By Laura Carreno-Müller
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Get ready for a rollercoaster of emotions as Married At First Sight’s expert Paul C Brunson has hinted at some serious drama in the upcoming reunion, even before the new season has kicked off.
Married At First Sight UK is returning to E4 with its milestone tenth series, promising another whirlwind of quickie weddings, heated dinner parties and intense commitment ceremonies.
Guiding the newlyweds through their journey of love with a stranger are relationship gurus Melanie Schilling, Charlene Douglas and Paul C Brunson, who are all back on board.
Paul feels right at home on the show. “Charlene, Mel and I have worked together for so many years, we really fit together,” he shares. “We were very much in sync.”
The format remains the same – nine couples tie the knot at first sight, enjoy a honeymoon and then move in together, facing weekly make-or-break ceremonies.
However, series 10 is raising the stakes with a diverse cast that Paul describes as “a true cross-section of the UK”. This year, participants come from Manchester, Liverpool, Essex, London, Edinburgh – and even New Zealand – bringing a mix of 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 comments. “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 hints at numerous surprises, 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 assures.
However, beneath all the drama, experts are faced with significant challenges as this year’s brides and grooms toss around therapeutic terms like “gaslighting”, “coercive control” and “narcissism” that require careful interpretation.
“We’re acquiring more language than ever before. People will talk about things like manipulation or coercive control,” he explains. “For us, it’s becoming more challenging because the language is there, but the understanding isn’t.”
Paul believes the biggest obstacle is emotional intelligence. “That’s fundamentally the bigger challenge because everyone assumes that they’re emotionally aware,” Paul states.
“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 influence of social media. “Experts only see what happens at the dinner parties and commitment ceremonies,” Paul mentions.
“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 limelight, Paul has discovered methods to safeguard his mental health. “I used to be so immersed in it,” he admits. “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 redirected his energy into sport, becoming a stakeholder in Sutton United FC. “As a sports fan, it’s a religion,” Paul declares. “If we win or lose, that sways my mood a lot more than someone’s comment.”
