Married At First Sight ’s Ben Jardine has called for the show to change its name as he reveals producers scouted him to wed a stranger before he had seen an episode.
In the new series, which started on E4 on Monday night, contestants no longer legally tie the knot, instead hold a commitment ceremony – as seen on the Australian series.
Previously, a combination of scientific data, DNA and personal preferences would match two strangers who met at the alter and married.
Ben was wed to Stephanie Saint Remy for a year after they tied the knot in the third series in 2017.
(Image: Channel 4)
With a millionaire fortune made in property Ben was still healing after a 13-year relationship ended when he bumped into the show producers, and hints the marriage was doomed to fail before it started.
He said: “I never signed up for it.
“I was walking down the street in the City, they scouted me and next thing I was walking down to the alter.
“I popped out for a sandwich and ended up with a wife.”
Followed by cameras for a year going through his everyday life before the programme even began, Ben underwent psychology and IQ tests and gave hair samples.
He explained: “They go deep but I had never seen the show so the producers made me watch one episode.”
On the new series revamp, Ben continues: “It’s upsetting they’re not really getting married.
(Image: Channel 4)
“I never went into it for fame. I went into it for love.
“It gives me goosebumps seeing the show back – good and bad as it was an amazing experience – but now it’s like Love Island it needs a different name.
“Marriage is serious,” he added.
In a bid to capitalise on the success of the Aussie series, which became a huge lockdown hit, MAFS have also added Down Under dating expert Mel Schilling, 49, to the panel.
The Aussies gave us fighting, cheating and next-level scandal – something Ben is familiar with after he was turned into a pantomime villain when he bolted abroad rather than pull the plug on Steph.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
