Reality TV

Relationship expert John Aiken gives his insights into three of the struggling MAFS couples

'Troy is socially awkward and doesn’t read people well.'
Loading the player...

It’s full steam ahead for Telv and Sarah, but some of this year’s other Married At First Sight couples seem to have fizzled.

Sean and Blair have now left the experiment, Justin and Carly are on the rocks, and Troy and Ashley’s relationship gives a whole new meaning to the word awkward.

John Aiken is one of the three experts who matched the couples. He gives TV WEEK his insights into why they haven’t all worked out.

Troy Delmege and Ashley Irvin

“Obviously, with Troy, he’s a bit socially awkward and doesn’t read people particularly well. He can put his foot in it.

“Ashley can be hot and cold at times. She’ll cross her arms and she’ll shut down a little bit. When someone’s going out with Ashley, sometimes they’re not quite sure where they stand with her. At times she retreats from him and I think he really struggles with that.

“The sexual spark never really ignites with them. When you watch them, physically, they seem awkward.”

Loading the player...

Justin Fischer and Carly Bowyer

“When you watch the show, you find out pretty quickly why these people are single and what the challenges have been.

“With Justin, his issue is he’s all work, no play. Also, he finds it extremely hard to open up. That sort of really reserved, constrained style just makes it really difficult for him.”

Justin and Carly’s relationship is on the rocks.

Sean Thomsen and Blair Rachael

“Sean is a guy with a chequered past, and he really had the walls up.

“Blair was there, open and willing and able, but Sean was really stuck. He came into the experiment thinking, ‘I’m committed, I want love, I’m ready for this, I’ll do whatever it takes,’ but what happened is he realised, ‘Actually, this is too hard, I don’t think I can do this.’

“So he and Blair stayed in that friend zone where they couldn’t get any momentum going.”

Loading the player...

Related stories