Married At First Sight’s Sam Ball and Ines Basic are currently at the center of Australian television’s most scandalous affair.
And while the pair appear to be hot and heavy on screen, Sam now says that he regrets ever starting the torrid romance in the first place.
Speaking to TV Week magazine, the 26-year-old said: ‘If I had my time again, I probably would have never opened her message.’
‘If I had my time again, I probably would have never opened her message’: Married At First Sight’s Sam Ball now regrets starting an affair with Ines Basic
The part-time model went on to call Ines, 28, ‘manipulative and smart,’ insisting that he only ever saw her good side when they were together.
He claimed that he was shocked after watching the show back and seeing how Ines was treating her on-screen husband, Bronson Norrish.
In a separate interview with NW, Sam said that Ines may have only been on Married At First Sight to stir the pot.
‘Ines is obviously there to cause drama’: The part-time model went on to call Ines ‘manipulative and smart,’ insisting that he only ever saw her good side when they were together
‘Ines is obviously there to cause drama,’ he said. ‘She’s a key player in that.’
In a preview for Monday’s episode, Sam and Ines are shown locking lips after a secret rendezvous at a bar during a cast trip to the Gold Coast.
The pair, who are married to other people, were seen flirting over drinks and at one point Sam admitted, ‘It feels so wrong to go down this path with Ines’.
‘Every time I look at him, I just want to have sex with him!’ Ines and Sam lock lips in a steamy embrace… despite being ‘married’ to other people
It comes after Ines confessed that she’s eager to sleep with the tattooed tradie, on Sunday night’s episode.
‘Every time I look at him, I just want to have sex with him. We’ll definitely be hooking up,’ Ines said candidly in a piece-to-camera.
All couples will travel to Queensland together to work on their respective ‘marriages’ this week.
What about your wife? Ines and Sam had a secret meet-up on the Gold Coast, where they enjoyed a steamy kiss
During Sunday night’s commitment ceremony, legal assistant Ines chose to ‘stay’ with her ‘husband’ Bronson Norrish, 34, – admittedly just so she could pursue an affair with Sam.
‘I just want Sam. Like, I don’t even want to work on my marriage right now,’ she said.
‘So, for now, I am going to stay in my marriage with Bronson and pretend like I care so I can just, like, start a new relationship with Sam.’
Flirting: The pair met up for drinks during a trip to the Gold Coast, where things quickly heated up
High spirits: Ines and Sam appeared to be without a care in the world despite meeting up behind their spouses’ backs
Meanwhile, Sam shared similar sentiments and also chose to ‘stay’ with his ‘wife’ Elizabeth Sobinoff, 27, so that he too could pursue the affair with Ines.
Sydney store manager Elizabeth, who vanished from the apartment she shares with Sam last week, skipped the commitment ceremony – leaving Sam furious.
‘I didn’t expect this from her. She’s just disrespected me like this tonight,’ Sam complained on the show.
Secrets and lies: During Sunday night’s commitment ceremony, legal assistant Ines (left) chose to ‘stay’ with her ‘husband’ Bronson Norrish (right), 34, – admittedly just so she could pursue an affair with Sam
Expert, John Aiken, revealed that Elizabeth had no choice but to skip the commitment ceremony.
‘Sam, what I can tell you and the group is that Elizabeth has not been feeling well,’ he said.
‘She’s got struck down by a virus and she was not able to make the dinner party last night and nor can she make the commitment ceremony tonight.’
‘Where’s Elizabeth?’ Sydney store manager Elizabeth, who vanished from the apartment she shares with Sam last week, skipped the commitment ceremony – leaving Sam (pictured) furious
Sam, who was diagnosed with chicken pox, questioned the seriousness of Elizabeth’s illnes.
‘I’m sick as a dog. But I still wanted to be present and make the most of it, so I’m surprised Elizabeth can’t do the same, but it must be quite serious if she can’t,’ Sam said.
John replied: ‘She does have doctor’s orders to stay away.’
Married at First Sight continues Monday at 7:30pm on Channel Nine
Mismatched: During the last commitment ceremony, Elizabeth (left) chose to ‘stay’ despite Sam opting to ‘leave’