Married At First Sight expert John Aiken has admitted filming the new season without his longtime co-star Mel Schilling has been difficult following her death.
Speaking to Nine.com.au on the red carpet at the 66th TV Week Logie Awards on Sunday, August 16, 2026, the relationship counsellor described returning to the set of the Channel Nine dating experiment as an emotional experience.
Aiken described the red carpet occasion as "bittersweet" as production continues on the popular Australian reality television show, which pairs strangers together based on expert assessments.
"It's a little bittersweet because, you know, with Mel not being here now, it's sort of difficult at times," Aiken said. "But, you know, we are flying the Married At First Sight flag."
Schilling was a core expert on the series alongside Aiken for multiple seasons prior to her death, guiding participants through the social experiment. Fellow expert Alessandra Rampolla agreed that the atmosphere behind the scenes of the program had changed significantly without their longtime colleague.
"Yes, it's very different this year, but we are really enjoying the process of creating something new also," Rampolla said.
Challenges in the Early Experiment
Aiken and Rampolla are currently filming the 2027 season of the ratings juggernaut, which will introduce a fresh group of hopeful brides and grooms to the controversial social experiment.
While production is still in its early stages, Aiken revealed that participants were already being forced to confront habits that had previously held them back from finding lasting love.
"It's early on in the experiment, so with that being the case, they're really being tested in terms of whether they're able to open up and let someone in, or whether they're just going to keep to their old patterns and basically rule people out," Aiken explained. "That's always fascinating, to see who dives in."
Rampolla said the experts were still waiting to discover the contestants' true personalities, which traditionally begin to emerge as the pressure of the experiment intensifies.
"It's always, I think, a really interesting part of the experiment early on because they still haven't quite revealed themselves to us," Rampolla said. "That tends to happen as we go along. We're right at the part where it gets really exciting because we just don't know who's going to make it and who won't."
Meanwhile, rival broadcaster Channel Seven honoured the beloved expert with a moving tribute during the ceremony's emotional In Memoriam segment at the Logies.
New Expert Panel and Format Shift
It comes after the Daily Mail revealed producers were preparing to introduce a new relationship expert alongside returning panellists Aiken and Rampolla following Schilling's death.
Relationship coach Brigitte Zonta, better known publicly as Dr Lurve, is understood to be joining the panel, although Channel Nine has yet to formally announce her appointment.
The change marks a significant new chapter for the program, with Schilling having been a central figure in the Australian series alongside Aiken.
The 2027 season is also expected to steer the experiment back towards its original focus on relationships following heightened scrutiny of reality-dating formats and controversies surrounding recent seasons.
Producers are understood to have prioritised contestants with genuine relationship motivations over aspiring influencers with large social-media followings. However, insiders have warned viewers should not expect the famously volatile experiment to become any less dramatic.
Diverse Cast and Vetting Process
The new cast includes business owners, athletes, beauty professionals, a government employee, a gothic fantasy writer and several former reality stars.
It will also feature the show's first female same-sex couple since 2020, as well as a former Bachelorette contestant returning to television more than a decade after his first televised search for love.
Sources previously told the Daily Mail that participants underwent extensive background investigations, social-media audits, reference checks and psychological assessments before being approved for the experiment.
Married At First Sight will return to Channel Nine in 2027.
