Married At First Sight Australia’s relationship expert Mel Schilling has hit back at claims that the show is ‘scripted’.
The dating expert, 49, who offers relationship guidance to the newlyweds on the dramatic series, even joked that the storylines are ‘too outrageous’ to write.
Married At First Sight Australia series six first aired Down Under in 2019 and has since become a surprising hit in the UK recently.
Hitting back! Married At First Sight Australia’s relationship expert Mel Schilling has hit back at claims that the show is ‘scripted’
Talking to Express.co.uk, Mel quipped: ‘Do you seriously think we could write this stuff? I was at an event once and I met the guy who heads up scripted drama for Channel Nine in Australia.
‘And he looks at some of our storylines and he says, “There’s no way my team could ever come up with these ideas, they’re so outrageous.”
‘They say truth is stranger than fiction, and I absolutely believe that now having worked on this show!’
It was recently claimed that Mel is planning to quit MAFS Australia following series eight after landing a role on the ‘revamped’ UK version of the dating program.
‘Too outrageous’: The dating expert, 49, who offers relationship guidance to the newlyweds on the dramatic series, even joked that the storylines are ‘too outrageous’ to write (Sam and Ines pictured on the show after their ‘affair’ was exposed)
An insider told New Idea that Mel has been ‘exploring other options’ and is considering producing her own dating show.
‘Mel has a passion for relationships and helping people transform but MAFS isn’t exactly pushing those buttons anymore,’ the source claimed.
‘She is now looking at opportunities and projects where there is a stronger focus on personal development.’
However, sources close to Mel have told Daily Mail Australia that Mel is still ‘fully committed’ to Nine and will be back before next year’s season is filmed.
MAFS favourtie: Mel (pictured left) is best known in the UK for her role on the Australian version of the popular dating show, which has recently been airing to millions on E4
It comes after Mel announced she was joining the ‘revamped’ UK version of the show earlier this month, following the popularity of the Australian series, which is currently airing.
With a reputation for asking provocative questions and holding everyone accountable for their actions, Mel will work alongside expert and Celebs Go Dating star Paul C Brunson.
The Melbourne-based relationship guru will move to the UK with her husband Gareth Brisbane and daughter Madison, six to film the series.
It comes after MAFS Australia’s Mick Gould claimed he was prevented from quitting the show by producers’ threats to sue him.
Taking part in an Instagram Q&A on Wednesday, the farmer, 33, also admitted he faked his emotions when he heard about his then-wife Jessika Power’s affair with Dan Webb and branded the show’s panel of experts, ‘f***ing puppets.’
Married At First Sight sees couples marry one another seconds after meeting after being paired together by experts, then they see if they can go the distance.
Unable to leave: It comes after MAFS Australia’s Mick Gould claimed he was prevented from quitting the show by producers’ threats to sue him
Nothing to see here: Mick broke down in tears when he learned about his then-wife Jess’s betrayal with Dan – but admitted it was all a bit of an act
If things don’t work out, they can only leave if both they and their spouse decide to go their separate ways.
During the show, Mick was furious to discover that Jess, 28, kept him in the show for weeks in order to see Dan, 36, behind his back.
Asked why he didn’t just leave when he wanted to, Mick said: ‘Because they kept threatening to sue me, so I couldn’t.’
Mick famously broke down in tears when he learned about Jess’s betrayal and said he hadn’t secretly known – but admitted it was all a bit of an act.
He said: ‘I knew that if I didn’t act I would have to do it all again, so you just gotta pretend.’
Acting: Mick said he faked his emotions so that he ‘didn’t have to film scenes again’
The ultimate betrayal: Jess had made Mick remain in the competition to get close to Dan, pretending she had wanted to fix her friendship with Mick
Mick also slammed the show’s experts, John Aiken, Mel Schilling and Dr Trisha Stratford.
He said: ‘They experts are ‘f***ing puppets. They have those hoo-haa things [earpieces] in their ears and that’s about all their good for, the bast****.’
MailOnline has contacted a spokesperson for Channel Nine for comment.
Don’t hold back: Mick also slammed the show’s experts, John Aiken, Mel Schilling, (left) and Dr Trisha Stratford (centre), calling them ‘f***ing puppets’
Strolling around his sprawling Gympie farm in a green flannel shirt and a large sun hat, Mick – who was joined by his girlfriend Kayla Gray, 27, during the Q&A session – also revealed why he signed up for MAFS in the first place.
When asked by a fan: ‘Did you honestly think a reality show like MAFS was a good idea?’ the down-to-earth Aussie replied: ‘They sold it that it was gonna be a hell of a lot better than what we did. It was the complete opposite to what actually happened. S**thouse.’ [sic]
He also dished out his ‘best piece of life advice’, telling his followers: ‘F**k everyone’s opinion.
Honest: Mick – who was joined by his girlfriend Kayla Gray, 27 – also revealed why he signed up for MAFS in the first place
Mick shot to fame during the sixth season of MAFS. The show first aired in Australia in 2019, but only arrived in the UK this year.
He met new girlfriend Kayla – who starred on The Bachelor – at an event in 2019, and within five months Kayla had relocated to Mick’s Gympie farm.
Jess has since moved on with aspiring rapper Filip Poznanovic.
It’s not the first time this week that Mick has made some surprising MAFS revelations.
Scandal: Fans rallied around Mick after 28-year-old Jess (pictured) famously admitted to cheating on her husband with Dan, 36
A day earlier, he took part in another Q&A, saying he would ‘rather jump in stinging nettles’ than ‘waste’ another minute with Jess.
When asked by a fan: ‘[Would you] rather jump in stinging nettles or waste another minute with Jess?’ Mick who had clearly never heard of the plant, quipped: ‘Stinging nettles, whatever the f**k that is.’
He also revealed that he had bumped into the blonde bombshell since filming the show.
When a fan queried: ‘Have you and Jess spoken since not being on MAFs?’ the down-to-earth countryman replied: ‘Yeah I ran into her at the pub.’
Loved-up: Mick met new girlfriend Kayla – who starred on The Bachelor – at an event in 2019, and within five months Kayla had relocated to Mick’s Gympie farm