Married At First Sight UK viewers have questioned the show’s matchmakers after they paired a 26-year-old ‘player’ groom with a 34-year-old ex-glamour model who’s ready to settle down.
Last night on the E4 programme, strangers Joshua, an insurance worker from West London, wed former glamour model turned sports journalist Amy, from Cornwall, after first meeting at the altar.
But ‘ex player’ Josh, who was ‘a bit sceptical about marriage as a whole’ until ‘completing the single life’, appeared to get cold feed when waiting for his bride for an hour after a water issue at her hotel caused her to be late.
And the situation went from bad to worse when he revealed his age to his wife, Amy, who seemed to be more eager to settle down and take the marriage seriously, said viewers.
Fans questioned the experts decision to pair unsure Josh with Amy after she revealed she had suffered a series of tragedies in recent years – including her mother having a stroke and nearly dying, the death of her unborn twins and being dumped by her fiancé.
Married At First Sight UK viewers have questioned the show’s matchmakers after they paired a 26-year-old ‘player’ groom with a 34-year-old ex-glamour model who’s ready to settle down (pictured)
Last night on the E4 programme, strangers Joshua, an insurance worker from West London , wed former glamour model turned sports journalist Amy, from Cornwall, after first meeting at the altar (pictured)
Amy left viewers feeling emotional when she opened about her devastating ordeals, explaining that she almost had everything she’d ever dreamed of when she fell pregnant with twins two years ago.
The happy news came a year after her fiancé suddenly walked out on her, abruptly ending their engagement in 2018.
Amy met someone new a year later, but the relationship fizzled out before she discovered she was expecting – however the 34-year-old’s happy ending never happened.
She recalled: ‘I got pregnant with twins. One died, and I had to medically terminate the other one due to complications.
‘That absolutely broke me. The two things I want is marriage and babies and I was so close to having both of those things and it didn’t work out.
But ‘ex player’ Josh, who was ‘a bit sceptical about marriage as a whole’ until ‘completing the single life’, appeared to get cold feed when waiting for his bride (pictured) for an hour after a water issue at her hotel caused her to be late
‘For me the last straw was my mum having a stroke and she nearly died, that was a big eye opener and made me realise as an only child, when my mum goes, who do I have? I want that support system,’ she added.
Relationship gurus Paul C. Brunson, Mel Schilling and Charlene Douglas matched Amy with fitness fan Josh, 26, but cracks began to show when Amy realised their eight year age-gap.
‘I have no idea how old he is, but I’m going to say he’s younger than me,’ the bride said after getting hitched.
‘I would’ve preferred somebody in their thirties just because I think they would be a bit more serious about settling down.’
‘So how old are you?,’ Amy is quick to ask during the couple’s wedding day photoshoot. ‘I’m 26,’ her husband replied.
And the situation went from bad to worse when he revealed his age to his wife, Amy, who seemed to be more eager to settle down and take the marriage seriously, said viewers (pictured the couple together)
Fans questioned the experts decision to pair unsure Josh with Amy (pictured together) after she revealed she had suffered a series of tragedies in recent years – including her mother having a stroke and nearly dying, the death of her unborn twins and being dumped by her fiancé
A shocked Amy responded: ’26? I’m 34,’ before later saying to the cameras: ‘The age gap, I’m not really too happy about that. It’s like he can’t want to settle down at 26.’
But the couple soon enter their wedding reception, where Amy appeared to have a slight change of heart.
‘I think he ticks a lot of my boxes. Not sure about the age thing but I think we’re going to get on. As long as he’s mature and he’s got a good head on his shoulders, then it’s fine.’
However, for Josh, he admitted that Amy’s love for all things spiritual could lead to them ‘not getting on’.
He was seen nervously waiting for his soon-to-be wife to walk down the aisle at the start of the show after admitting that if his bride took too long to appear his nerves would get the better of him and he’d ‘hide somewhere’.
Amy (pictured left) left viewers feeling emotional when she opened about her devastating ordeals, explaining that she almost had everything she’d ever dreamed of when she fell pregnant with twins two years ago
‘I am s******* myself, I’ll be honest,’ he confessed. ‘It is a bit overwhelming. It’s all happened so fast. I was somebody that was a bit sceptical about marriage as a whole. Most certainly didn’t think I’d be standing at the altar any time soon.’
However, he added: ‘I’ve completed the single life so there’s no going back now. I’m 100 per cent in it.’
But it was clear the groom was concerned, continuing: ‘Hopefully she doesn’t take too long, then the nerves haven’t got enough time to brew.
‘I just tend to overthink things when I’m waiting around because I’m impatient. All sorts just go around in my head, if I think about things too much. You probably won’t even see me. I’ll be hiding somewhere.’
Reaction: Twitter users were left questioning the show’s matchmakers following Amy and Josh’s pairing
Twitter users were left questioning the show’s matchmakers following Amy and Josh’s pairing.
One wrote: ‘Got to say, I don’t know what the #MAFSUK experts were thinking? But I also realise, it’s TV and not always exactly how it comes across.’
Another said: ‘These experts don’t care about love lol, what 26-year-old is marring a 34-year-old and vice versa.’
