Category: Mel Schilling

Married At First Sight plans big changes for 2025 season, searching for transgender and gender-diverse participants to revitalize the show

Channel Nine’s Married at First Sight appears to be setting out to diversify in 2025.

An insider close to the ratings juggernaut has revealed that the show’s producers are ‘actively’ pursuing applicants who identify as transgender.

And contestants are already being questioned on whether they would be willing to be matched with gender neutral partners as part of the experiment.

A source interviewed by Yahoo Lifestyle said that MAFS Australia are out to diversity after producers in the UK version of the show cast Elle Morgan, who identifies as transgender.

Morgan entered the experiment as a bride in 2023 which stimulated massive media attention as a result, the insider said.

Channel Nine’s Married at First Sight appears to be setting out to diversify in 2025. An insider close to the ratings juggernaut has revealed that the show’s producers are ‘actively’ pursuing applicants who identify as transgender. Pictured: experts John Aiken, Mel Schilling and sexologist Alessandra Rampolla

Contestants are being questioned on whether they would be willing to be matched with gender neutral partners as part of the experiment. Pictured: MAFS couple Michael Felix and Stephen Stewart

‘Producers are now under immense pressure to raise the bar on our version to keep the format fresh,’ the source claimed.

The casting process for the new season also asks applicants on whether they identify as non-binary and transgender.

Applicants have also been asked about their ‘same-sex’ experiences and whether they have had any cosmetic surgery.

The insider said that producers are also pressing applicants on intimate details, including whether they would engage in sex same experiences during filming – no matter their own gender identity.

MAFS Australia has featured three same sex couples to date – Michael Felix and Stephen Stewart, Craig Roach and Andy John and Amanda Micallef and Tash Herz.

MAFS Australia has featured three same sex couples to date – Michael Felix and Stephen Stewart, Craig Roach and Andy John (pictured) and Amanda Micallef and Tash Herz

The experiment featured its first lesbian couple in 2020. Pictured: Amanda Micallef and Tash Herz

lExpert Mel Schilling has previously confessed to the experiment’s shortcomings in representing LGBTQ+ relationships.

‘For us, it was really important to find people who genuinely wanted to find love. We didn’t want to simply match people based on sexual orientation,’ she told Metro last year.

Schilling admitted that the Australian series ‘got that horribly wrong’ in the early seasons, suggesting that ‘great lessons’ could be gleaned from the experience.

Back in 2019, a spokesman for Nine told Daily Mail Australia that they hadn’t included a same-sex couple due to the limited number of applications from gay singles.

‘Unfortunately, we didn’t feel there was a good enough match, and we didn’t want to include a gay couple just for the sake of appearances,’ they said.

A source interviewed by Yahoo Lifestyle said that MAFS Australia are out to diversity after producers in the UK version of the show in 2023 cast Elle Morgan who identifies as transgender. Ellie is pictured with groom Nathanial Valentino

While the show received a staggering 10,000 applications from heterosexual singles, only about 20 came from gay singles.

The following year, the experiment featured its first lesbian couple, with Amanda Micallef and Tash Herz tying the knot.

In 2016, MAFS Australia welcomed its first gay couple, Craig Roach and Andy John, which didn’t go as planned.

This new season is expected to push the boundaries like never before and feature the most diverse cast yet, Daily Mail Australia can reveal.

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Married At First Sight set for major revamp in 2025! The hunt begins for ‘transgender and gender-diverse’ participants to appear on new season in bid to keep show ‘fresh’

May 23, 2024
Mel Schilling, MAFS expert, updates fans on cancer battle: ‘Feeling a bit down, to be honest’

Married At First Sight’s relationship expert Mel Schilling has given a heartbreaking update on her cancer battle.

The therapist, 52, announced she had been diagnosed with the disease in December and underwent surgery as well as chemotherapy after experiencing symptoms while filming the Australian version of the show.

Mel, who has now become an ambassador for the colorectal charity Occtopus, spoke to UK’s Magic FM on Tuesday, revealing that she’s starting to feel unwell.

‘I’m feeling a little flat today actually, to be totally honest with you,’ she said.

Mel added that she is now on her third cycle of chemotherapy.

Married At First Sight’s relationship expert Mel Schilling, 52, (pictured) has given a heartbreaking update on her cancer battle

‘It sort of feels like being hungover, like I’ve been drinking all night.’

