October 21, 2023
Married at First Sight viewers will be in for a surprise as Shona Manderson, one of the participants from the current season, confirmed her return for the show’s reunion episode after her premature departure. Shona, who left the reality show with her husband Brad Skelly due to concerns about their relationship’s health, revealed the unexpected news on the MAFS Hysteria podcast.
In the podcast episode, Shona disclosed that despite exiting the show in April, her appearance in the reunion episode had already been filmed. She shared, “We got sent home at the end of April, we were together for about five or six weeks, then I went to Sri Lanka at the beginning of June and then went back to the reunion obviously.” However, Shona seemed unsure if she was allowed to share this information, adding, “I don’t know if I’m allowed to say that…”
During her time away from the show, Shona took a solo holiday to Sri Lanka, using the opportunity for introspection and healing. She reflected on the experience, saying, “I just really spent time thinking: ‘Ok, that was really painful and hard, but what have you learned? What are you going to take forward in life and what are you never ever going to stand for again’?”
Shona’s departure from the show, alongside Brad Skelly, came after viewers raised concerns about Brad’s controlling and coercive behavior. The pair, who had not participated in the previous commitment ceremonies, left the show on October 12. Channel 4, the network behind Married at First Sight UK, issued a statement regarding their exit, emphasizing their commitment to the well-being of all participants. “The couple’s exit plays out in the show.
It was agreed alongside experts Paul, Mel, and Charlene that the intensive Married at First Sight environment was not working for the couple and it was the right time to leave the experiment. The welfare of all contributors on Married at First Sight UK is our top priority, and we ensure that appropriate support is available to contributors at all times during filming, including 24/7 access to a member of the welfare team or psych support.”
Fans of the show are now eagerly anticipating the reunion episode, where Shona Manderson’s fate will be revealed, providing a unique twist to this season’s narrative. Stay tuned for more updates as Married at First Sight UK continues to captivate audiences around the country.
