IT’S the show that aims to set regular people up with the loves of their lives by introducing them for the first time at the altar.
But despite Married At First Sight‘s continued popularity, its success rate with long-lasting couples is nothing to write home about.
Jordan Gayle and Erica Roberts’ bitter split
Jordan Gayle who split from Erica Roberts back in February recently said “I feel like a mug for falling for her.”
On fitness trainer Nicola Buchan’s podcast, Jordan said: “I feel like a mug for falling as hard as I did. It’s weird because I’ve not got emotional about it for a long time because I think I’ve been holding it back a bit.”
He added: “ I didn’t care about any of the fame or the opportunities or any of the money, so losing the relationship was like the be all and end-all for me.”
The bitter split caused co-stars to take sides, with Ella Morgan unfollowing Jordan on Instagram.
Ella hasn’t always approved of Erica and Jordan’s relationship, but now it’s clear where the issue lied for her.
A source said: “It was Erica that ended her marriage with Jordan… she did everything possible to make it work but sadly they struggled and in the end, she had no choice but to give up.”
Reflecting on the 2023 crop of participants, a source told MailOnline: “Considering they committed to each other for the rest of their lives, it’s not great and what’s more is a few of the show’s stars have even moved on in new relationships.
JJ Slater and Katie Price
After splitting with the initial bride he was paired with on the show, JJ went on to explore a connection with Ella Morgan.
Although the pair went their separate way during final vows, they agreed to be friends.
Ella, however, has struggled to be civil since she found out that JJ has moved on with her pal and former glamour model Katie Price.
Taking to her Instagram Stories on Thursday (February 29), Ella took a dig at her ex.
She posted a clip from the Pretty Little Thing head office in Manchester, lip-syncing the lyrics to Rose’s Turn from the musical Gypsy.
She captioned the post: “When you have an affair on TV and think you’ve found the one.”
JJ and Katie have been in a relationship for five months now, and they even have matching tattoos that say ‘baby darling’.
JJ recently said he wishes he had met and married Katie on the MAFS aisle.
Georges Berthonneau and Peggy Rose
Peggy and Georges split in January. They traded digs on social media as they explained their sides of the story.
In an Instagram story, Georges said he was blindside by the break up.
Peggy later told The Sun: “George ended things with me on the 30th January so for him to come out and say he was blindsided by my Instagram post is a load of rubbish.”
She added: “I never wanted to do a story about our relationship. I wanted to remain dignified but after he made up all that rubbish about me, I just want everyone to know the truth. I was heartbroken.”
Peggy also claimed that she thinks Georges had cheated on her.
Georges denies being unfaithful, with a source close to him saying he didn’t split with Peggy and “she just presumed”.
Couples who split early in the series
Early series favourites Shona Manderson and Brad Skelly are definitely over after accusations of controlling and narcissistic behaviour.
The pair were axed off the show by the experts after growing concerns about their relationship.
Nathanial Valentino’s romance with Ella barely got off the floor, and JJ and Bianca Petronzi’s union fared even worse.
JJ had pursued a connection with Ella during the series whilst he was still in a marriage with Bianca.
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 in October last year.
Season five couple Michelle Walder and Owen Jenkins also managed to make their marriage work away from the cameras and are expecting their first child in December.
Teacher Michelle, 29, has no regrets about taking part in the experiment. She recently told us: “I just feel very lucky and thankful that it has worked out – and excited for everything to come.”
Michelle and Owen, then 25 and 31, 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.
“We discuss potentially getting married in the future and I’m sure that’ll happen one day.”
