It seems there’s a new reality show emerging every five minutes, and the latest bonkers show that triumphantly hit screens last year was the UK version of Married at First Sight, which sees love rejects marry a stranger (I know).
You may think these singletons desperate for love have taken every opportunity to find ‘the one’, but I doubt their intentions are as innocent as they may seem.
I became familiar with the show after befriending former contestant and MAFS’ most memorable wife, Nikita Jasmine, 28, on Celebs Go Dating.
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I also got to know Paul Brunson, an expert on MAFS and a love guru on Celebs Go Dating, who proved to be one of the best love mentors I’ve ever met, along with Anna Williamson.
(Image: Ryan-Mark Parsons)
Naturally, I was keen to watch the new series of Married at First Sight which launched this week.
My goodness, the drama that ensued felt as if I were watching a soap opera that’d been so carefully orchestrated you would think the contestants were reading off a script.
The thing is, which not all viewers are aware of, the contestants on the show aren’t actually married.
They make promises, but none of the weddings are actually conducted by a marriage officiant.
So really it’s a glorified First Dates (with a few more dates) and inherently phoney.
(Image: Ash Knotek/REX/Shutterstock)
There’s no jeopardy, there’s no risk, and that makes all of it quite boring when the contestants can simply walk away instead of hiring divorce lawyers.
Of course, that inspires a breed of contestant that’s willing to fake marriage on the telly for a bit of clout in the hope of landing the next series of Celebs Go Dating.
They’ve clearly seen the TV success of the likes of Nikita and hope to replicate her career by acting even more audacious to grab headlines and impress show bookers.
There’s an odious element of fakery that exudes from the show that makes it hard for me to connect to the ‘genuine love’ and ‘pure romance’ narrative the execs and experts are trying to push.
(Image: Ash Knotek/REX/Shutterstock)
Don’t get me wrong, there will be contestants that enter a show like Married at First Sight or Love Island and look for love and not thousands of followers on Instagram.
However, it’s become excessively clear on these dating shows that the majority of people go in with the aim to build a career in the media and the love bit becomes sidelined.
I’m also not doubting the credibility of the experts, but again, you can’t help but think the matches from the last series and the current series have been constructed for maximum TV drama and fireworks.
After all, TV is a business and ratings matter.
(Image: Channel 4)
Who wants fluffy weddings and mild bickering, when you have the likes of Thomas Hartley, 31, and Whitney Hughes, 31, who are carrying the show so far and bringing every ounce of melodrama that gets viewers salivating?
What’s hilarious is that no one daren’t question the integrity of the show and they plod along pretending their fake marriage is going to last once the cameras are finally turned off.
Perhaps if the show’s ‘stars’ admitted to chasing clothing brand deals instead of wanting to find a meaningful connection with someone, we might be able to offer more respect.
With a new batch of contestants, comes a new batch of competition for the former MAFS stars hungry for fame.
(Image: Matt Monfredi / Channel 4)
For instance, comparisons have already been drawn between Nikita and Whitney because of their ferocious personalities, albeit Whitney has proven to be more acerbic and unforgiving in recent episodes.
This also underlines the competition amongst reality stars to remain relevant, especially with a market that’s becoming exponentially saturated, it pays to stand out and make the most noise.
Looking at other stars, such as Love Island’s Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu and Davide Sanclimenti, who have just landed their own spin-off show on ITV2, there’s nothing wrong in pursuing the limelight.
I’ve been working in the media for nearly three years after first appearing on BBC One’s The Apprentice, and I love every second of it.
Just admit your intentions.
Yet, that becomes incredibly complicated when love is involved, as ultimately it undermines the whole purpose of a show like Married at First Sight.
It’s just the start and as this new series progresses, we’ll see the couples shout, scream, and tear each other apart.
Let’s hope all of that is in aid of saving their marriage instead of salvaging a chance to appear on Celebrity Big Brother one day.
Do you have a story you’re itching for Ryan-Mark to cover? Email: ryanmark.parsons@reachplc.com
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
