Fern, a former contestant on the E4 reality show Don't Tell The Bride, has spoken candidly about her experience, detailing the strict rules imposed on participants and the emotional toll it took on her. Appearing on the show in 2010 at age 21, Fern shared her story on behalf of online bingo provider Zingo Bingo.
Intense Experience and Lack of Preparation
Fern admitted that the show was far more intense than she anticipated. "It was intense, especially for me. I struggled with it a lot looking back, because I was 21 and I think when you go on shows these days now, you'll be fully prepped. There was none of that back then. I didn't actually really know and fully understand what I was letting myself in for," she said.
In contrast, her husband Ryan had a more enjoyable experience. "Whereas my husband Ryan, he got the better side of it because he moved in with his best man, and they had all the fun. They were doing all the organising," Fern explained.
Strict Separation Rules and Potential Fines
The couple spent three weeks apart during filming, with strict rules enforced by the production crew. "We spent 3 weeks apart. We had to hand our phones in and have no contact for the duration of filming, otherwise we would have been fined," Fern revealed. She confirmed that they never broke the rules: "Hand on heart, we never broke those rules."
Despite the challenges, Fern felt the producers treated them fairly. "I think because we got on with the producers so well, they were actually quite respectful to us with the editing. They did edit it respectfully to kind of go in our favour," she said.
Emotional Burden and Inability to Rewatch
Fern acknowledged that she carried a heavy emotional burden during filming. "There were parts where I was a little bit more closed off because I was probably carrying a lot more on my shoulders," she recalled.
Even years later, Fern cannot bring herself to watch the episode. "I can't watch it, because I know what I was genuinely feeling in the scenes, and I can't watch it as a viewer just to enjoy it," she admitted.
