A fresh batch of singles try to find their match in MAFS’ new season, promising bombshells. But Paul C Brunson vows the anticipated reunion is set to be the most explosive yet.
Get ready for fireworks – and maybe a few tears. Married At First Sight expert Paul C Brunson has already warned viewers to brace themselves for the show’s upcoming reunion. And the new season hasn’t even yet started.
Married At First Sight UK is back on E4 for its landmark tenth series, promising another season of whirlwind weddings, fiery dinner parties and explosive commitment ceremonies.
At the helm once again are relationship experts Melanie Schilling, Charlene Douglas and Paul C Brunson, who all return to guide the newlyweds as they gamble everything on love with a stranger.
The show feels like home for Paul. “Charlene, Mel and I have worked together for so many years, we really fit together,” Paul says. “We were very much in sync.”
The format is familiar – nine couples meet at the altar, honeymoon and then move in together before facing weekly make-or-break ceremonies.
But series 10 is upping the ante with a cast that Paul describes as “a true cross-section of the UK”. This year, contributors hail from Manchester, Liverpool, Essex, London, Edinburgh – and also New Zealand – bringing different politics and professions into the experiment.
“It’s important, especially in this day and age, where you feel like we’re in the middle of a culture war,” Paul says. “We’ve taken different parts of the UK and they live together. They’re able to work through their differences, they don’t always resolve them but they manage them.”
Paul teases plenty of twists, with the reunion episode set to be the most explosive yet. “I truly believe that our reunion for MAFS this year will be the most memorable reunion in MAFS history,” he promises.
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But beneath all the drama, experts face weighty challenges with this year’s brides and grooms throwing around therapeutic terms like “gaslighting”, “coercive control” and “narcissism” that need careful unpacking.
“We’re acquiring more language than ever before. People will talk about things like manipulation or coercive control,” he says. “For us, it’s becoming more challenging because the language is there, but the understanding isn’t.”
Paul says the biggest hurdle is emotional intelligence. “That’s fundamentally the bigger challenge because everyone assumes that they’re emotionally aware,” Paul says.
“If you can’t even tap into your feelings or emotions, how in the world can you identify that in your partner. How do you expect to emotionally connect with your partner? It’s learning to dance together.”
Then, there’s the shadow of social media. “Experts only see what happens at the dinner parties and commitment ceremonies,” Paul says.
“But I wish the audience would know that every time they comment about one of the contributors, they’re most likely seeing it. They’re human beings, they have loved ones who don’t need to see you talk about their body, their physicality or perceived intelligence.”
After years in the spotlight, Paul has found ways to protect his own wellbeing. “I used to be so immersed in it,” he says. “That’s why I go to therapy. But now, I’m entirely emotionally disconnected [from the drama]. I am constantly doing things with loved ones.”
He’s also channelled his energy into sport, becoming an investor in Sutton United FC. “As a sports fan, it’s a religion,” Paul says. “If we win or lose, that sways my mood a lot more than someone’s comment.”
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