Dating guru Paul Carrick Brunson also set to return for the new E4 series
Last year it was announced that Married at First Sight UK would walk down the aisle on E4, in a brand new and more explosive series made by CPL Productions, taking inspiration from the hugely successful Australian version currently gripping British viewers.
E4 can now reveal that no nonsense Married at First Sight Australia expert Melanie Schilling will be joining returning star Paul C Brunson for this brand new series. Both experts will be tasked with matching a group of singles hoping to find love when they meet for the first time at the altar.
Mel Schilling has over 20 years of experience as a qualified specialist in human behavioral performance and purpose. She is best known in the UK for her role on the Australian version of the popular dating show, which has recently been airing to millions on E4. With a reputation for asking provocative questions and holding everyone accountable for their actions, Mel will be the perfect partner to returning expert Paul C Brunson.
Last year, for the UK’s fifth series (which aired on Channel 4), Paul Carrick Brunson had a 75% success rate, with three of the four matched couples still together now, and one of the them even expecting a baby, the series’ first! Paul, who has recently been seen on screens in the hit E4 series Celebs Go Dating: The Mansion, is an internationally recognised expert in interpersonal relationships, personal development, and entrepreneurship and considered the World’s leading matchmaker, responsible for over 2000 marriages in his career. He is described by Oprah Winfrey as “much more than a matchmaker, he’s a life coach.”
Following the format of the Australian series closely for this new UK version, Mel and Paul will oversee the entirety of the experience, from matching, to the altar, to honeymoon, to moving in. Much like the Australian series, rather than legal marriages, the couples will make a lifelong commitment to one another at a glamorous ceremony. The couples will then attend weekly dinner parties and take part in recurring commitment ceremonies, where they will choose whether they want to stay in or leave the process.
Melanie Schilling said: “I am so excited to join the supersized UK version of our much loved Married At First Sight. Being a part of the Australian experiment for seven seasons has taught me so much about love, marriage, relationships (and conflict) and I can’t wait to share my advice and insight with you all. I have been overwhelmed by the UK response to the Australian version on E4 and have been humbled by all the beautiful messages of support from the UK fans of the show.
I am really looking forward to joining forces with Paul C Brunson (as I’m a huge fan of Celebs Go Dating!) and together I know we are set to shake up the UK conversation about matters of the heart – I just hope I can decipher all those different accents!
In this time of the global pandemic, now more than ever, we need to focus on connection and engaging with stories that warm our hearts and bring us closer together. I look forward to embracing all that is great about the love and warmth of the people of the UK”.
Paul C Brunson said: “Working on series five of Married At First Sight was one of the proudest moments in my career. The 75% success rate we achieved with the couples as well as the fact we have the first Married At First Sight baby on the way still feels surreal. I am incredibly happy to return and be joined by Mel!”
Mel and Paul can be seen when Married at First Sight U.K. returns to screens later this year on E4. The series is 20×60’ and is produced by CPL Productions. The Married at First Sight format is distributed worldwide by Red Arrow Studios International.