MAFS 2025: Big Brother Australia star joins to 'save new season' after cast quit

Big Brother Australia star Teejay Halkias, who starred on Channel Seven's reboot of the show in 2022, has been cast on the new season of Married At First Sight as an intruder. The former Big Brother contestant is currently filming his wedding in Sydney's CBD and was pictured arriving earlier today, amid a protest happening in the city.

Yahoo Lifestyle understands that Married At First Sight is bringing in a record number of intruders this year after six cast members quit in the first two weeks of production.

When asked why production keep favouring participants with past TV experience, an inside source said: "They know how to perform on camera and can deliver ratings."

What happened with Teejay on Big Brother?

Teejay is used to being an intruder — he entered the Big Brother, Season 15 house midway through the season and found an instant spark with Ari Wilcoxson. However, another contestant Bella Sommers revealed she used to date Teejay and had been in contact with him saying that he had messaged her straight away when he got out of the house.

Teejay said he only reached out to Bella to apologise for moving on with Ari but an insider spilled to So Dramatic that Ari found out Teejay had spoken to not only Bella, but her mum and sister, and referred to the pair's relationship as a "situationship".

Will Teejay be less messy when it comes to being a married man? Time will tell!

MAFS 2025 in 'chaos' as six cast members quit and brides rebel

The producers of Married At First Sight are said to be scrambling to save the upcoming 12th season after a staggering six cast members quit within the first two weeks of filming.

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Eliot Donovan was the first participant to quit the show after being “unimpressed” with his bride Lauren Hall and flying home to Brisbane days after their wedding, Daily Mail Australia originally reported.

The news of his exit comes after Yahoo Lifestyle previously revealed how the casting team behind the social experiment were frantically searching for a replacement groom on Instagram, which is now understood to have been for Lauren.

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It is currently unclear if they have found Lauren a replacement match and she will re-enter the experiment as an intruder.

Following Eliot and Lauren’s abrupt departure from the experiment, Yahoo Lifestyle understands two more couples quit at the first commitment ceremony – despite producers “doing everything they could” to convince them to stay.

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