Married At First Sight UKis back on our screens, and it’s already promising to be the best series yet. Fiery brides and dramatic grooms… What more could you want?
But for the eight brides and eight grooms walking down the aisle in hopes of finding their forever person, they’re obvs not going at it alone. In fact, they’ve got the MAFS experts there to guide them through their (often rocky) early days of marriage.
Here’s everything you need to know about Mel Schilling, Paul C Brunson and Charlene Douglas – our MAFS UK experts.
Who is Married At First Sight UK expert Mel Schilling?
Hailing from the land down under, Mel is the queen of the MAFS universe. An Australian dating and relationship expert who is passionate about 'educating, motivating, and inspiring people to be their best,"'Mel’s always an understanding shoulder to cry on for our brides and grooms. (For those superfans of the MAFS universe, you may just recognise her from the Aussie version too...)
The 51-year-old has had her own journey with love. She met her partner Gareth several years ago on the dating website eHarmony, going on to conceive their daughter Maddie, five, via IVF.
Over the past year, Mel has been open about her colon cancer diagnosis – taking fans along as she raised awareness. She was first diagnosed back in December 2023, after being left doubled over in pain while filming some scenes for MAFS Australia. She later had surgery to have a tumour removed, before undergoing six months of chemotherapy.
Opening up about her ordeal with cancer, Mel shared, 'I was going through chemo the whole time we were filming the UK series. The team was just crowing around me to give me as much flexibility and support as they possibly could. They really cared for me. It wasn’t easy, but it was so wonderful to be able to work because it enabled me to still feel like me.'
Speaking exclusively to heatworld, Mel has also spilled the tea on her MAFS outfits and the make-up product she loves for filming.
Who is Married At First Sight UK expert Paul Carrick Brunson?
Paul Carrick Brunson, otherwise known as Paul C. Brunson, is best known for his role as a 'love doctor'. He helps our MAFS hopefuls find love, as well as our fave famous faces over on Celebs Go Dating.
He has a degree in business and began his career as an analyst at an investment bank, before starting his matchmaking firm PCB Agency in 2009. The smooth-talking 49-year-old is originally from the US, and describes himself as an entrepreneur, TV presenter, and 'the world’s most influential matchmaker'. Give us a hand then, Paul?
Unsurprisingly, Paul is happily loved up himself. He married his wife Jill back in 2000 after meeting at Old Dominion University in Virgina, USA, and they now share two sons together, Liam and Kingston.
Who is Married At First Sight UK expert Charlene Douglas?
Let’s talk about sex, baby! Charlene Douglas is the newest expert to be welcomed into the MAFS UK family, having joined the show back in 2021. The resident Sex and Relationship Therapist, Charlene works with the new couples as they navigate their way through the more intimate moments of romance.
Based in London, Charlene has said she’s ‘not afraid to ask the tough questions.’ That might be why she’s successfully worked with so mnay couples across her career.
Think you’ve seen Charlene before? You’d be right! She’s also appeared as a sex therapist on E4’s The Sex Clinic, as well as other TV appearances.
Unlike Mel and Paul, she keeps her private life pretty, well, private. It’s not known whether she has a partner or any children.
WATCH: 'They're bonking like rabbits!' We go BTS on MAFS UK!
Charlotte Roberts is a News and Entertainment writer across Closer, heat, Grazia, Bella, and Yours. When she's not watching US reality TV or reading juicy celeb memoirs, you can find her listening to Taylor Swift.