A third added: ‘Feel so sorry for Amy on #MAFSUK. Josh really hasn’t thought this through properly.’
Married at First Sight UK runs Monday – Thursday nights at 9pm on E4. Catch up on the series so far on All 4.
Married At First Sight UK: Meet the contestants
THE BOYS
Adam
Married At First Sight UK contestant Adam
Age: 26
Location: Doncaster
Occupation: Electrician
Why did you sign up to Married At First Sight?
‘I’m forcing myself into the situation where I have to be with someone – I’m only going to take positives from it. Hopefully, I’ll find the right one.’
Ant
Married At First Sight UK contestant Ant
Age: 28
Location: Manchester
Occupation: Business Development
Why did you sign up to Married At First Sight?
‘The best that could happen is that the experts find me a match and it works out perfectly. The worst case is it doesn’t work out and I make some new friends.’
Daniel
Married At First Sight UK contestant Daniel
Age: 27
Location: Northern Ireland
Occupation: Sales
Why did you sign up to Married At First Sight?
‘It is something that will allow me to shift my pattern in terms of relationships and it is a blessing to have the professional and scientific advice that will help me.’
Robert
Married At First Sight UK contestant Robert
Age: 26
Location: Dorset
Occupation: Business Protection Specialist
Why did you sign up to Married At First Sight?
‘I want to have fun all the time, so I want someone who wants to go out and do things. Someone who is on my wavelength with how I look at life.’
Franky
Married At First Sight UK contestant Franky
Age: 47
Location: Dubai
Occupation: Strength and Conditioning Coach
Why did you sign up to Married At First Sight?
‘All my life has been about challenges. I don’t like to do the normal. If anything is normal then I find it boring. I’m not captured unless I’m entertained and challenged.’
Matt
Married At First Sight UK contestant Matt
Age: 39
Location: West Yorkshire
Occupation: Charity Worker
Why did you sign up to Married At First Sight?
‘The reason I’ve come onto the show is because I’m really wanting to meet that special person that I can start building a life with and have a family. I’m really excited.’
Jordan
Married At First Sight UK contestant Jordan
Age: 27
Location: Cardiff
Occupation: Personal Trainer
Why did you sign up to Married At First Sight?
‘My happily ever after would be to learn stuff about myself that I didn’t know before. I want to become stronger as a person and to obviously walk away with a partner and with some new friends.’
Luke
Married At First Sight UK contestant Luke
Age: 36
Location: Cardiff
Occupation: Care Home Manager and Fireman
Why did you sign up to Married At First Sight?
‘I already have more in common with this person than I would do meeting them on dating apps or in the pub. Because they’ve done the same thing, they must be in a similar circumstance to me.’
Joshua
Married At First Sight UK contestant Joshua
Age: 26
Location: West London
Occupation: Insurance
Why did you sign up to Married At First Sight?
‘I think marriage has always been on my cards, but I could never see myself getting on one knee, so this is a fast track! Sometimes I need to be kicked into the deep end so for me this is the start of a new chapter.’
THE GIRLS
Megan
Married At First Sight UK contestant Megan
Age: 26
Location: Stoke
Occupation: Wellness Coach
Why did you sign up to Married At First Sight?
‘My dating history is horrendous, I have terrible taste. Of course, it is a good option to get someone to do it for me. It just felt like an opportunity I couldn’t miss.’
Amy
Married At First Sight UK contestant Amy
Age: 34
Location: Cornwall
Occupation: Sports Journalist
Why did you sign up to Married At First Sight?
‘With Married At First Sight UK, either I’m going to find the love of my life or I’m going to learn a really big lesson from it, which might lead me to the love of my life.’
Marilyse
Married At First Sight UK contestant Marilyse
Age: 37
Location: Yorkshire
Occupation: Personal Trainer
Why did you sign up to Married At First Sight?
‘I would love to go through to the experiment to the very end and still be with the guy. That is what I want to happen and what I expect to happen.’
Nikita
Married At First Sight UK contestant Nikita
Age: 26
Location: County Durham
Occupation: Sales
Why did you sign up to Married At First Sight?
‘Ideally, we all want our Prince Charming. I just think that if I meet someone who blows me away and we’re on the same wavelength and have proper banter it will be great.’
Morag
Married At First Sight UK contestant Morag
Age: 31
Location: Essex
Occupation: Vet
Why did you sign up to Married At First Sight?
‘I want the experts to help because I’ve got high expectations of myself and what I want from my partner. I want them to help me open up and let someone in.’
Alexis
Married At First Sight UK contestant Alexis
Age: 28
Location: London
Occupation: Model
Why did you sign up to Married At First Sight?
‘I’ve applied to this to find the good guy, to find someone genuine and someone who wants commitment. I give my all and I’m very supportive.’
Tayah
Married At First Sight UK contestant Tayah
Age: 25
Location: Welwyn Garden City
Occupation: Estate Agent
Why did you sign up to Married At First Sight?
‘I’ve always wanted to get married and wanted kids. I’ve always wanted to be a young mum. My end goal is to have that family and have that family unit. So that would be an ideal situation to come from this.’