Three popular Married At First Sight couples had a ‘secret pact’ to make it to Final Vows, despite a lack of genuine connection off-camera.
Sara and Tim, Lauren and Jono, and Timothy and Lucinda, had secret agreements to stay together, Daily Mail Australia can reveal.
Despite their on-screen chemistry, insiders have revealed that these relationships were far from perfect behind the scenes.
A source close to the production disclosed to Daily Mail Australia that the couples rarely spent time together when not required by the show’s filming schedule.
‘Tim and Sara were constantly at odds, and Lauren and Jono’s relationship was similarly tumultuous, with the two barely spending any time together on weekends,’ the insider shared.
![Popular Married At First Sight Couples Made Secret Agreements to Stay on the Show, Angering Producers 2 Three popular Married At First Sight couples had a 'secret pact' to make it to Final Vows, despite a lack of genuine connection off-camera. Pictured: Jayden Eynaud and Eden Harper](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/02/20/00/81468073-13102423-image-a-10_1708390747022.jpg)
Three popular Married At First Sight couples had a ‘secret pact’ to make it to Final Vows, despite a lack of genuine connection off-camera. Pictured: Jayden Eynaud and Eden Harper
![Popular Married At First Sight Couples Made Secret Agreements to Stay on the Show, Angering Producers 4 Lauren and Jonathan (pictured) reportedly had a secret agreements to stay together, Daily Mail Australia can reveal](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/02/20/00/81468069-13102423-image-a-12_1708390766940.jpg)
![Popular Married At First Sight Couples Made Secret Agreements to Stay on the Show, Angering Producers 6 Pictured: Sara and Tim](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/02/20/00/81468071-13102423-image-a-11_1708390766692.jpg)
Lauren and Jono (left), Sara and Tim (right), and Timothy and Lucinda, had secret agreements to stay together, Daily Mail Australia can reveal
‘Despite forming a strong bond, Lucinda and Timothy struggled with a lack of physical attraction.’
The arrangements came to light after an intense confrontation at one of the show’s dinner parties.
Jono, reportedly fed up, openly admitted to their secret pact, leaving fellow cast members.
![Popular Married At First Sight Couples Made Secret Agreements to Stay on the Show, Angering Producers 8 'Tim and Sara were constantly at odds, and Lauren and Jono's relationship was similarly tumultuous, with the two barely spending any time together on weekends,' the insider shared. (Pictured: Tim during a break from filming)](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/02/20/01/81468753-13102423-image-a-13_1708392611241.jpg)
‘Tim and Sara were constantly at odds, and Lauren and Jono’s relationship was similarly tumultuous, with the two barely spending any time together on weekends,’ the insider shared. (Pictured: Tim during a break from filming)
![Popular Married At First Sight Couples Made Secret Agreements to Stay on the Show, Angering Producers 10 Jono (pictured) and Lauren were spotted living very much separate lives during filming](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/02/20/01/81468769-13102423-Jono_pictured_and_Lauren_were_spotted_living_very_much_separate_-a-20_1708392738753.jpg)
![Popular Married At First Sight Couples Made Secret Agreements to Stay on the Show, Angering Producers 12 Pictured: Lauren Dunn](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/02/20/01/81468767-13102423-Pictured_Lauren_Dunn-m-19_1708392733243.jpg)
Jono (left) and Lauren (right) were spotted living very much separate lives during filming
‘It was a mess,’ the source added, painting a picture of a relationship far removed from the fairy tale romance fans were led to believe.
Married At First Sight producers were reportedly ‘pi**ed off’ upon discovering the pacts, feeling betrayed by the manipulation of the show’s premise.
The show prides itself on creating genuine connections, and these revelations undermine its integrity.
![Popular Married At First Sight Couples Made Secret Agreements to Stay on the Show, Angering Producers 14 Jono eventually openly admitted to their secret pact, leaving fellow cast members](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/02/20/01/81468759-13102423-Jono_reportedly_fed_up_with_the_pretense_openly_admitted_to_thei-m-23_1708392767782.jpg)
Jono eventually openly admitted to their secret pact, leaving fellow cast members
The insider further revealed that despite the lack of sexual chemistry between Lucinda and Timothy, producers were keen to keep them on the show due to Timothy’s popularity and his fearless approach to confrontations, particularly with fellow groom Jack.
Tara McWilliams, who is credited with transforming MAFS into the ratings juggernaut it is today, previous told Daily Mail Australia that fame rather than love is often the driving force for some of the show’s contestants.
She said while there are several reasons contestants decide to join the show, most are excited by the experience as a whole.
![Popular Married At First Sight Couples Made Secret Agreements to Stay on the Show, Angering Producers 16 Married At First Sight's top boss Tara McWilliams has admitted that some of the participants who appear on the show are not '100 per cent genuine'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/02/20/00/66889491-13017057-Married_At_First_Sight_s_top_boss_Tara_McWilliams_has_admitted_t-a-2_1708390448608.jpg)
Married At First Sight’s top boss Tara McWilliams has admitted that some of the participants who appear on the show are not ‘100 per cent genuine’
‘We’re never gonna know how genuine people are (before going on the show). Everyone’s genuinely there because they enjoy mixed views,’ she explained.
She emphasised that the ‘experience’ extends beyond just being on TV.
She said although it is rare, there have been instances where participants had ulterior motives.
![Popular Married At First Sight Couples Made Secret Agreements to Stay on the Show, Angering Producers 18 She said while there are several reasons contestants decide to join the show, most are excited by the experience as a whole. Pictured Timothy and Lucinda](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/02/20/01/81469181-13102423-image-a-20_1708393397157.jpg)
She said while there are several reasons contestants decide to join the show, most are excited by the experience as a whole. Pictured Timothy and Lucinda
‘It’s about being in the ‘bubble,’ experiencing a rollercoaster of emotions, and pushing through relationship challenges,’ she said.
McWilliams said there has been many times the show’s producers have doubts about the authenticity of the couples and have had to boot them off.
‘I can count it on probably two fingers the number of times it’s happened where we’ve gone, ‘We’re not buying this, and it’s time to go’, and I’m not going to say who those couples ares,’ she said.
‘I’m talking over the course of us the whole time we’ve made this this show, we’re talking what seven, eight seasons or whatever it is…’ she said.
‘We put a plan in place for them to leave, we called the and said ”we’re not buying this, and we’re not a place for you to come and find fame, you have to be invested in your relationship.’
Supporting McWilliams’ statements, producer Alex Spurway added: ‘It’s the investment in the relationship and the experiment.’
‘You’ve got to want to be there, you’ve got to want to do the work, you’ve got to want to participate.’
![Popular Married At First Sight Couples Made Secret Agreements to Stay on the Show, Angering Producers 20 However, McWilliams does not shy away from acknowledging that sometimes, the show's producers have doubts about the authenticity of the couples](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/02/20/00/80568265-13017057-However_McWilliams_does_not_shy_away_from_acknowledging_that_som-a-3_1708390448619.jpg)
However, McWilliams does not shy away from acknowledging that sometimes, the show’s producers have doubts about the authenticity of the couples