Exclusive
WEDDING HELLS
I was on Married At First Sight – meddling producers turned our dates into utter disasters… now my love life’s tanked
In our exclusive video chat, Thomas reveals the two disaster dates not shown on the show
HE went on Married at First Sight hoping to find the one... but now, lovelorn Thomas Kriaras reckons the show has tanked his love life.
Paired up with Rozz Darlington on last year's series, the 27-year-old reveals he endured a disastrous time behind the scenes - battling botched dates, meddling producers and a 'wife' who rated him lower than her pet animals.
9
9
9
9
Things haven't got better since, with Thomas admitting dates now get the 'ick' over his reality TV fame or use him as a quick ticket to get on Love Island.
And as a finally kick in the teeth, he tells how just days after the reunion show aired, he was admitted to hospital after consuming so many energy drinks he managed to burn a hole in his stomach.
Speaking to The Sun, the Wiltshire-based investments worker says: “Dating has been a nightmare, it’s easier not to do it.
"It’s easier to chill with my cats, they don’t chat back or insult me.”
READ MORE FROM FEATURES
While Thomas and Rozz had their moments on the E4 dating show, things weren’t meant to be and they split up at an emotional final commitment ceremony.
The florist tearfully told her husband it was “not fair” to be with him when she had doubts - but all was not as it appeared.
According to Thomas, their relationship was already over by that point, but producers had ‘convinced him’ to stay with his wife until the final episode for viewers.
It was one of many times he claims the show’s team intervened in their relationship, including allegedly “pressuring” Rozz to request to leave the process two weeks in a row.
Most read in Reality
He says: “We felt the pressure from other people including producers and some cast members, who didn’t want to leave the show first.
“We were in their targets and they targetted the person I was with quite unfairly, encouraging her to put leave - especially from producers, which isn’t fair, they did it two weeks in a row.
MAFS UK fans spot reunion clue that ‘proves’ groom is still in love with his show ex months after TV split
“Later, I wanted to leave immediately after the homestays. I don’t know how but the producers convinced me to stay for the final commitment ceremony.
“I guess the producers and TV crew become your friends and I remember going, ‘What do I get from putting myself in a situation that’s going to make it tougher for her when she’s made a decision?’
“We had that exit scene in her home, we said goodbye. I said, ‘Why did I need to do more?’
"They said I would regret it and I guess I felt obligated to finish because of the show.”
9
9
9
Disaster dates
Thomas was approached for last year’s show by a ‘recruiter’, who he believes saw the “nice photos on my Instagram”, and encouraged him to apply.
Now Thomas casts doubts on MAFS' matchmaking skills - noting that other reality TV shows have more success at finding lasting love for couples.
He says: “They should call the show ‘divorce at second sight’ because everyone splits up except for the lucky, select, chosen ones… Love Island has got a better track record.”
Things were far from smooth sailing for Rozz and Thomas throughout the process - but he insists the initial embers of their romance were smothered due to being sent to such a chilly honeymoon destination.
“While others were chilling in Thailand or Tenerife with drinks on the beach, we got put on the top of a mountain in a blizzard,” Thomas says.
They were sent on a skiing holiday in Austria. Neither of them had tried the high-risk sport before and he says a couple of the dates were disasters.
Thomas recalls: “We were getting lessons before hitting the slopes and the producers were like, ‘Go talk to her!’ I’m like, ‘Dude I’m trying not to die here!’
I've broken my collarbone, had dengue fever, and I would rather go back and experience those things again than suffer that. It was so painful
Thomas Kriaras
“There were a couple of dates that didn’t make it to air - in one they made us a picnic but it was so cold we couldn’t open the packages of food and snacks because a blizzard hit us.
“It was just so synthetic with the circumstances that they put us in, which is why I think they only used a handful of clips. It was a weird experience.
“It was a shame because we had a lot of laughs and a good time, once we adjusted to the blistering winds.
"I don’t think I’d honeymoon in Austria again.”
Massaging the drama
Thomas suspects producers rigged one date scene - a couple’s massage, which also didn’t air - in a bid to maximise the drama on screen.
He says: “I got a bloke who didn't use any oil, he was just rubbing my hairy legs. I said, ‘Can we stop!’ because it was so painful, it was like having waxing paper rubbed up and down.
“Everyone thought I was joking. But I wasn’t having a good time. I had to walk out mid-massage because it was absolute agony.