Complete List of Logie Awards Winners
The 66th TV Week Logie Awards celebrated the best of Australian television. Below is the complete list of winners and nominees from the ceremony:
TV WEEK Gold Logie Award for Most Popular Personality on Australian Television
- WINNER: Sam Pang (Comedian and presenter)
- Nominees: Ally Langdon (Host and journalist), Julia Morris (Presenter and comedian), Lisa Millar (Journalist and presenter), Poh Ling Yeow (Judge and co-host), Robert Irwin (Presenter), Todd Woodbridge (Host and presenter)
Best Miniseries or Telemovie
- WINNER: Goolagong (ABC)
- Nominees: Homebodies (SBS), Mix Tape (Binge/Foxtel), The Family Next Door (ABC), The Narrow Road to the Deep North (Prime Video), The Survivors (Netflix)
Graham Kennedy Award for Most Popular New Talent
- WINNER: Lila McGuire, Goolagong (ABC)
- Nominees: Andrea Lam, The Piano (ABC); Eloise Hart, Goolagong and Mystery Road: Origin (ABC); Rowan Witt, Ghosts Australia (Paramount+); Stuart Broad, The Ashes 2025-26 (Seven Network); Tamala, Ghosts Australia (Paramount+)
Ray Martin Award for Most Popular News or Public Affairs Presenter
- WINNER: Ally Langdon, A Current Affair, The Great Debate and Election 2025: Australia Decides (9Network)
- Nominees: David Speers, Australia Votes 2025: Election Night Live and Insiders (ABC); Karl Stefanovic, Today (9Network); Michael Usher, 7NEWS and 7NEWS Spotlight (Seven Network); Sarah Abo, Today (9Network); Sarah Ferguson, 7.30 and Australia Votes 2025: Election Night Live (ABC)
Bert Newton Award for Most Popular Presenter
- WINNER: Robert Irwin, I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! (Network 10)
- Nominees: Amanda Keller, The Piano (ABC); Hamish Blake, LEGO Masters Australia: Grand Masters of the Galaxy (9Network); Julia Morris, I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! (Network 10); Larry Emdur, The Chase Australia (Seven Network); Lisa Millar, Muster Dogs, Muster Dogs: Where Are They Now and Back Roads (ABC)
Best Factual or Documentary Program
- WINNER: The Assembly (ABC)
- Nominees: But Also John Clarke (ABC), Revealed: Death Cap Murders (Stan), Revealed: Joh - Last King of Queensland (Stan), The People vs Robodebt (SBS), The Secret DNA Of Us (SBS)
Best Competition Reality Program
- WINNER: MasterChef Australia (Network 10)
- Nominees: Big Brother (Network 10), I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! (Network 10), LEGO Masters Australia: Grand Masters of the Galaxy (9Network), Love Island (9Network), The Block (9Network)
Best Drama Program
- WINNER: RFDS (Seven Network)
- Nominees: Dear Life (Stan), Heartbreak High (Netflix), Mystery Road: Origin (ABC), The Twelve: Cape Rock Killer (Binge/Foxtel), Watching You (Stan)
Best Scripted Comedy Program
- WINNER: Dog Park (ABC)
- Nominees: Austin (ABC), Deadloch (Prime Video), Strife (Binge/Foxtel), The Artful Dodger (Disney+), Top End Bub (Prime Video)
Best Entertainment Program
- WINNER: Tipping Point Australia (9Network)
- Nominees: Australian Idol (Seven Network), Dancing With The Stars (Seven Network), The 1% Club Australia (Seven Network), The Floor (9Network), The Piano (ABC)
Bruce McAvaney Award for Most Popular Sports Presenter
- WINNER: Jelena Dokic, 2026 Australian Open, 2025 Melbourne Cup, Wimbledon 2025, Roland Garros 2025, US Open 2025 and Cross Court 2025 (9Network)
- Nominees: Bruce McAvaney, World Athletics Championships Tokyo 2025 (SBS); Danika Mason, Today, NRL and Freddy and the Eighth (9Network); Eddie McGuire, Footy Classified Tuesday and 2025 Melbourne Cup Carnival (9Network); James Bracey, 9News, Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games, NRL, 2026 Australian Open, 2025 Melbourne Cup, 100% Footy and 2025 Australian Swimming Trials (9Network); Ricky Ponting, The Ashes 2025-26 (Seven Network)
