MAFS 2025 forced to do 're-shoots' following major setback: 'No element of surprise'

It appears things have gone from bad to worse for the upcoming twelfth season of Married At First Sight after filming commenced in Sydney last month. The new season is set to premiere in January next year with a brand new cast of participants looking for love - or at least a few more Instagram followers.

Yahoo Lifestyle understands that following a series of press leaks, paparazzi pictures and participants already promoting their upcoming appearances on social media, several brides and grooms have been able to figure out who their matches were before meeting them at their wedding.

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“The foundation of the entire concept of the show is meeting a stranger down the aisle, and this year that hasn’t happened for several matches,” an insider tells us. “Producers have had to do a lot of re-shoots and faking reactions to try and maintain some magic.”

“They haven’t even finished filming the weddings and more than half of the cast have been named on social media and in the press. There’s no element of surprise this season.”

MAFS 'accidentally' pairs ex-couple

Yahoo Lifestyle revealed last week that the upcoming season of MAFS has seen two exes ‘accidentally’ matched by the experts - with nobody realising the monumental mistake until the pair met down the aisle while filming their TV wedding.

Former Neighbours actor Jeff Gobbels and fitness influencer Rhi Disljenkovic, both based in Melbourne, were shocked when they were unexpectedly reunited on the set of the reality show.

After turning around to get his first look at his new ‘bride’, Jeff appeared surprised and said “Hey Rhi” before she had even introduced herself. Rhi was then seen explaining their connection to a producer off-camera after tying the knot.

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A source tells us that the pair were seeing each other this time last year after being introduced by a mutual friend, Australian Survivor star and football presenter Abbey Holmes, but “never became official”.

Instagram posts shared during their time together show Jeff interacting with all of Rhi’s stunning selfies.

Since parting ways, the pair “have kept in touch” and both still attend the same group classes at their shared gym, Hurt Locker Richmond. Yahoo Lifestyle can reveal that they also still followed each other on Instagram before their MAFS wedding.

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