BRIDE & GLOOM
Where MAFS villains are now…body contouring business to job in Grimsby Savers store & bizarre X-rated fishing show
One controversial star found herself in a tangle in the Med
IT'S the well-loved show that sees wannabe romantics skip the small talk and go straight to the altar.
But the quest for love on Married At First Sight rarely runs smooth.
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For many a bride and groom on the E4 show staying loyal seems like the hardest job on Earth.
They’re the villains we love to hate, whose bad behaviour has caused tears, heartbreak and even led to some of them getting kicked off the show.
And their fates after leaving the show is also a mixed bag, from the former model who is now working in retail to a very bizarre OnlyFans fishing show.
With the ninth season of the show underway right now, we look at where the shows biggest baddies have ended up.
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Brad Skelly
Self-declared “model” Brad is already back stacking shelves at a branch of Savers in Grimsby after his time on the show.
The 28-year-old was axed from the 2023 series MAFS UK after producers became concerned over his “controlling and coercive” behaviour towards his bride Shona Manderson, 32.
Speaking to The Sun, a source said: "The relationship with Shona was getting toxic.
";Bosses stepped in before the situation got out of hand."
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But it wasn’t long after he left the show that eagle-eyed fans spotted him in snaps shared to Savers Grimsby’s Facebook page.
In one pic, he can be seen in uniform and lanyard holding up bottles of fragrances as part of a Christmas display.
Watch MAFS UK bride’s awkward reaction as new groom reveals he’s a dad to FOUR kids
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Another shows the former MAFS UK star posing with his colleagues in an aisle of the shop holding up a Savers balloon.
In September this year, the Grimsby native took to Instagram to share pics of him in A&E after being rushed to the Diana Princess of Wales Hospital in his hometown.
A snap he shared showed him sat in a waiting room, captioned “back again”, while another showed his knee in a brace.
He then reassured fans with a selfie, writing: “For everybody asking I am all good,” followed by a blue love heart emoji.
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Since the show, Shona has moved on with another MAFS star, Matt Pilmour.
Brad dated fitness influencer Hollie Baldwin but, in September he revealed brand new girlfriend Tori Addison to his Instagram followers, calling her “My slime”.
Matt Murray
Salon owner Gemma Rose Barnes was left heartbroken when show-hubby Matt, 32, shared a kiss with fellow star Whitney Hughes behind their partners’ backs in series seven.
Matt and Whitney then re-entered the marriage experiment with each other - but their relationship came to an end once filming finished.
Not long after the Yorkshire-based barber began dating Marilyse Corrigan, 38, a contestant from series six of the show.
After six months of dating the couple ended things, amid accusations of “controlling behaviour” and “gaslighting.”
She put in so much to that relationship and got nothing back. The real Matt is exactly who we saw on TV.
Marilyse's friends
Following their split, personal trainer Marilyse told : "Matt likes to have all of your attention when you’re in a relationship with him.
“He was needy and couldn’t understand why I couldn’t be his all the time.
"I wouldn’t call them red flags, but there were times when he’d question me about silly things – things that were unnecessary – and then question me about them again. So I started feeling on edge around him."
Her pals have since spoken out about their relationship, telling : “We're all so relieved that Marilyse saw sense and ended things with Matt.
"He treated her appallingly, she was totally blinded by him, he love-bombed her and she always sees the good in people which left her vulnerable to him.
"She put in so much to that relationship and got nothing back. The real Matt is exactly who we saw on TV and we are just so pleased to see how happy she is without him."
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Matt recently revealed his mum had passed from cancer in a heartbreaking post that read: “Good night mum, your energy will live within us all for eternity.”
He regularly shares updates on fitness and lifestyle on his social media and next month will be a year sober.
Nikita Jasmine
Controversial bride Nikita Jasmine found herself kicked off the show back in 2021 after breaching the show’s code of conduct.
The now 29-year-old Geordie reportedly was at the centre of an aggressive incident that escalated off-camera.
A statement released by E4 at the time said: “During filming, a situation escalated off camera and Nikita displayed a level of aggression that was unacceptable and breached our agreed code of conduct on behaviour.
The class of 2024
The 2024 season is already heating up...
Each year when Married At First Sight airs in the UK, the show welcomes new intruder couples around halfway through the series.
For 2024, there are THREE new couples, and one of the new grooms is Stephen Nolson, 33.
Stephen is set to marry fitness business owner Hannah Norburn, 33, from Cheshire.
A source told The Sun: "Hannah is wild - she comes in like a wrecking ball and will shake up the show."