“I've broken my collarbone, had dengue fever, and I would rather go back and experience those things again than suffer that. It was so painful.
“I think maybe the masseuse was under pressure not to use oil knowing there were cameras there and they wanted to put on a good show.”
'Family, animals, Thomas'
9
9
Rozz struggled to develop feelings for her husband throughout the experiment and at one point admitted she had “checked out” of the relationship.
During the homestays section, she admitted Thomas wasn’t a “priority” for her, which he says led to them splitting up but staying 'together' on the show until the final commitment ceremony,
In those scenes, she told the cameras: “He’s telling me everything I want to hear but I worry that in my list of priorities where’s Thomas? I feel like it goes: family, animals, Thomas. That’s not ok.”
Despite their romance having already ended, that final commitment ceremony was appeared such an emotional ordeal that Thomas had to be dragged off by a medic after apparently suffering a panic attack.
But again, he claims this was engineered for drama by producers, explaining: "I was crying because I was sad and saying goodbye to my friends and then they bring on a medic.
"They said I was having an anxiety attack and tried to get me to do these breathing exercises but I was like, 'Dude, I'm not having an anxiety attack'.
"It was mortifying when that happened. I was like bro get your hands off me. I don't know why it was so exaggerated and exacerbated, people are allowed to be sad."
Hospital dash
While that 'medical scare' was overblown, Thomas says he had to rush to hospital months later due to "drinking too many energy drinks" and having a bad diet.
Around the time that the MAFS reunion show aired in February, he felt very unwell one evening and called 111.
He explains: "They said, 'You have to go to hospital now, we've made you an emergency appointment at A&E' so I was driving on the way to hospital thinking 'I'm going to die'.
I was sort of seeing someone and they suddenly just ignored me because, apparently they were going on Love Island
Thomas Kriaras
"But it wasn’t that bad, it was non-erosive gastritis. It heals on its own and needs a lot of antacids."
Since then, Thomas has changed his diet - cutting back on his caffeine and poor food intake.
'Agonising' love life
As for Thomas, initially he “couldn’t wait” to get back on the dating scene but now says it's "just agony".
He jokes: "I feel like there's an anaconda around my neck squeezing all the air out of me every time.”
Thomas says he’s grown tired of “bad behaviour” from prospective love interests who have “cancelled an hour before” dates or “not followed through with plans”.
He says: “I was seeing someone for a bit but whenever I was talking about what I’m doing, like having an interview, she would roll her eyes.
I’ve got a quarter of a million women following me so there’s a lot of competitive attention and it only takes one person to turn a head
Thomas Kriaras
“She would say, ‘Oh, you think you’re famous’ which I don’t but I feel like why should I do these thing when I’m asked or talk about my experiences?
“A lot of people don’t have respect for me because of the fact I’ve done a TV show. So dating feels like a bit of a minefield.”
Thomas says his inbox is full of admirers who watched MAFS but he ignores them because “it feels really gammy” to pursue them.
Instead, he wants to meet people naturally and has tried to while partying with cast members from Made In Chelsea, including Freddy Knatchbull.
Mafs couples that have stood the test of time
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."
“I was seeing someone who I really liked but she couldn't do it anymore because she didn’t like the whole social media side of things," he tells us.
“I do get it because I’ve got a quarter of a million women following me so there’s a lot of competitive attention and it only takes one person to turn a head. I’m sure that feeds into someone’s insecurities.
“Then I was sort of seeing someone and they suddenly just ignored me because, apparently they were going on Love Island. In the end they didn’t get on it so that was quite funny.
'Love Island has a better record'
While Thomas didn't find his soulmate on MAFS, he believes the goal may not always be to help people find love but to “help you grow as a person”.
“Love Island has got a better track record but that’s because you pick who you are with rather than being put with someone who will help you grow," he says.
“I’m quite avoidant when it comes to relationships. The show helped me transform from a husk of a person, who was withdrawn like a turtle, to opening up and actually being very open.
“I do think there is an element of MAFS that is incredibly important you’re getting something and someone who the experts think will make you grow as a human being.”
READ MORE SUN STORIES
After putting the claims to Channel 4, a spokesperson told The Sun: “As Thomas has said, contributors are able to leave the show at any time if they decide to.
"The show is a fair and accurate reflection of events that happen during filming.”
Topics