MAFS 2025 producers frantically searching for 'replacement cast' as filming begins

Following production delays, a 'casting crisis' and the 'accidental' pairing of two exes, it appears things have gone from bad to worse for the upcoming twelfth season of Married At First Sight. The Channel Nine reality show is currently three weeks into production, with participants having filmed their weddings, honeymoons and first dinner party.

After the cast attended their first dinner party last week, however, Yahoo Lifestyle can reveal that executives are now actively searching for new participants to replace the initial pairings.

On August 8, a week after the first ten weddings were filmed and the couples had returned to Sydney from their mini-honeymoons, the show’s casting producer Ed Cook took to Instagram asking his followers to share a link to a casting application. The post stated that they are specifically searching for men to appear in the upcoming season.

“Send this to any of your single male friends for their chance to be a part of MAFS 2025,” he wrote.

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When asked why they are still casting for a show that is already well into filming, one production insider told Yahoo Lifestyle this is because “some of the current cast are underperforming on camera” and they need “bigger personalities and better talent”.

The source also claimed producers are anticipating “too many couples leaving early” and they will need “back-ups who are ready to go”.

Each year the show brings in ‘intruder couples’ four weeks into the experiment, but these matches are usually locked in months in advance. The frantic search for new grooms suggests the current selection of participants are not “strong enough” to deliver the ratings Channel Nine has come to expect of MAFS.

Strict filming conditions

Meanwhile, Yahoo Lifestyle can also reveal that producers are going to new extremes this year to ensure none of the participants sneak out, speak to media or break the rules after they moved into the One Global Resorts apartments in Green Square (formerly known as Skye Suites) last week.

One producer was spotted perched on a balcony with a walkie-talkie monitoring any participants as they stepped out to collect food or walk to the nearby supermarket.

Photos obtained by Yahoo Lifestyle also show bride Jamie Marinos shouting a producer over and pointing at co-stars Jacqueline Burfoot and partner Ryan as they left the building – with the producer then appearing to radio the rest of the team to ensure their outing was authorised.

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“At this stage in filming, producers instil fear in participants to prevent them going rogue,” an insider tells Yahoo Lifestyle. “All cast are required to ‘check out’ if they wish to leave the apartment building and they have a curfew in place, but half of them ignore these rules while some take them very seriously and get dubbed ‘producer pets’.

“The measures may seem extreme this year but producers can’t risk cast mixing when the cameras aren’t around to capture all interactions and drama.”

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