webb. The couple asked to stay in the experiment as another couple by leaving their "spouses" from the initial phases of the experiment. Controversy surrounded the "experts" who allowed the couple to stay in the experiment, even though there was evidence and admission that they were cheating on their spouses. An online petition garnered thousands of votes to have the show cancelled.
Some of the contestants of the show have also spoken out against the program claiming it to be fake, including Dean Wells from Season 5
International
Broadcasters
In Belgium the show is broadcast as Blind getrouwd - Australia and runs every weekday on a Flemish channel called Vitaya.In Spain, the show is broadcast as Casados a ciegas and runs every weekday from 6:15 pm for three hours each day on TEN.
In New Zealand, the show is broadcast on Three and screens four nights per week.
In the United States, the show is broadcast on cable network Lifetime on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 9pm ET/PT.