Married At First Sight groom Dave Hand has lifted the lid on the reality of filming Intimacy Week.
Speaking to Daily Mail Australia, the 37-year-old explained that while many couples embraced the racy experiment he found it ‘uncomfortable’.
‘It’s hard enough trying to have normal conversations with the cameraman and stuff there, but when you’re half-naked… it’s hard to manage,’ he said.
And he wasn’t the only one feeling the pressure—he couldn’t help but laugh at fellow groom Billy Belcher’s nerves.
The ‘TikTok’ tradie also admitted that while some couples got caught up in the heat of the moment, he and bride Jamie Marinos took things slow, preferring to build a deeper emotional connection first.
‘Mate, I’ll tell you what. I was sitting there with my dog and hiding his eyes because it was a bit wild,’ he said of watching back Monday’s episode.
Married At First Sight groom Dave Hand has lifted the lid on the reality of filming Intimacy Week
Speaking to Daily Mail Australia, the 37-year-old explained that while many couples embraced the experiment he found it ‘uncomfortable’
‘Billy was rubbing [his bride] Sierah’s back like he was trying to start a bushfire,’ he joked.
Dave and Billy have formed a strong friendship in the experiment, something he proudly boasts about.
‘Billy and I were definitely on the same page. When that finished up, we were backstage and we were just like, “That’s not on at all”,’ he explained.
While Dave is usually one of the more relaxed grooms in the experiment, tensions are set to boil over at the next dinner party when he confronts fellow groom Ryan Donnelly over his treatment of his bride Jacqui Burfoot.
The drama began at Alessandra Rampolla’s sex therapy workshop for the grooms, where Ryan made degrading comments about his wife.
Dave was left furious, slamming Ryan for the disrespectful remarks.
‘For one, we didn’t know that him and Jacqui were doing that, but two, he was making fun of her when he was saying it. That is… it’s not f**king cool at all,’ he raged.
Dave didn’t hold back, calling out Ryan’s lack of respect for his wife.
And he wasn’t the only one feeling the pressure—he couldn’t help but laugh at fellow groom Billy Belcher’s nerves (Billy pictured with his wife Sierah Swepstone)
‘Who do you think you are, that you can speak about another woman like that?’ he said.
Although Dave initially held his tongue, he later regretted not calling Ryan out on the spot.
‘His comments were not on at all and I regret not pulling him up on it in the moment, but also I think it wasn’t respectful to Alessandra. How’s she going to manage a bunch of boys arguing and stuff?’
He revealed he wasn’t alone in his disgust, with Billy also siding with him.
‘Billy and I were definitely on the same page. When that finished up, we were backstage and we were just like, “That’s not on at all, like, who does that? Who’s Ryan to be talking about Jacqui like that?”‘
Dave also made it clear that Ryan’s comments weren’t just inappropriate—they reflected a bigger issue about how women are treated in the experiment.
While Dave is usually one of the more relaxed grooms in the experiment, tensions are set to boil over at the next dinner party when he confronts fellow groom Ryan Donnelly over his treatment of his bride Jacqui Burfoot
‘I won’t stand for it!’ Dave defends the brides
Dave has vowed to stand up for the women in the experiment and call out toxic or misogynistic behaviour whenever he sees it.
‘I just wanted to set something straight from the get-go—I won’t stand for shitty remarks towards women or putting down women throughout this experiment. I won’t have it,’ he said.
The groom insisted that it’s time men on reality TV were held accountable for how they treat women, especially when the cameras are rolling.
‘I don’t think there’s a place for it anywhere, let alone on national TV,’ he added.
‘I’ll call it out, I’ll call out the bad behaviour and I said that from the start that I would do that. That’s the type of person I am in my life. At these dinner parties, it’s no different.
‘Why can’t I set an example on how to treat women? I’m not trying to force it down people’s throats, I’m just being me.’
The drama began at Alessandra Rampolla’s sex therapy workshop for the grooms, where Ryan made degrading comments about his wife
‘I’m still learning how to cope’ – Dave on his growing popularity
Outside of the
drama, Dave has quickly become one of the season’s most popular grooms, with viewers loving his protective nature and strong moral compass.
‘I was speaking about this with Jamie. I’m just super, super happy that Jamie’s a favourite too,’ he admitted.
But the newfound fame has come with some surprises—including being recognised in public.
‘I was eating my parmigiana the other day and someone came up and took a photo. Look, I don’t mind. It’s really nice and everyone’s being supportive,’ he said.
Married At First Sight continues Tuesday at 7pm on Channel Nine
The groom insisted that it’s time men on reality TV were held accountable for how they treat women. Pictured with bride Jamie Marinos
