Married at First Sight: Is the wedding legally binding?

Though the weddings of the American version of Married at First Sight have been known to have legal value, can the same thing be said about our very own home-grown version?

American vs UK and Australian versions

Well, as it turns out, the UK and Australians versions of the show differ quite a bit. Much to what is sure to be a surprise to many fans out there, weddings on the UK and Australian versions of the matchmaking TV show are not actually legally binding.

A spokesperson for the show has explained that though the ceremony is real, including guests, bridal gowns, dances, speeches, catering and such, the marriage itself has no legal value. Contrary to the marriage licence that is signed after filming the ceremony on the American version, Brits who appear on the show don't have to commit to any legally binding contract.

As a result, should a couple decide to part ways, a formal divorce or annulment is not required since the televised wedding has no actual legal weight.

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What to expect from the upcoming series?

Mel Schilling, Paul C. Brunson and Charlene Douglas will all be returning as relationship experts to give the newly-weds some much-needed tips and advice. As of now, a premier date has not been given but Channel 4 bosses promise the newest series to be the best one yet. In a statement, they said:

Following a record-breaking run last Autumn, Married at First Sight UK will be heading back down the aisle for a brand new and bigger series, launching in 2022. With a longer run (30 episodes), the forthcoming series promises to be bigger and more dramatic than ever before!

According to Hello! Magazine, filming for the show has begun but the production have faced some serious set backs as many contestants pulled out after getting 'cold feet.' Channel Four then replied to the controversy saying:

We take the matching process on Married at First Sight UK extremely seriously to ensure we make the right matches for all potential contributors.

For this forthcoming series, we had a record number of applications and the series is now fully cast with some amazing couples-to-be and we can’t wait for you to meet them.