Latest news with #JohnAiken
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
MAFS expert John Aiken breaks silence on cast being snubbed from Logies and why the reality juggernaut will never win TV's top gong
Married At First Sight may be one of the biggest shows on Australian television, but in a surprising twist, it has never taken home a Logie. Speaking to Daily Mail Australia ahead of Sunday night's Logie Awards, expert John Aiken admitted that despite dominating the ratings every year, the reality series has never been recognised with a win on Australian TV's night of nights. 'We have never won anything at the Logies,' Aiken admitted. 'But we're pretty happy with the ratings that we have. At the end of the day it all comes down to who's prepared to vote. 'The shows that win usually have people who get online and vote. With MAFS, while we have a lot of committed viewers, they don't seem to vote.' From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Aiken said the team does not measure success by trophies. 'We don't do it to get a Logie, we do it because it's fun, it's exciting and a lot of people watch it. The real prize is the huge audience engagement we get every year,' he said. This year, like in the past, many MAFS cast members have been left off the official Logies guest list, something Aiken says is out of everyone's hands. 'It's a privilege to be invited, but it's completely out of my hands and out of the hands of the talent. Every year people are going to miss out, but you have no control over it,' he explained. And even if the show did win a Logie, Aiken joked it would be risky to let some of the brides or grooms accept the award. 'You'd have no idea what they're going to say,' he said with a laugh. 'They're very brave people who put themselves out there and I'm grateful to them for doing the show, but you never know what they'll do once filming wraps.' Aiken says that while the Logies may elude them, the show's reach is undeniable. 'It's now in its 13th season and it just keeps growing. It's sold into over 120 countries and it's consistently high in the ratings here. We keep putting out a high-quality product that people respond to,' John said. The social media ripple effect is also huge. 'TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat - it's all part of the cast's life now. Even if they don't get to go to the Logies they still get big opportunities in the media afterwards,' he said. Aiken says the show is polarising and that is exactly why it works. 'People either love it or hate it, but no one feels lukewarm. If it gets people talking, frustrated, cheering or angry, we're doing something right.' As for Sunday's Logies, Aiken is expecting a ribbing. 'I'll cop a little serve from all sorts of people. But you've got to have a thick skin and be able to laugh at yourself in this industry,' he said. With filming on the new season underway, Aiken teased that viewers can expect a fiery group of women leading the charge. 'We've got a cast full of very powerful, opinionated, outspoken women who will hold everyone to account. Some also have a heavy TikTok flavour to their dating approach which is very entertaining,' John explained. He says the cast is unlike anything we have seen before, with fresh cultural diversity, a sports presenter who loves cricket, and personalities who break the mould of previous seasons. Fans can also expect Aiken to continue his no-nonsense approach at the dinner parties. 'My role is clear now. I call out bad behaviour and hold people to account,' he said. 'Over the last few seasons I've become more direct and blunt because sometimes the behaviour is more extreme. People at home learn from that too.' Aiken also weighed in on some of last season's breakout stars – and why they became household names. 'Eliot Donovan was such an interesting journey. He came in polarising, had some ups and downs, but by the end people could see a different side of him. That redemption arc is rare on reality TV and it made people lean in,' Aiken said. Aiken meanwhile praised fellow bride Jamie Marinos, calling her 'a total breath of fresh air'. 'Jamie was bubbly, funny and had that unfiltered way of speaking her mind that you just cannot script,' he said. 'People loved her energy and it translated into huge social media engagement.' He added that these big personalities are exactly why MAFS continues to dominate the cultural conversation. 'They're authentic. Sometimes that makes them controversial, but it also makes them relatable. Whether people are cheering for them or against them, they're watching.' Voting is now open for all awards and will remain open until 7pm AEST, Friday, August 1.
