Married at First Sight Australia is facing fresh controversy after a BBC report revealed that two brides from the latest series were not told their on-screen husbands had criminal convictions. One groom had a drug conviction, while another had been convicted of affray. Nine former contestants told the BBC that background checks for the show were insufficient, with one bride stating, "There should be informed consent."
Allegations of Inadequate Background Checks
The revelations come weeks after the UK version of the show was hit by a BBC Panorama documentary alleging sexual misconduct and assault. In that case, two brides claimed they were sexually assaulted by their grooms, who denied the allegations. The UK show was subsequently removed from Channel 4, though MAFS Australia remains available on the platform, produced by a different company with no editorial oversight from Channel 4.
Contestants Speak Out
Sierah Swepstone alleged she was not told her partner, Billy Belcher, had drug offences from 2014. She said, "You shouldn't be left alone with a stranger with a criminal record. At the very least, there should be informed consent." Endemol Shine Australia and Channel 9 stated that Belcher was "completely honest" about his past, which involved a suspended sentence for drug-related offences when he was 18.
Another anonymous contestant alleged her on-screen husband had a volatile temper, threw a microphone pack, and admitted to a history of aggressive behaviour. She said she was "terrified" during filming and accused producers of knowing his background but casting him for "good TV." The man denied the allegations, and the production companies said they had no record of incidents during filming.
Other Cases Highlighted
Adrian Araouzou, who appeared in the 2025 series, had a 2017 affray conviction. His bride was not informed, though the show noted he underwent extensive background checks. Timothy Smith from the 2024 series was convicted of drug trafficking in the US, a fact he revealed after the show aired. Chris Nield was found guilty of assault, which occurred 11 years prior.
Endemol Shine Australia and Channel 9 defended their processes, stating, "There is a structured, multi-stage checking process that every participant must complete and clear," adding that they take safeguarding "extremely seriously."
