Married At First Sight is no stranger to controversy, but this latest scandal is set to blow the experiment wide open.
In a move designed to test the strength of the relationships – and deliver maximum drama – the experts shake things up with a highly controversial couple swap.
And not everyone is playing by the rules.
I can exclusively reveal that Rhi Disljenkovic and Eliot Donovan have been paired together, while Jacqueline Burfoot has been thrown in with Jeff Gobbels.
Awhina Rutene has been matched with Paul Antoine, and Jamie Marinos has been paired with Adrian Araouzou.
But behind the scenes, the sleeping arrangements caused serious headaches.
Veronica Cloherty and Eliot Donovan’s relationship is seriously tested during Partner Swap Week when Eliot decides to share a bed with Rhi Disljenkovic. My sources tell me Eliot and Rhi advised producers they wouldn’t be sharing a bed, but ended up doing so anyway
Rhi Disljenkovic and husband Jeff Gobbels stepped out in Melbourne on Saturday to celebrate Jeff’s 40th birthday
From the start, Jacqui made it crystal clear she would be sleeping on the couch.
‘Jeff put on a show for the cameras, being all noble and chivalrous, saying he’d sleep on the couch while Jacqui took the bed,’ an insider tells me.
‘But the second producers left, he changed his tune, complaining about his bad back and suggesting they just share the bed instead.’
And that’s not all. Jeff allegedly justified his decision by throwing another couple under the bus: Rhi and Eliot.
Jeff said Rhi and Eliot had apparently told producers they wouldn’t be sharing a bed, but ended up doing so anyway ‘because no one wanted to deal with a sore back’.
My sources tell me nothing intimate happened between the two, and they only shared a bed because it was more comfortable.
But not everyone was in on this little white lie.
Eliot’s ‘wife’ Veronica Cloherty was left in the dark about the secret arrangement and was completely blindsided when she found out.
c(left) and Eliot Donovan (right) were paired for the partner swap experiment. Despite telling production they wouldn’t sleep in the same bed, they ended up doing so because it was more comfortable
Jacqueline Burfoot has been thrown in with Jeff Gobbels
Awhina Rutene has been matched with Paul Antoine
Jamie Marinos has been paired with Adrian Araouzou. I first reported last week that Adrian planted seeds of doubt in Jamie’s mind about her marriage to Dave Thomas
‘I’m unsure how it will all play out on TV, but Eliot flat-out lied to Veronica [about sharing a bed with Rhi],’ my source reveals.
‘He assured her he had slept alone. She has no idea what actually happened.’
And when she finally finds out? Expect fireworks.
At Wednesday’s dinner party, the truth unravels in the most explosive way possible, as Veronica and Rhi go head-to-head over ‘bedgate’.
‘Veronica turns to Rhi in front of the entire room and says, “I don’t appreciate my husband lying to me about sharing a bed with another woman,”‘ my insider says.
‘She’s super upset but the entire room laughs it off and shuts her down.
‘The only people they lied to really was production. The only reason Eliot lied was because he didn’t want to throw Rhi under the bus.’
Veronica was left in the dark about Eliot’s arrangement to sleep in the same bed as Rhi and tell a white lie to the producers
But Veronica doesn’t back down, setting the stage for one of the most intense confrontations of the season.
To throw a spanner in the works, another MAFS source tells me Veronica did know about the bed-sharing arrangement but acted surprised at the dinner party because she wanted to make Eliot look like the bad guy on camera.
And if that wasn’t enough drama, the couple swap also spells the end for former golden couple Jamie Marinos and Dave Thomas.
After being paired with Veronica, suddenly Dave finds himself questioning everything.
In a twist engineered by the experts, Dave is partnered with Veronica for the week after she ranked him second in the infamous photo ranking task. And let’s just say, the chemistry is instant.
‘Everyone already knew Dave wasn’t really into Jamie,’ another source tells me.
‘They were mismatched from the start. He was never fully invested.’
The couple swap also spells the end for former golden couple Jamie Marinos and Dave Thomas
Spending time with Veronica only confirmed what he had been trying to ignore.
The source adds: ‘With Jamie, it always felt forced. But with Veronica, it was effortless. Zero pressure, no awkwardness – just easy conversation and natural chemistry.
‘The moment he felt that difference, he couldn’t unsee it.’
Meanwhile, Paul’s relationship with Awhina’s twin sister Cleo will be revealed on the show this week, after Daily Mail Australia exclusively reported they had briefly dated three years ago.
Cleo confirmed she and Paul had been an item back in 2022, shortly after she ended a long-term relationship.
‘I just want to clarify something that’s been brought to light. At no point was this hidden, and when Paul first met Awhina at the dinner party, they addressed it openly, with Paul telling his wife Carina,’ Cleo told me this week.
Paul’s relationship with Awhina’s twin sister Cleo (right) will be revealed on the show this week, after Daily Mail Australia exclusively reported they had briefly dated three years ago
‘I met Paul in 2022, shortly after becoming single following an eight-year relationship. It was an instant spark, and we shared a whirlwind romance for a couple of months,’ said Cleo
‘While I don’t feel my past relationship should be up for public discussion, I will comment now that it’s out there.
‘I met Paul in 2022, shortly after becoming single following an eight-year relationship. It was an instant spark, and we shared a whirlwind romance for a couple of months.’
But the timing wasn’t right and she needed space to focus on herself. Paul went on to appear on The Love Boat before joining the latest season of MAFS.
Despite her past with Paul, Cleo insists there are no lingering feelings, only friendship.
She also spoke out about his controversial behaviour on the show, particularly his outburst that led to him punching a hole in the bedroom door.
‘I want to make it clear that I do not support his outburst. In the three years I’ve known Paul, he has never shown any aggression,’ she said.
‘He’s a genuinely happy person who enjoys life, good company, and great food. I know he’s deeply disappointed in himself, especially because he has a younger sister and strives to be a good role model.
‘While this doesn’t excuse his actions, I can only speak from my personal experience with Paul.’
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