22-05-2025
MAFS' Eliot Donovan reveals unexpected career pivot after the experiment: 'Like something out of a dream'
Married At First Sight's Eliot Donovan has seemingly achieved the impossible, earning both fame and public adoration after leaving the Channel Nine 'experiment '.
The Gold Coast business owner, 35, was billed as the 'picky' groom who skipped out on his honeymoon with bride Lauren Hall.
He later re-entered the experiment as an intruder when he was paired with bride Veronica Cloherty.
Eliot began season 12 of MAFS will all the makings of a classic MAFS villain but emerged like a phoenix from the ashes.
He has the largest social media following out of all his male co-stars, including 125,000 followers on Instagram and a further 284,000 on TikTok.
'My whole dream growing up was to be involved in comedy and that's always been a really positive outlet for me,' Eliot told 9Entertainment on Thursday as he revealed an unexpected career pivot.
Eliot began making humorous TikToks about events that played out on-screen as MAFS aired in Australia, making skits about his bride happily sharing a bed with Dave, while he sought out advice on how to be a better partner.
His lighthearted takes on a series of unfortunate events started to sway public opinion about Eliot, with viewers often commenting that they could scarcely believe his off-screen 'redemption' arc.
Eliot and fellow bride Jamie's will-they-won't-they dynamic has also helped to boost the groom's online profile, with both reality stars appearing in each other's videos since they shared a bed at Daily Mail Australia's cast reunion party in Sydney last month.
In a recent video, Eliot invited viewers to 'come with Jamie and I to an animal shelter in Queensland'.
'POV: You give her the adopt don't shop experience,' Eliot captioned the heartbreaking clip, which saw him meet-and-greet the dogs in need of a home.
The video has received 82,000 likes and counting, with fans commenting that Eliot is a 'soft king' and the kind of person who deserves to be an influencer.
'THIS is why we turn humans into influencers - for influence like THIS,' one viewer commented, while another wrote, 'I hate to admit it but I've become a big Eliot fan.'
Eliot revealed that he plans to continue pursuing his dreams of becoming a comedian on TikTok, while also using it to support the cause close to his heart.
'TikTok has given me this huge platform where we were able to get two dogs rehomed from my local Animal Welfare League shelter,' he told the publication.
'Both dogs had been in there for two months and couldn't find a home. We found a home for both of them within a week.
'That's the sort of thing that is like something out of a dream for me.'
It comes after Eliot and Jamie finally put fans out of their misery and confirmed their relationship status last week.
During an Instagram Q&A, Jamie, 28, shared a hilarious picture which captured her getting ready to shave Eliot's back.
'Seriously, tell us about you and Eliot, what's going on between the both of you?' one of her fans asked.
'Eliot and I are really good friends. He's been such a great support system. Always makes me laugh. I'm super grateful to have him around,' Jamie explained.
The account manager then clarified their close friendship was strictly platonic - for now.
'We are both single and focusing on ourselves at the moment. But who knows what the future holds?' she said.
Eliot added their relationship was so close that they were comfortable performing intimate acts with each other.
'Good friends shave each other's backs,' he said.
It comes after the couple exclusively spoke to Daily Mail Australia about their relationship while attending the annual fashion event at Sydney 's Carriageworks last week.
Jamie revealed she had actually gotten married at the location, wedding her TV husband Dave Hand at the beginning of the MAFS season.
Upon returning to the venue with Eliot, who was initially paired with Lauren and then Veronica on the show, the resident season 12 funny-girl said that it brought back memories of her nuptials - leaving a certain thought lingering in her head.
'I was hoping Eliot might propose,' she joked, which prompted fits of giggles from the pair.
But the TV groom was more than happy to play along with the jest.
'This will get some clicks,' he joked as he got down on one knee, reenacting an engagement on the Carriageways' railway tracks.
