MAFS groom takes shock swipe at show’s experts as they ignore controversial series axe
MARRIED At First Sight groom Adrian Sanderson has slammed the show experts after the show was permanently axed.
Channel 4 confirmed yesterday that the dating show had officially been axed, six months after The Sun first revealed the series would be canned over rape allegations.
The broadcaster shared findings of a bombshell external review and confirmed MAFS UK, including a series filmed earlier this year and a planned all-stars spin-off were all axed.
Adrian, who starred on season seven in 2022 and was paired with Thomas Hartley, hit out at MAFS UK experts Paul C Brunson and Charlene Douglas for staying silent after news of the axing broke.
Mel Schilling had been the third expert since 2021, but sadly passed away in March following a battle with colon cancer.
Adrian wrote: “Isn’t it interesting that Channel 4 chose to release its MAFS review findings, well a summary of, on the very day Russell Brand’s courts case is dominating the headlines?
“Coincidence? Perhaps. But the timing is certainly interesting.”
Adrian added: “Thoughts on the fact the ‘experts’ from MAFS haven’t spoken on this?
“Funny I bumped into one last night at a restaurant.”
Findings of the MAFS UK review were published on Thursday morning, hours before the court in the Russell Brand trial reconvened and came to a verdict.
Execs fervently denied The Sun’s story from May that MAFS’ ‘lost’ series six, which was shot in March, would be canned and even slammed it in Westminster, when chief executive Priya Dogra was grilled by the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee.
As recently as last week, cast of that season have told The Sun that producers were reassuring them all would be well.
It meant they were blindsided to learn yesterday that their footage would be scrapped – devastating those who had engaged media agents ready to build a profile.
One told how they received an email four minutes before the news broke, so most learnt through media reports.
Another, who asked not to be named, told The Sun: “We were being told that the investigation was nearly over, things were looking positive and the programme would still air.
“I feel like we were repeatedly given false hope and reassurances that everything was going ahead, only to discover through the media that two months of our lives were wasted.
“Ever since the scandal broke, production has been in regular contact, repeatedly reassuring us everything would be fine.
“Some of us genuinely hoped to find love but others saw the programme as an opportunity to build a career and potentially change their lives and that’s now over.”
Separately, a cast member lined up for Second Marriage At First Sight – the planned spin-off – has told how a call with execs last month had left them under the impression filming would commence soon.
Two women who appeared on past runs of the show claimed to have been raped by their on-screen husbands, and another – Shona Manderson, who waived her anonymity – accused her TV partner of sexual misconduct.
All three men deny the claims.
The Met police confirmed one groom who was arrested on suspicion of rape on June 18 remains on bail.