Married at First Sight Australia fans are furious after learning that two stars are set to return to the experiment, but neither of them are Katie.
The 12th season of the popular reality series is currently airing on E4, with a fresh batch of singletons embarking on their marital journeys – which have been far from plain sailing.
The drama is set to turn up a notch with the addition of new brides and grooms this week, but there’s a twist – it’s not the first time down the aisle for all of them.
On Sunday (March 23), the official E4 Instagram account posted pictures of newcomers Beth, Clint, Teejay and Veronica, as well as returning cast members Lauren and Eliot.
“Introducing (and reintroducing) the rest of this year’s #MAFSAU brides and grooms!” the caption read.
MAFS fans will recall that 37-year-old business owner Lauren and 35-year-old business owner Eliot were previously matched by the experts at the start of the series.
Eliot instantly ruffled feathers when he began listing his “non-negotiables” in a future wife. He said that he would not entertain the thought of a marriage with a “trashy, obnoxious woman”, and admitted that he wouldn’t go through with the ceremony if he didn’t like the look of his bride.
Lauren seemed to share many of Eliot’s beliefs about traditional gender roles, with the pair quickly hitting it off at the altar. However, things started to go downhill on the honeymoon.
After several tense conversations at the dinner table, Eliot decided that Lauren didn’t meet his strict criteria, and therefore decided to leave the experiment after just two days.
“He’s just closed off because he didn’t get exactly what he wanted. He’s so annoying, I can’t stand him,” a frustrated Lauren said, before later telling cameras that Eliot had robbed her “of this experience”.
Following his abrupt departure, Eliot met with expert John Aiken to explain his decision, saying: “I’ve been pretty consistent with what I’ve been looking for. The person I was matched with was nothing like that. I was expecting to meet a cute librarian-like girl that was younger than me, and I ended up with what felt like a Kardashian sister.”
After learning that Lauren and Eliot will return to the experiment with new matches, MAFS fans have been left frustrated, with many taking to social media to express their disapproval.
“It’s a joke now,” one person said, with another adding: “It’s not right.”
A third said: “Eliot should not be allowed back on the show, that’s ridiculous.”
Meanwhile, other viewers are disappointed that past bride Katie wasn’t given a chance to return instead, following her challenging time on the show.
At the start of the series, 37-year-old business manager Katie was paired with 38-year-old primary school teacher Tim, with the pair seeming like a solid match on paper. However, Tim was quick to tell producers that he didn’t feel a “spark” after meeting his bride at the altar.
Despite learning about Tim’s lack of attraction, Katie was determined to make things work on the honeymoon, but her groom remained uncooperative, and even flew back home to Melbourne when they were supposed to move into their shared apartment.
To make matters worse, Tim then told his co-stars that he felt that he had been “making the most effort” in the relationship – leading Katie to question their interactions. In an unsurprising turn of events, the pair decided to “leave” during the first commitment ceremony.
In response to the new cast members, one fan wrote: “Katie should of been given another chance with someone decent,” with another adding: “Eliot what?! Where is Katie?!”
A third viewer said: “Katie should have been given a second chance,” while another similarly commented: “Why can’t Katie come back as well?”