MAFS in major schedule shakeup as E4 bosses pull hit series from slot as seething fans complain

The Irish Sun

28-04-2025

SEETHING Married at First Sight have complained after E4 pulled the hit show from its usual slot.
The Aussie version of the matchmaking programme is currently playing out on E4.
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Married at First Sight has been ousted from its usual slot
Credit: Channel 9
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The hit show has been split into two parts for E4's new series Honesty Box
Credit: Channel 4
Fans have typically tuned in at 7:30pm each evening for the latest fix from the show.
However, in a schedule shakeup, they tuned in on Monday night to discover it was ousted from its slot.
Instead bosses have chopped MAFS into two parts - with the first airing at 8pm.
Vicky Pattison's brand new reality show The Honesty Box then airs an hour later at 9pm.
more on married at first sight
The second part of MAFS then broadcasts at 10pm.
With Tuesday night's schedule the exact same, seething fans have flocked to social media to complain.
One said: "I refuse to be manipulated. I will watch MAFS on +1 at 9 then switch over for the second part at 10. No Honesty Box for me!"
A second fumed: "They think because we're loyal MAFS fans we'll watch Honesty Box and stay up late to finish watching MAFS. Nope. That's what catch up is for."
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"Just seen now it's not on until 8pm! Simpsons it is then! Very cheeky splitting MAFS between this new show. I'll be getting it on catch-up, past my bedtime," said a third.
While a fourth commented: "
In case you didn't know tonight and tomorrow's #MAFSAU episodes will be on from 8-9 and then 10-10:40 with #HonestyBox in between. I resent E4 messing with my night to try and get me to watch another show. I already know it's on; they've advertised it enough.
"
Vicky Pattison reveals 'difficult' first year of marriage with husband Ercan
Honesty Box sees a group of singletons live in a luxury villa in Cyprus while looking for love.
Speaking
'You have bikini-clad babes and hunks in a gorgeous villa looking for love, which is a format we are ­familiar with. But then you add this AI tech element that forces them to be honest and face their feelings.'
Each contestant is quizzed inside The Honesty Box, a room that uses artificial intelligence to track their physiological responses — including heart rate, body temperature and pupil dilation — to determine if they are telling the truth about their ­feelings and any love connections they may have made.
Mafs couples that have stood the test of time
Loved-up Tayah Victoria and Adam Aveling of series six fame had the first Mafs baby.
The pair couldn't keep their hands off each other on the programme and quickly found their feet in the outside world, moving into Adam's Doncaster home.
Just 18 months after meeting, the couple welcomed their daughter Beau.
Season five couple Michelle Walder and Owen Jenkins also managed to make their marriage work away from the cameras and had their first child in December.
Teacher Michelle, 29, has no regrets about taking part in the experiment. She told us: 'I just feel very lucky and thankful that it has worked out - and excited for everything to come.'
Michelle and Owen were both sick of dating apps when they applied in 2019.
Owen recalled: 'I had been out for some drinks with a friend after work.
"While he was out for a cigarette I was scrolling on Instagram waiting for him to come back in.
'The MAFS advert was the last thing I saw, and I joked, 'Wouldn't it be funny if I signed up?'
'A few beers later when I was back at home I sent in the application, and the rest is history.'
Another couple to make Mafs UK history is Zoe Clifton and Jenna Robinson.
Despite a slight rocky start, where they clashed over Jenna's vegan lifestyle, the show's first same sex pairing are still going strong.
They even have a successful podcast together called Life With a Pod.
Jenna shed light on being involved in the show earlier this year when she told us: "We're not legally married, and I never felt like we were. I definitely feel the process makes you take the relationship a lot more seriously and having the help of the experts… if you can survive that process it sets a firm foundation for a long-lasting relationship."