She’s the fun-loving bikini model who has become the breakout star of this season of Married At First Sight.
But Brisbane socialite Davina Rankin, 26, wasn’t just cast due to her compatibility with TV husband Ryan Gallagher on the show.
Speaking to Herald Sun on Sunday, Channel Nine head’s of content Adrian Swift admitted he thought the busty personal trainer would make for good TV.
‘We knew she looked good’: Channel Nine head of content Adrian Swift has revealed executives were worried about casting bikini model Davina Rankin in this season of Married At First Sight
‘The reason we picked Davina in the first place (was that) we knew she looked good and was great talent,’ he told the publication.
‘We actually worried about Davina (because) we don’t like casting people who just want to be on the telly,’ he continued, but added their was something genuinely vulnerable about her.
The Channel Nine boss emphatically denied that Davina Rankin and Dean Wells were paid to have an affair together, as has been rumoured.
Despite being billed as a social experiment, the Channel Nine executive admitted it was not, not the relationship experts, John Aiken, Dr Trisha Stratford and Mel Schilling, who chose the final cast.
‘We don’t like casting people who just want to be on the telly’: But he said there was something vulnerable about the busty beauty, who has become this season’s breakout star
‘We (Nine) do have a say about who is in the final mix,’ he spilled.
‘We go on the casting tour and we meet people (prospective contestants). The psychs (Aiken, Stratford, Schilling) don’t come on the casting tour with us,’ he continued.
‘I’m not going to be disingenuous and say we pick them purely on whether they’re going to be a great match.’
Not number one! Channel Nine head of content Adrian Swift admitted this season’s villain Dean wasn’t a first choice for the show
In a surprising twist, the executive said that this season’s villain Dean Wells wasn’t the first choice for the show – with the Sydney-based creative director instead the second or third option.
The comments come after breakout star Davina is rumoured to be getting her own show, which will possibly be a spin-off series.
This week, Channel Nine has apparently been calling members of the public and asking for their opinions about this year’s contestants.
Casting tour! The nine executive revealed they they get a say on the final cast of their top-rating show, Married At First Sight Pictured is Davina’s TV husband Ryan Gallagher
Ready for round two? Married At First Sight’s Davina Rankin (pictured) may be making a comeback in her own spin-off series, Daily Mail Australia can reveal
These market research-style phone calls included questions about which MAFS stars fans would like to see have their own reality TV show.
A source told Daily Mail Australia: ‘The person asked me what I thought about Married At First Sight and who I liked or disliked the most from the current season.’
They added: ‘Then they asked which contestants or couples should have their own television show.’
‘What do you think of Davina?’ Channel Nine has apparently been calling members of the public and asking for their opinions about this year’s contestants
Apparently, the person working for or on behalf of Nine was particularly interested in what the caller thought about Davina.
‘When I was asked about my favourites, I said ‘I really like Sarah (Roza)’, the source added. ‘I think she’s real and came on the show for all the right reasons.
‘I don’t think she’s fame-hungry. She really wanted the experiment to work.’
The caller’s response reportedly promoted the question: ‘Well, what do you think of Davina?’
Spin-off in the works? Nine’s market research-style phone calls reportedly included questions about which MAFS contestants fans would like to see have their own reality TV show
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Channel Nine for comment.
If Davina does make a return to reality TV, it would be a rather unexpected development for her.
She recently spoke to the ABC about the backlash she had received and indicated she wanted to dedicate herself to eradicating cyber bullying.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Channel Nine for comment