MAFS UK's Tenth Series Explodes With Drama, More Sex and Expert Interventions

MAFS UK's latest series has been described as the most explosive to date, featuring more explicit discussions about sex and boundaries and moments that prompted producers to intervene, leaving relationship experts on the edge of their seats.

Since its 2015 launch as a social experiment pairing complete strangers, the program has evolved. The wedding ceremonies are no longer legal, and in 2021 the show moved from Channel 4 to E4, adopting a format modeled on the Australian version's soap-opera tempo. Ten years on, the program remains a ratings fixture, with nine couples starting this series and more to be added as filming continues.

Three relationship experts—Mel Schilling, Charlene Douglas, and Paul C Brunson—coordinate matchmaking and guide the couples through the process, from the initial apartment phase to dinners, homestays, and the final commitment ceremony where each partner decides stay or leave. Their work involves keeping a straight face when moments veer off script and balancing the drama with compatibility insights. In retrospective moments, Mel has noted Kieran Chapman's infamous fake teeth as a memorable aside, while Charlene recalls a lighthearted moment involving Zoe Clifton and Jenna Robinson, the show's first lesbian couple, that underscored the show's evolving tone.

Charlene says this year's series has a sexier feel, with conversations about boundaries and consent taking on more prominence than in prior years. The show has long courted sexual drama, but it now emphasizes dialogue about emotional intimacy and mutual expectations, even as it continues to avoid explicit footage on screen.

Past seasons have produced a raft of moments that spilled into the headlines after filming. In 2023, Jay and Luke drew attention for a secret encounter caught by a hotel staff member; last year, Charlie and Eve reportedly had sex but slept apart; Gemma and Matt's 2022 storyline drew controversy over a comment about a restaurant date; and last year's incident saw Adam and Polly with a wine glass altercation that sparked a debate about boundaries.

Producers say the show will continue to implement interventions when a relationship dynamics become unhealthy. Mel says interventions are used case by case and sometimes involve halting a storyline or asking participants to step away.

Welfare concerns have shadowed the franchise. In July, a former contestant said they had gone to the police alleging sexual assault by their TV partner on honeymoon. A MAFS spokesperson said the program takes issues seriously and welfare protocols are a priority.

The evolution of MAFS reflects broader changes in reality television. The early seasons framed as a quasi-scientific project with personality testing; the current approach leans more toward couples counselling and letting viewers hold a mirror to their own relationships, according to Mel.

Paul notes that online dating has reshaped how people meet and how they view help; dating apps have become the dominant way to connect, changing what counts as acceptable help and making matchmaking an enduring appeal. The show offers free matchmaking and, historically, a bed with clean sheets, while leaving other segments to the on-screen drama.

Despite the drama, the show has a pragmatic view of success. The producers point to a small number of couples who stayed together from their seasons—Michelle and Owen from series five, Adam and Tayah from series six, Jenna and Zoe from series seven—and note that other couples formed lasting relationships after filming, such as Matt and Shona. They caution that online dating statistics show many couples are not satisfied, but the quality of a relationship matters more than the numbers.

Mel and Paul emphasize that human understanding remains essential and that artificial intelligence cannot replace the nuanced guidance that comes from real-world experience. The series remains accessible on E4 and is also available to stream via channel4.com.

Watch Married At First Sight on E4 or stream on channel4.com.