Despite this, the media personality expressed her determination to keep working and has no intention of slowing down.

‘I’m just now trying to find the way to juggle everything, because I’m not stopping working. This thing is not beating me, I’m here to fight, I just need to make some adaptions,’ she continued.

Mel announced she had been diagnosed with the disease in December and underwent surgery as well as chemotherapy after experiencing symptoms while filming the Australian version of the show

It comes after Mel told of the agony she was left in before her cancer diagnosis.

Speaking to new! magazine last month, Mel recalled the severe pain she was in while at work, saying: ‘I was doubled over and shouting – the pain was so intense.’

Her doctors originally thought her symptoms were simply constipation but she soon became concerned after losing her appetite.

On a trip to Ireland with her husband Gareth, Mel said she was in ‘so much pain’ and struggled to hold down food or water.

Mel, who has now become an ambassador for the colorectal charity Occtopus, spoke to UK’s Magic FM on Tuesday, revealing that she’s starting to feel unwell. (Pictured with fellow MAFS expert John Aiken)

Knowing something was still wrong, she went to see a gastroenterologist after returning to London who was ‘concerned’ about her unexplained weight loss.

Mel had a CT scan and returned a few days later to get her results, recalling the heart-breaking moment she was told she had cancer.

She said: ‘We were sitting in his office and the doctor had a blank look and I thought, “This doesn’t seem right,” and he said, “It’s cancer.” I think I was numb, I didn’t process it and I went into work mode, that’s all I could focus on.’

Mel added that she is now on her third cycle of chemotherapy and she is starting to feel unwell. (Pictured with fellow MAFS experts Alessandra Rampolla and John Aiken)

The reality TV host revealed her shock health battle in December and underwent colon surgery just before the end of the year.

She explained that her tumour – which she has named ‘Terry’ – was removed by UK doctors.

However, as the cancer spread through her colon into the muscle, Mel discovered she needed chemotherapy and began treatment at the end of February.

Mel SchillingMarried At First Sight Australia

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MAFS expert Mel Schilling shares heartbreaking update amid cancer battle: ‘Feeling a little flat to be honest’

April 25, 2024
Married at First Sight groom Richard Sauerman responds to rumors about joining The Bachelor

Married at First Sight groom Richard Sauerman has addressed speculation that he will be appearing on American spin-off of The Bachelor – The Golden Bachelor.

Richard, 62, revealed relationship expert Mel Schilling was the first to suggest the idea following the reunion episode of MAFS.

‘Mel turned to me and said, “Richard you better get ready for a call” and I said “what do you mean?”’ he told Yahoo.

‘She goes they’re looking for a Golden Bachelor that’s what she said to me… I knew they had a Bachelor in America who’s 72 and breathed new life into the whole series. But I thought about that, and I thought, yeah right,’ he added.

The Golden Bachelor premiered in the US in 2023 and follows senior citizens looking for love.

Married at First Sight groom Richard Sauerman has addressed speculation that he will be appearing on American spin-off of The Bachelor – The Golden Bachelor

Richard further revealed that if the opportunity arose, he would consider a ‘conversation’.

‘It’d be a conversation. Of course I’d consider it. I don’t think I’d be right for the Bachelor. I’m too rogue, I’m just not refined enough. (But) I’d always have a conversation,’ he said.

Richard was paired with Andrea Thompson, 51, on the Channel Nine dating experiment, but the couple decided to go their separate ways.

Richard was paired with Andrea Thompson, 51, on the Channel Nine dating experiment, but the couple decided to go their separate ways

Looking back at his journey on the program, Richard admitted there was one comment he wished he had never made.

He memorably shocked his co-stars with a racy remark about his sex life with Andrea during intimacy week.

He said: ‘We did intimacy week the week before intimacy week. We gazed, we hugged, we f***ed, we s***ed, we did everything, we did the whole lot.’

The Golden Bachelor premiered in the US in 2023 and follows senior citizens looking for love

‘I wouldn’t have said that “we kissed, we licked…” comment at the commitment ceremony during intimacy week,’ Richard told Woman’s Day of his regret.

His comments come after Andrea lifted the lid on her marriage to Richard behind closed doors after sensationally quitting the experiment in March.

Speaking exclusively to Daily Mail Australia, she said she decided to end things with Richard because the couple’s constant fighting started to make her ‘feel crazy’.