TV WEEK SILVER LOGIE - Best Lead Actor in a Drama
- WINNER: Sam Neill, The Twelve: Cape Rock Killer (Binge/Foxtel)
- Nominees: Hunter Page-Lochard, Reckless (SBS/NITV); Jacob Elordi, The Narrow Road to the Deep North (Prime Video); Mark Coles Smith, Mystery Road: Origin (ABC); Rob Collins, RFDS (Seven Network); Stephen Peacocke, RFDS (Seven Network)
TV WEEK SILVER LOGIE - Best Lead Actress in a Drama
- WINNER: Brooke Satchwell, Dear Life (Stan)
- Nominees: Aisha Dee, Watching You (Stan); Lila McGuire, Goolagong (ABC); Odessa Young, The Narrow Road to the Deep North (Prime Video); Tuuli Narkle, Mystery Road: Origin (ABC); Yerin Ha, The Survivors (Netflix)
TV WEEK SILVER LOGIE - Best Supporting Actor in a Drama
- WINNER: Simon Baker, The Narrow Road to the Deep North (Prime Video)
- Nominees: Clarence Ryan, Mystery Road: Origin (ABC); Damien Garvey, The Survivors (Netflix); Dan Henshall, The Family Next Door (ABC); Thomas Weatherall, Heartbreak High (Netflix); Thomas Weatherall, The Narrow Road to the Deep North (Prime Video)
TV WEEK SILVER LOGIE - Best Supporting Actress in a Drama
- WINNER: Claudia Karvan, Homebodies (SBS)
- Nominees: Catherine McClements, The Survivors (Netflix); Eleanor Matsuura, Dear Life (Stan); Heather Mitchell, The Narrow Road to the Deep North (Prime Video); Philippa Northeast, The Family Next Door (ABC); Robyn Malcolm, The Survivors (Netflix)
TV WEEK SILVER LOGIE - Best Actor in a Comedy
- WINNER: Steve Bisley, Deadloch (Prime Video)
- Nominees: Ben Miller, Austin (ABC); George Zhao, Ghosts Australia (Paramount+); Leon Ford, Dog Park (ABC); Matt Day, Strife (Binge/Foxtel); Michael Theo, Austin (ABC)
TV WEEK SILVER LOGIE - Best Actress in a Comedy
- WINNER: Celia Pacquola, Dog Park (ABC)
- Nominees: Asher Keddie, Strife (Binge/Foxtel); Denise Scott, Mother and Son (ABC); Kate Box, Deadloch (Prime Video); Madeleine Sami, Deadloch (Prime Video); Michelle Brasier, Ghosts Australia (Paramount+)
Best Current Affairs Program
- WINNER: Australian Story (ABC)
- Nominees: 60 Minutes (9Network), 7.30 (ABC), A Current Affair (9Network), Four Corners (ABC), Today (9Network)
Best Comedy Entertainment Program
- WINNER: Have You Been Paying Attention? (Network 10)
- Nominees: Gruen Nation (ABC), Guy Montgomery's Guy Mont Spelling Bee (ABC), Hard Quiz (ABC), The Cheap Seats (Network 10), The Front Bar (Seven Network)
Best Structured Reality Program
- WINNER: Muster Dogs (ABC)
- Nominees: Farmer Wants A Wife (Seven Network), Gogglebox Australia (Network 10), Married at First Sight (9Network), The Golden Bachelor (9Network), The Hospital: In The Deep End (SBS)
Best Lifestyle Program
- WINNER: Travel Guides (9Network)
- Nominees: Getaway (9Network), Grand Designs Australia (ABC), Love It Or List It Australia (Binge/Foxtel), Selling Houses Australia (Binge/Foxtel), The Dog House Australia (Network 10)
Best News Coverage or Public Affairs Report
- WINNER: Bondi Terror Attack, 7NEWS and Sunrise (Seven Network)
- Nominees: Fighting Back, A Current Affair (9Network); Hammered: Inside the Bunnings Machine, Four Corners (ABC); Iran War, 7NEWS (Seven Network); Out of Order, 60 Minutes (9Network); Virginia's Final Wish, 60 Minutes (9Network)
Best Sports Coverage
- WINNER: Australian Open 2026 (9Network)
- Nominees: 2025 Melbourne Cup Carnival (9Network), 2025 Men's & Women's State of Origin Series (9Network), AFL Grand Final 2025 (Seven Network), Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games (9Network), The Ashes 2025-26 (Seven Network)
Best Children's Program
- WINNER: Play School (ABC)
- Nominees: Do Not Watch This Show (ABC), Dreaming Big (NITV), Ginger and the Vegesaurs (ABC), Hard Quiz Kids (ABC), Knee High Spies (ABC)