Business Insider
20-07-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
Jefferies Keeps Their Buy Rating on Manulife Financial (MFC)
Jefferies analyst John Aiken maintained a Buy rating on Manulife Financial today and set a price target of C$49.00. The company's shares closed last Friday at $30.82. Elevate Your Investing Strategy: Take advantage of TipRanks Premium at 50% off! Unlock powerful investing tools, advanced data, and expert analyst insights to help you invest with confidence. Make smarter investment decisions with TipRanks' Smart Investor Picks, delivered to your inbox every week. Aiken covers the Financial sector, focusing on stocks such as Bank Of Montreal, Bank Of Nova Scotia, and Canadian Bank of Commerce. According to TipRanks, Aiken has an average return of 0.3% and a 51.83% success rate on recommended stocks. Manulife Financial has an analyst consensus of Moderate Buy, with a price target consensus of $38.79, a 25.86% upside from current levels. In a report released yesterday, TR | OpenAI – 4o also reiterated a Buy rating on the stock with a C$48.00 price target. MFC market cap is currently $52.74B and has a P/E ratio of 16.02. Based on the recent corporate insider activity of 149 insiders, corporate insider sentiment is negative on the stock. This means that over the past quarter there has been an increase of insiders selling their shares of MFC in relation to earlier this year.
Sky News AU
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Sky News AU
'Fresh take': NSW Police investigation into Married At First Sight quietly dropped after five months as Nine insiders hint at major changes to format
A police investigation that cast a shadow over the last season of Channel Nine's Married At First Sight has been quietly dropped after five months. NSW Police launched the investigation into the reality TV juggernaut in February after groom Paul Antoine punched a wall, sparking fan outrage. A NSW Police spokesperson on Wednesday told that "following an investigation conducted by officers attached to South Sydney Police Area Command, no further police action is expected." The matter has now been resolved privately and out of the spotlight, and MAFS producers are promising a 'fresh take' on the dating show's format, which has dominated Australian reality TV for more than a decade. Nine launched a full-scale reset for the show's highly anticipated 2026 season, reportedly issuing a very clear directive: 'Go hard on challenging the participants, but keep the drama out of the courtroom.' can reveal that the network has implemented stricter background checks, more in-depth psychological screening, and tough new guidelines aimed at avoiding another police scandal. 'Safe Work was also heavily involved in reviewing the show's future, and Channel Nine has taken their recommendations very seriously,' a network insider said. 'They want compelling TV but not at the expense of cast wellbeing or legal risk.' Casting for the 2026 season is now complete, and filming is officially set to begin later this month in Sydney. The staple drama-filled events, including the infamous hens and bucks parties, will be first to kick off at a private Sydney residence. The full lineup of brides and grooms have meanwhile commenced preparation for an intense 12-week production schedule. Insiders say next year's couples reflect a shift away from 'influencer types' and toward 'everyday Australians' genuinely seeking love. 'There's a lot less slicked-back hair and neck tattoos and a lot more relatability,' one casting source told 'This cast feels real, and that's a big part of what we're aiming for in 2026.' While Channel Nine has yet to confirm an official air date for the next season, MAFS season 13 is expected to premiere in January 2026. Returning relationship experts John Aiken, Alessandra Rampolla, and Mel Schilling are committed and will fly in from across the globe to participate. 'John's back from Thailand, Alessandra's flying in from the US, and Mel's just wrapped commitments in the UK," a production source said. "They're all excited to be reuniting." It comes as the final weeks of pre-production weren't without stress. 'We struggled a bit locking in the last few grooms,' the source said. 'We had some really strong women and didn't want to lose them, so it was a bit of a puzzle to get the right matches.' As for the weddings, locations have been secured, but the dates for the for the nuptials still remain under wraps, even from the cast themselves. 'They've all (the cast) flown in for promotional shoots but still haven't been told who they're marrying or when,' one insider said. 'There's a lot of nervous energy. Everyone's hoping for love and not the bad edit.' Despite fan scepticism over past promises of format changes, insiders believe this season could really deliver something genuinely different. 'Every year we hear it'll have a new vibe,' one long-time production staffer quipped. 'But this time, the cast, the experts, even the tone. It actually feels different.'
