Former Married At First Sight relationship expert Dr Trisha Stratford has passed away, a ‘heartbroken’ former co-star has revealed.
The clinical neuro-psychotherapist was aged 72 when she died.
John Aiken, who currently stars as a relationship coach on MAFS, took to social media to break the news, posting ‘I’m heartbroken and devastated that my friend and dear colleague Trisha has passed away.’
‘We shared an amazing seven seasons of MAFS together. She loved everything New Zealand, relationships, the All Blacks, the Black Caps, French wine and travelling the world. I’ll miss you Tish.
‘Thank you for all the memories.’
Dr Trisha Stratford has passed away, a ‘heartbroken’ former co-star has revealed. Pictured right, with John Aiken
Trisha was part of MAFS since its inception, before announcing her departure from the Channel Nine franchise in 2020.
‘After seven seasons of Married At First Sight I have decided to step back from the television series to focus on my writing, research and neuropsychotherapy,’ she said in a statement at the time.
‘I’ve been involved right from the beginning in the challenge of bringing this social experiment to television.
Trisha was part of MAFS since its inception, before announcing her departure from the Channel Nine franchise in 2020
‘The program provides a platform for an ongoing conversation on relationships and I wish the program continued success and hope future participants find everlasting love.’
In March 2021, former participant Jessika Power, who starred in season six, told the Unpopular podcast that Trisha was often unwell during filming.
‘She was really sick when we were filming,’ Jessika claimed.
In March 2021, former participant Jessika Power, who starred in season six, told the Unpopular podcast that Trisha was often unwell during filming
‘There would be times when we would have to stop filming and she just had to take a moment or have some, I don’t know, Panadol or something. She was pretty sick, she didn’t really say much,’ she added.
In early 2021, Trisha also came forward to launch a scathing attack on the controversial reality series, claiming that it left her feeling ‘sick’.
‘By the end, I couldn’t compromise my professional and personal standards because there were participants on the show who I felt shouldn’t have been there,’ she told Woman’s Day NZ.
In early 2021, Trisha also came forward to launch a scathing attack on the controversial reality series, claiming that it left her feeling ‘sick’
‘If someone gets through the critical selection process, when we say we don’t want them on the show because they’re quite fragile, they’re not going to do well after the show,’ she said.
The New Zealand-based therapist went on to say what the contestants go through is ‘a tough gig psychologically’ and she compared it to experiencing ‘conflict in war zones’.
She added that the show changed from the ‘observational documentary’ she felt she had agreed to be part of.
‘It got supersized, a bit like MasterChef, into what we know as MAFS now. The participants we got in season six and seven were so outrageous and outside the norm that it wasn’t what I signed up for.
‘At a couple of dinner parties I felt sick. I felt in my guts that this wasn’t what I’d want to be watching at home on TV,’ Trish said.
Stratford was replaced on the show by Puerto Rican sex therapist Alessandra Rampolla, who has been shaking up the current season of the show with racy challenges and exercises.
Trisha was replaced by Puerto Rican sex therapist Alessandra Rampolla (pictured), who has been shaking up the current season of the show with racy challenges and exercises
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