Three popular Married At First Sight couples had a ‘secret pact’ to make it to Final Vows, despite a lack of real 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 production revealed to Daily Mail Australia that the couples rarely spent time together when the show’s filming schedule did not require it.
“Tim and Sara were constantly arguing, and Lauren and Jono’s relationship was also tumultuous, with the two barely spending time together on weekends,” the insider said.
Three popular Married At First Sight couples had a ‘secret pact’ to make it to Final Vows, despite a lack of real connection off-camera. Pictured: Jayden Eynaud and Eden Harper
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 during one of the show’s dinner parties.
Jono, reportedly fed up, openly admitted to their secret pact, leaving fellow cast members and the pundits astounded with his confession.
“Tim and Sara were constantly arguing, and Lauren and Jono’s relationship was also tumultuous, with the two barely spending time together on weekends,” the insider said. (Photo: Tim during a break from filming)
Jono (left) and Lauren (right) were seen living very separate lives during filming
“It was a mess,” the source added, painting a picture of a relationship that was a far cry from the fairytale romance fans were led to believe.
Producers of Married At First Sight were reportedly ‘pi**ed off’ when they discovered the similarities, as they felt betrayed by the manipulation of the show’s premise.
The show prides itself on creating real connections, and these revelations undermine its integrity.
Jono, who had reportedly had enough, openly admitted to their secret pact, leaving fellow cast members and the pundits astounded with his confession
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, especially with fellow groom Jack.
Tara McWilliams, who is credited with transforming MAFS into the ratings juggernaut it is today, previously told Daily Mail Australia that fame rather than love is often the driving force for some of the show’s contestants.
She said that while there are different reasons why contestants decide to take part in the show, most are excited about the experience as a whole.
Married At First Sight boss Tara McWilliams has admitted some of the show’s contestants aren’t ‘100 per cent real’
“We’ll never know how sincere people are (before we go on the show). Everyone is really there because they enjoy mixed opinions,” she explained.
She emphasized that the “experience” extends beyond just being on TV.
She said that while it is rare, there have been cases where participants had ulterior motives.
She said that while there are different reasons why contestants decide to take part in the show, most are excited about the experience as a whole. In the photo Timothy and Lucinda
“It’s about being in the ‘bubble’, experiencing a roller coaster of emotions and working through relationship problems,” she said.
McWilliams said the show’s producers have often questioned the couples’ authenticity and had to boot them.
“I can count on probably two fingers how many times it’s happened where we’ve been, ‘We’re not buying this, and it’s time to go,’ and I’m not going to say who those couples are,” she said.
“I talk about the whole time we’ve been making this show, we’re talking seven, eight seasons or whatever it is…” she said.
“We put a plan in place to get them to leave, we called and said, ‘We’re not buying this, and we’re not a place where you can come and find fame, you have to invest in your relationship.’ ‘
In support of McWilliams’ statements, producer Alex Spurway added, “It’s the investment in the relationship and the experiment.”
‘You have to want to be there, you have to want to do the work, you have to want to participate.’
However, McWilliams does not shy away from acknowledging that the show’s producers sometimes question the authenticity of the couples.