Wales Online
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Married At First Sight Australia producers 'struggling to find contestants' for new series
Married At First Sight Australia producers 'struggling to find contestants' for new series Married At First Sight Australia is reportedly struggling to find suitable singles to appear on the show, despite a new series due to begin filming soon Casting for the upcoming series of Married at First Sight Australia began months ago, yet producers appear to be encountering difficulties securing appropriate participants for the programme. Television industry sources have revealed that numerous positions remain unfilled on MAFS Australia, with some potential contestants withdrawing at the eleventh hour. "They're still scrambling for both brides and grooms," an insider revealed to Daily Mail Australia. "Honestly, they're desperate. There's a real sense of panic among the producers who know they have to deliver a standout cast to keep viewers hooked after this year's season was so controversial." Channel Nine's enhanced screening procedures have reportedly compounded the casting challenges. The network is said to be taking an uncompromising approach to comprehensive background investigations this series, reports the Mirror. Married at First Sight Australia experts John Aiken, Mel Schilling, and Alessandra Rampolla (Image: Channel 9 ) Article continues below Wales Online has contacted representatives for comment. An insider explained: "Channel Nine isn't messing around when it comes to background checks this year. They don't want anyone with a criminal record - not even someone who's faced court and been found not guilty. "It's about protecting the brand at all costs. But they're not playing it safe. They still want drama, chaos, headlines - they just don't want to give critics any more ammunition." These allegations emerge as production house EndemolShine Australia issued a casting appeal via Instagram recently. A message posted to the MAFS Instagram page stated: "Looking for love or know someone who is? DMs are OPEN." The twelfth series of Married at First Sight Australia first aired in January, before making its way to E4 in the UK. The programme features couples who tie the knot without having previously met each other. MAFS sees couples marry despite having never met one another (Image: Nine ) Before the show commences, experts pair up the single participants. Due to Australian legal stipulations, the couples do not legally marry on the show but instead participate in an informal commitment ceremony. On MAFS Australia, relationship advisors John Aiken and Mel Schilling, along with sexologist Alessandra Rampolla, serve as the experts. The couples meet for the first time at the altar, spend their wedding night in a hotel, and then embark on a honeymoon together. Upon their return, they cohabit and each week participate in a commitment ceremony where they can decide whether to continue or end their marriage. The series culminates in a final commitment ceremony, during which the couples must make a definitive decision about their marital future. Article continues below Married at First Sight is available to watch on Channel 4.
Daily Mirror
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
MAFS thrown into chaos as producers 'struggle to cast new contestants'
The thirteenth series of Married at First Sight Australia is soon to begin filming Casting for the new series of Married at First Sight Australia opened months ago, but it seems producers are struggling to find suitable singles to appear in the show. TV insiders have claimed that several spots remain empty on MAFS Australia, with some candidates even pulling out at the last minute. "They're still scrambling for both brides and grooms," a source told Daily Mail Australia. "Honestly, they're desperate. There's a real sense of panic among the producers who know they have to deliver a standout cast to keep viewers hooked after this year's season was so controversial." The Daily Mirror has reached out for comment. Channel Nine's new vetting process has also added to producers' casting problems. It is claimed that the network is "not messing around" when it comes to thorough background checks this time around. A source said, "Channel Nine isn't messing around when it comes to background checks this year. They don't want anyone with a criminal record - not even someone who's faced court and been found not guilty. "It's about protecting the brand at all costs. But they're not playing it safe. They still want drama, chaos, headlines - they just don't want to give critics any more ammunition." The claims come as production company EndemolShine Australia put out a casting call on Instagram in recent weeks. A post shared to the MAFS Instagram account read: "Looking for love or know someone who is? DMs are OPEN." Series 12 of Married at First Sight Australia began airing back in January, before later landing on E4 in the UK. The show features couples who marry despite having met one another before walking down the aisle. Experts match the singletons before the show begins. Due to legal requirements in Australia, participants are not legally married on the show but take part in an unofficial commitment ceremony. On MAFS Australia, the experts are relationship advisors John Aiken and Mel Schilling, along with sexologist Alessandra Rampolla. The couples meet at the altar, spends their wedding night in a hotel, and then heads on a honeymoon together. After returning, they live together and each week take part in a commitment ceremony, during which they can choose to stay or leave their marriage. The series then concludes with one final commitment ceremony, during which the couples must make a lasting decision about the future of their marriage. Married at First Sight is available to watch on Channel 4.