This comes after fellow new Blackburn bride Amy married new groom Luke, who gave her the ick after they had their photos snapped, with another new couple also due to wed on screen shortly.
Meanwhile, the current lineup consists of the following brides and grooms:
- Emma, 31 from Bristol
- Sacha, 29 from Birmingham
- Kristina, 31 from East Sussex
- Eve, 31 from Omagh
- Holly, 29 from Huddersfield
- Charlie, 30 from Surrey
- Richelle, 48 from London
- Polly, 28 from Kent
- Lacey, 27 from Hertfordshire
- Adam, 33 from Nottingham
- Alex, 28 from Birmingham
- Casper, 34 from New Forest
- Kieran, 28 from Newcastle
- Nathan, 24 from Somerset
- Orson, 41 from St Kitts and Nevis
- Ross, 32 from Manchester
“As a result, she was asked to leave the experiment. All involved have been offered support and Nikita has since apologised and resolved the situation with those involved."
A source told the that she’d launched into a foul-mouthed rant at fellow cast members and that she “just lost it and screamed at everyone around the table” while filming a dinner scene.
The source continued: “It was over an argument she started, ranting her co-stars were only doing the show for fame – when most of them felt that’s exactly why she had signed up. The situation turned really ugly, which was why security had to get involved."
This wasn't the first time her temper had flared either.
Earlier on in the series, fans were left shocked when she threw a cup at husband Ant Poole during their honeymoon - because he wouldn't compliment her boobs and bum.
She ranted: "Shut the f*** up you f***ing b***end; put me in a different room to him, I am not sitting with that knacker on holiday. Go and get your f***ing brows waxed and a sun bed you f***ing little divvy. F***ing shut up, you f***ing freak."
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Speaking to Ant later on, she said: "Maybe I am a bit insecure because I was treated so badly in the past by previous partners. I went through a bad time. My ex-partner left me for no reason so, when someone does leave you, you do doubt yourself and you think am I ugly? Am I fat?"
Not long after her notorious MAFS appearance, Nikita took part in Celebs Go Dating, where relationship expert Anna Williamson revealed that she "wouldn't stop flashing her privates" during filming.
And then in November 2023, she revealed she was the victim of a shocking “random attack” in a Newcastle nightclub.
The incident took place in the bar’s toilets and left the star with broken ribs.
In May of this year Nikita announced her new venture as a body contouring specialist.
Called Bangin Bods by Nikita Jasmine, it’s aimed at people who want a change in appearance but who are too scared of getting cosmetic surgery.
The traumas that have been brought on from this show have made me re-evaluate things
George's ex April
Body contouring is completely non-surgical and non-invasive.
Announcing the news on Instagram she said: “I’ve put blood, sweat & tears into this brand new venture!
“Practising my skills on the daily to the utmost quality so you can see the hard graft & levels that goes into each individual treatment.
“THE SURGERY QUEEN HERSELF (Moi) has tried & tested all of these treatments & I can happily confirm THEY ARE AMAZING!!!” she added.
“The results speak for themselves.”
George Roberts
Season seven contestant George found love with former Miss Great Britain April Banbury, 33 on the show back in 2022.
But the financial consultant, 41, was arrested in September 2022 after three of his ex girlfriends raised concerns about controlling and coercive behaviour.
Each independently accused him of being “manipulative” and “abusive” and were horrified to see him appear on the show, claims George denied.
The Met Police confirmed that no further action would be being taken against the star in October last year.
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A statement said: “A 40-year-old man was arrested by Met officers in Worcestershire on Thursday, 29 September 2022 on suspicion of controlling and coercive behaviour.
"He was taken to a Worcestershire police station and was initially bailed to return pending further enquiries before being released under investigation.
"All enquiries have now been completed and no further action will be taken. All parties have been informed of this outcome.
"The investigation followed an allegation of controlling and coercive behaviour and harassment reported to the Met on Monday, 26 September 2022."
Ex April confirmed they’d split shortly after his arrest, later telling fans that being on MAFS had “ruined her life.”
She added: “The traumas that have been brought on from this show have made me re-evaluate things.
"I really have and I’m not ashamed to admit, I have been seeing a therapist ever since.";
Since it emerged he would not be facing charges, George has continued to post snaps of his friends and family on social media.
MAFS couples that have stood the test of time
It's not all bad news! These are the shows biggest success stories
Loved-up Tayah Victoria and Adam Aveling of series six fame had the first Mafs baby.
The pair couldn't keep their hands off each other on the programme and quickly found their feet in the outside world, moving into Adam's Doncaster home.
