Married at First Sight Australia is facing fresh scrutiny after former contestants claimed they were not told that some of their on-screen partners had previous criminal convictions before taking part in the show.

The claims were reported in a BBC investigation, which said nine former cast members have called for stronger background checks and greater transparency from the programme. The concerns centre on whether participants should be told about serious past convictions before being matched with a stranger in a relationship experiment that involves weddings, honeymoons, shared accommodation and near-daily filming.

What contestants have alleged

Sierah Swepstone, who appeared on the 2025 series, said she was not informed that her on-screen partner Billy Belcher had a previous drug-related conviction from 2014. She told the BBC that contestants should have “informed consent” before being placed in such personal situations.

The report also named Adrian Araouzou, another 2025 groom, who had a 2017 conviction for affray. The BBC said it understood his on-screen bride was not made aware of that conviction. Araouzou disputed the information put to him by the broadcaster.

Other former participants discussed in the investigation included Timothy Smith, who previously confirmed he had spent time in a US prison after pleading guilty to drug trafficking, and Chris Nield, who had a historical common assault conviction. Nield did not respond to the BBC’s request for comment.

The issue has added to wider debate around the franchise, as questions around the Married at First Sight 2026 cast had already drawn attention before the latest safety concerns emerged.

Channel 9 and producers respond

Channel 9 and Endemol Shine Australia said they have strong protocols in place to protect participant safety and wellbeing. They said contestants go through a multi-stage process that includes police checks, criminal-history checks, psychological assessment, medical screening, statutory declarations and legal due diligence.

However, the BBC reported that the companies did not directly answer whether contestants were told about their partners’ pasts. They also said their protocols do not include sharing personal or background information between participants.

Advocacy group Our Watch told the BBC that allegations or convictions should be treated as a serious safeguarding issue by television productions and should not be withheld from the people most at risk.

The controversy comes after the UK version of Married at First Sight faced its own crisis following allegations reported by BBC Panorama. MAFS Australia is produced separately, but the latest claims have increased pressure on reality TV producers to show clearer duty of care.

For a programme built on trust between strangers, the central question is now whether background checks alone are enough, or whether participants should be given more information before agreeing to share private space, emotional pressure and screen time with someone they have never met.

Source: BBC News

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