As if the Married At First Sight (MAFS) experiment couldn’t get any more chaotic, it was recently announced that an all-stars spinoff series was in the works with a massive twist.
The brand new reality show, titled Second Marriage At First Sight, will feature eight former participants from both MAFS UK and MAFS Australia returning to the experiment for another shot at love. If you think that sounds messy, that’s just the beginning.
What is Second Marriage At First Sight?
Commissioned by Channel 4 and produced by CPL Productions (the team behind MAFS UK), the 24-episode spin-off series is the ultimate test to see if love has no boundaries.
Rather than putting ex-participants with one another, four British MAFS stars will be paired with an entirely new match from Down Under, and four Australian MAFS stars will be matched with a stranger from the UK. The returning contestants will not only have to have an open heart to finding love again, but also an open mind to consider uprooting their entire lives to the other side of the world.
So, how does it work? Well, the experiment will start in the UK, where each couple will marry, get to know each other and navigate cultural clashes. They’ll then head to Australia to test their relationship and meet friends and family on the other side of the world, before making the ultimate decision: who will consider uprooting their life for love?
“Will the Brits tempt their partners to trade beach life for Blighty, or will love pull them towards a fresh start under sunnier skies?” the network said in a statement.
“For these second-timers, there’s more at stake than ever before. These brides and grooms aren’t just risking their hearts again, they’re risking everything, their friendships, careers and their homes, as one half of each couple takes a gamble on the possibility of a new life and new love on the other side of the world.”
Who will appear on Second Marriage At First Sight?
The cast has yet to be announced, and probably won’t be for a while as applications for the new participants close July 31.
However, there are already a handful of names floating around, including Jessika Power and Lucinda Light, who have both built strong followings in the UK and split their time between both countries.
Cyrell Paule told PEDESTRIAN.TV’s podcast Villain Edit that she thinks Jessika will likely be cast on the show, as well as her season six co-star, Ines Basic.
“I don’t talk to Ines — I’ve got no bad blood towards her or anything — but do you remember her one-liners?” she said. “If you need a villain, I think she’d be great. She said some funny stuff; she was brutal.”
Fan favourite bride Eden Harper also admitted on Villain Edit that she’d consider the opportunity if she was asked to return, while 2025 participant Awhina Rutene quickly shut down the idea.
“If you see me on that show, it’s not for love. If we’re going on MAFS all-stars, having already done this experience, we know it is not for love,” she told P.TV.
“Ultimately, you’re doing it for the experience, you’re doing it for the excitement and the potential to grow your following. The experience does sound exciting — I guess you get to experience something that’s never been done before, and you get to the UK — but are you doing it for love? No.”
If we were to throw other names in the mix, I wouldn’t be surprised if Beth Kelley joined the show, given she already made the move from the UK to Australia, as well as Jamie Marinos, because she was the breakout star of her season, and former groom Al Perkins, so he can introduce shoeys to the other side of the world.
When and where can Australians watch?
Details about the Australian broadcast are still under wraps; however, given MAFS UK is available to watch on 9Now, Second Marriage At First Sight will likely be available on the same platform (if not given a primetime slot).
Filming will likely kick off in the second half of the year once applications close, which means the series probably won’t air until 2027. Once we find out more details, we’ll be sure to let you know!
Obsessed with reality TV? Check out PEDESTRIAN.TV‘s new podcast Villain Edit, where we unpack all the wild, chaotic and messy moments from your favourite shows. Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube and wherever you get your podcasts.