Just 18 months after meeting, the couple welcomed their daughter Beau.
Season five couple Michelle Walder and Owen Jenkins also managed to make their marriage work away from the cameras and had their first child in December.
Teacher Michelle, 29, has no regrets about taking part in the experiment. She told us: “I just feel very lucky and thankful that it has worked out - and excited for everything to come.”
Michelle and Owen were both sick of dating apps when they applied in 2019.
Owen recalled: “I had been out for some drinks with a friend after work.
"While he was out for a cigarette I was scrolling on Instagram waiting for him to come back in.
“The MAFS advert was the last thing I saw, and I joked, ‘Wouldn’t it be funny if I signed up?’
“A few beers later when I was back at home I sent in the application, and the rest is history.”
Another couple to make Mafs UK history is Zoe Clifton and Jenna Robinson.
Despite a slight rocky start, where they clashed over Jenna's vegan lifestyle, the show's first same sex pairing are still going strong.
They even have a successful podcast together called Life With a Pod.
Jenna shed light on being involved in the show earlier this year when she told us: "We're not legally married, and I never felt like we were. I definitely feel the process makes you take the relationship a lot more seriously and having the help of the experts… if you can survive that process it sets a firm foundation for a long-lasting relationship."
Whitney Hughes
Season seven star Whitney Hughes was at the centre of a cheating scandal that split up the marriage of Gemma Rose and Matt Murray - and killed off her own romance with Duka Cavoli.
But this scandalous start didn’t stop her and Matt reentering the show as a couple themselves, although things ended between the couple once the season ended and she was branded by fans as the “worst bride ever.”
The 33-year old from St Albans has since been raking in the cash as an influencer and as an ambassador for a hair and beauty business.
And she’s also been back on the TV - but for a show that could not be more different to MAFS.
OFTV show There’s a Catch saw Whitney team up with six other OnlyFans creators to go on what at first glance looks like a perfect holiday to Spain, complete with parties and plenty of boys.
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But the contestants soon find out that they have to pay for the trip themselves - by working on traditional Majorcan fishing boats.
In a post on Instagram about the show, Whitney said: “Myself & five other OnlyFans Creators were flown out to Majorca thinking we were off on an luxurious content trip but we soon realised, there was a catch!
"We literally had to earn our keep as deckhands on a traditional fishing boat to maintain our life of luxury in Majorca.
"Honestly I thought I was stepping out of my comfort zone marrying a stranger but this was something else! I don’t even eat fish let alone go fishing in the middle of insane storms in Spain."
While OnlyFans is best known for the X-rated content shared by creators on the platform, Whitney revealed that she would be keeping the bikini on for the show.
For a long time after the show she was also BFFs with fellow contestant April Banbury, starting a podcast with her called The Single Life Pod.
I have more fun taking nudes than selling products I don’t care about on Instagram. I would rather take a selfie of my boobs.
Former contestant Morag
But it seems that friendship is now over, with fans having spotted that the pair no longer follow each other on Instagram.
The revelation set rumours swirling, as it came not long after Whitney revealed she had been assaulted by a close friend and that she was taking a break from social media.
Neither have commented on the alleged fallout.
Morag Crichton
While baring all might not be up Whitney’s street, 2021 MAFS contestant Morag Crichton has since capitalised on her stint on the show by starting up an OnlyFans page.
Speaking to , she said: “I love stripping off - there are loads of nudes of me out there! I’m surprised they haven’t seen the light of day.
“I have more fun taking nudes than selling products I don’t care about on Instagram. I would rather take a selfie of my boobs.”
The 33-year-old former veterinary nurse from Essex was caught up in a drama-filled marriage with Luke Dawson, muttering at the altar: “He’s not exactly what I ordered.”
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Morag has since claimed she was stitched up by producers, saying: “I'm not someone who’s like ‘I didn't come out with that, it's editing,' but what producers do take out is context, why people are saying the things that they're saying, or what's led up to the two seconds that they put in.
"It makes the comment seem way worse than it is or just makes you sound like a complete b***h.
“If there's any opportunity where I'm actually being nice, they weren't using it because of the fact that it doesn't meet their narrative."
Overall, however, she looks back on the show in a positive light, adding: “it was nice to be able to reflect and think what you do and don't like about yourself, and things that you can work on in the future.”
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Earlier this year the star shared snaps of her face looking bruised after undergoing a nose job.
With bruises around her eyes, a bloody nose and a bandage across her face, she admitted: “Do you know what it feels like? It's like I've just woken up with the world's worst hangover but also last night I got into a fight with Tyson Fury.”
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