Married at first sightdue back Monday, January 31 at 7:30 p.m. Channel nine and 9Now. The show is one of the biggest in the country – the latest episode of MAFS was one of the most-watched entertainment programs of the year with a metropolitan audience of just under 1.4 million metro and a national audience of 1.816 million.
In their quest to find the love of their life, some of Australia’s most attractive and adventurous singles will hand over the keys to their hearts to relationship experts. Jean Aiken and Mel Schillingand clinical sexologist Alessandra Rampollawho together will combine them to determine if science can really predict true love and lasting romance.
Media week spoke to Tara McWilliamsexecutive producer of Married at first sight at Endemol Shine Australia about putting together the show’s biggest season yet.
Tara McWilliams
The million dollar question has always been exactly what draws people to the show. For McWilliams, it’s the unpredictability of people’s emotions.
“It’s a show that’s based on a lot of emotion – and very raw emotion. It’s a show that resonates with a lot of people because you see the curtain go up on relationshipsyou are brought to see how intimate a relationship can be.
“These couples really embrace the process and experience where they let their guard down, and they’re completely them – the good, the bad, and the ugly. You never know what you’re going to get when you tune in every night because of it. , and thus, it makes watching addictive.
It’s not just viewers who have no idea what’s to come next. MAFS is a highly unpredictable spectacle, for the team behind the scenes as well. McWilliams says it took some getting used to.
“I took over in season four. As producers, we like to know: it’s the beginning, then the middle, then the end. We like to know what’s going on.
“On this show, I think the shock for a lot of us was that we’re completely okay with the trip in a lot of ways. I found it very difficult at first because you’re kind of like, ‘Oh my God, I don’t know how to plan for tomorrow’ I’ve now completely embraced it I like doing the show that way, I like it we come up with a plan and in many ways hope it doesn’t go as planned — because that’s what makes the show so exciting.
find the bride and groom
This season, 16 singles from across the country will lay eyes on their new spouse for the very first time at the altar. When it comes to choosing who would take the plunge, McWilliams says there are several things they are looking for.
“It would be insulting to say that we are only looking for people who are 100% genuine and only motivated by the search for love., because it is not realistic. Being on a TV show and having a million eyes on you is a very brave move, so you have to have people who want that experience.
“We are looking for absolutely genuine people, there is no doubt about that. Everyone who participates in this show, regardless of their various motivations, one determining factor must be that they want to meet their soul mate.
“But what also motivates them is the experience of an experience like this. I know that experience is a big part of why people apply to be on this show, and we are Agree with that. It’s not just about finding love, it’s a complete overhaul of their lives for four months.
Learn more: Married at first sight: everything you need to know about brides and grooms
Married to First Sight 2022 participants
Working with covid
As with all productions, MAFS was affected by Covid-19 restrictions.
“Probably the biggest impact has been on marriages,” McWilliams says. “You’ll notice the weddings are much smaller, some weddings don’t even have guests due to restrictions or border closures. It’s a really big commitment for someone to come to Sydney and then they don’t can’t even go back to their home country for a few weeks or have to be quarantined when they get back, so that had a big impact.
Although there is a need to circumvent Covid-19, the ever-popular Foster Family Week returns in 2022.
“Usually we had homestays a bit earlier in the season, but we pushed him back a bit, which actually worked really well. I actually liked him better at the back. , because at this point they know more about each other. You are more invested in what parents will think, or what friends and family will think given that we know more about them as well as the audience.
“Not everyone goes to everyone’s house, and that was because of the restrictions. We brought it everywhere we could go, whatever house we could go, whatever made sense. Each couple hosts either the groom or the bride, and it worked! We made it, everyone was safe and everything was fine. It was great.”
MAFS experts
Make the nation speak
Not everything will be dramatic – McWilliams says the new season of MAFS will innovate by tackling major topics.
“What really excites me about this show, in particular, is that there are a lot of hot topics that are going to come to the fore and get the nation talking.
“There will also be controversial things. MAFS is probably a bit synonymous with controversy, but there are definitely some very controversial things happening that will divide people and talk about it with passion.
“There are really serious conversations, really serious topics and issues that I don’t think reality TV in this country has touched on before. – at least not in recent memory. It’s going to be really fascinating to see how the public reacts to this.
“He’s a one season cracker. I’m really proud of it and can’t wait for everyone to watch it.
Married at first sight returns Monday, January 31 at 7:30 p.m. Channel nine and 9Now.
