Meet the nan of three who is looking for love on Married At First Sight UK

Nine couples are blindly walking down the aisle this season with MAFS expertPaul C. Brunsonteasing an explosive reunion before the show's even started.

Durham-based operations manager Anita, 54, is one of the brides trying her luck - and her family will probably have their say in her journey on Married At First Sight.

After losing her mum, job and ending a 17-year-relationship within six weeks, Anita rebooted her life, prioritising her two children and three grandchildren. Now, she’s looking for someone to match her adventurous spirit.

At the helm of MAFS' 10th series are relationship experts Melanie Schilling, Charlene Douglas and Paul C Brunson, who all return to guide the newlyweds as they gamble everything on love with a stranger.

The show feels like home for Paul. “Charlene, Mel and I have worked together for so many years, we really fit together,” Paul says. “We were very much in sync.”

The format is familiar – nine couples meet at the altar, honeymoon and then move in together before facing weekly make-or-break ceremonies.

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But series ten is upping the ante with a cast that Paul describes as “a true cross-section of the UK”. This year, contributors hail from Manchester, Liverpool, Essex, London, Edinburgh – and also New Zealand – bringing different politics and professions into the experiment.

“It’s important, especially in this day and age, where you feel like we’re in the middle of a culture war,” Paul says. “We’ve taken different parts of the UK and they live together. They’re able to work through their differences, they don’t always resolve them but they manage them.”

Paul teases plenty of twists, with the reunion episode set to be the most explosive yet. “I truly believe that our reunion for MAFS this year will be the most memorable reunion in MAFS history,” he promises.

Paul says that a lack of emotional intelligence is one of the biggest issues that people can face in their own relationships. “Everyone assumes that they’re emotionally aware, even if they might not be,” he explains.

“If you can’t even tap into your feelings or emotions, how in the world can you identify that in your partner. How do you expect to emotionally connect with your partner? It’s learning to dance together.”

Then, there’s the shadow of social media. “Experts only see what happens at the dinner parties and commitment ceremonies. But I wish the audience would know that every time they comment about one of the contributors, they’re most likely seeing it.

"They’re human beings, they have loved ones who don’t need to see you talk about their body, their physicality or perceived intelligence.”

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