Richard SauermanMel Schilling

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Married at First Sight groom Richard Sauerman addresses speculation he is going on The Bachelor

April 15, 2024
Married At First Sight fans elated as finale teaser suggests budding romance between Lucinda and Timothy

Married At First Sight fans have been given new hope that ex-couple Lucinda Light and Timonthy Smith will get back together, following the release of a new trailer for Monday’s reunion episode.

The couple, who broke up following a disastrous homestay visit in Melbourne, will return to face the experts for a final grilling during the highly-anticipated episode.

A teaser that aired on Sunday night shows Lucinda, 43, and Timothy, 51, looking surprisingly affectionate as they cuddled on the couch, with Lucinda telling the experts: ‘I loved him’.

‘So there’s hope,’ Mel Schilling can be heard, prompting Timothy to reply: ‘For sure, yeah’.

Lucinda can then be seen leaning over and rubbing Timothy’s chest lovingly and drawing him in for a hug, hinting that a romantic reunion may well be on the cards.

Married At First Sight fans have been given new hope that ex-couple Lucinda Light, 43, (right) and Timonthy Smith, 51, (left) will get back together, following the release of a new trailer for Monday’s reunion episode

Timothy and Lucinda Light ended their relationship following their disastrous Melbourne homestay, during which Timothy withdrew and wanted ‘alone time’ before going out to spend time with a mate.

The pair called time on their marriage at the following commitment ceremony, with Timothy acknowledging his lacklustre effort to the experts.

‘I didn’t go into homestay with the best attitude,’ he said, before admitting that he found deep emotional exploration ‘uncomfortable’ and ‘overwhelming’.

A teaser that aired on Sunday night shows Lucinda and Timothy looking surprisingly affectionate as they cuddled on the couch, with Lucinda telling the experts: ‘I loved him’. ‘So there’s hope,’ Mel Schilling can be heard, prompting Timothy to reply: ‘For sure, yeah’

Despite their romance not working out, Timothy and Lucinda have maintained a close friendship ever since the cameras stopped rolling.

The former on-screen couple have been seen on nights out together, while Lucinda recently gushed over how ‘glad’ she is to have Timothy as a ‘dear friend’.

Sharing a behind the scenes snap of them together, Lucinda wrote in an Instagram post after they both left the show: ‘Love you Timbo. Soul family!

Lucinda can then be seen leaning over and rubbing Timothy’s chest lovingly and drawing him in for a hug, hinting that a romantic reunion may well be on the cards

‘What a farewell…being cheeky little knobs, ripping our names off the door that was the portal into ‘that version of us’. Here’s cheers to the future version of ‘us’ as dear friends.

‘So glad I’ve got a Timbo in my stratosphere and sorry for any times on this experience I hurt you. I see you & you’re awesome!’

Lucinda has however thrown cold water on any suggestion that she and Timothy are dating again, having recently told Daily Mail Australia that the fan favourites were two very different people.

Timothy and Lucinda Light ended their relationship following their disastrous Melbourne homestay , during which Timothy withdrew and wanted ‘alone time’ before going out to spend time with a mate

‘I think it was just realising I want something different for myself,’ she said.

‘It’s not to say that I deserve better than Tim because Tim’s an absolute legend and a half, but I think we do really do life differently and have different expectations around our day to day, our emotions, our feelings, our relationships all about.’

Timothy and Lucinda were one of the only couples to remain on the show until the final weeks without ever consummating their marriage.

Despite their romance not working out on the show, Timothy and Lucinda have maintained a close friendship ever since the cameras stopped rolling

She noted that some of their issues came down to the fact that Timothy was still very much grieving the death of his father.

‘And look, I think a lot of that is to do with the fact that Tim was grieving. His dad, there’s a lot going on for Tim personally,’ she empathised.

She added that she struggled being with someone who’s so different in dealing with emotions.

Timothy and Lucinda were one of the only couples to remain on the show until the final weeks without ever consummating their marriage

‘Everything from his dad dying recently, to, just feeling the stresses of the show,’ she explained.

‘Being matched with somebody that is really into communication and sharing feelings, it was exhausting for Tim.

‘I was way more than he bargained for, I’m certainly a very acquired case not for everybody, and I like to get into the nitty gritty of all of that and it’s just not his usual lingo.’

April 7, 2024