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Jack Dunkley’s ex-girlfriend fires back at him and drops receipts after the MAFS Commitment Ceremony

Jack Dunkley’s ex Courtney Jade has shared more receipts of their time together, and taken aim at his onscreen wife Tori Adams, following the MAFS Commitment Ceremony episode.

In posts shared by MAFS Uncensored, Courtney took to her Instagram account straight after the show saying she was going to put her “armour on and fight a battle”.

If you haven’t been keeping up with the Jack drama on MAFS, here’s a little refresher. In August, Courtney saw leaked photos of Jack at his MAFS wedding and told The Wash that the groom had dumped her the previous month, saying that he was going to America for work.

Some of the other Married At First Sight participants saw the article online at the time and brought the issue up at the first dinner party. Jack admitted that he was seeing Courtney before the show, but made the relationship sound very casual, and basically passed it off as a friends-with-benefits type arrangement. You can find more details here.

Instagram. The Wash.

Fast forward to now, and Courtney is furious about how Jack allegedly downplays their past relationship and is firing back at him on Instagram.

What did Courtney say after the Commitment Ceremony?

Courtney shared four Instagram stories on Sunday night, following a segment with the experts where Jack talked about his relationship with her again.

Despite having never met Tori, Courtney took aim at her in one of the posts. At the Commitment Ceremony, it was revealed that Tori and Jack haven’t slept together yet, and he’s repeatedly revealed to the cameras that he’s not sexually attracted to his bride.

Courtney shared a photo of herself sitting on a bed with Jack’s arms wrapped around her and included a poll which read: “Does he look at Tori this way?”.

Instagram. MAFSUncensored.

In a second slide, Courtney said she has “every right to defend her character”.

Jack Dunley's ex girlfriend shared this post
Instagram. MAFSUncensored.

In a third, she shared a photo of her and Jack’s Converse shoelaces tied together and bizarrely called out last year’s contestant Harrison Boon.

Jack Dunley's ex girlfriend shared this post
Instagram. MAFSUncensored.

In a fourth story, Courtney threatened to continue calling out Jack and airing his dirty laundry online.

Jack Dunley's ex girlfriend shared this post
Instagram. MAFSUncensored.

Well, there you have it. Stay tuned, folks!

Watch Married at First Sight Sundays at 7.00pm and Monday – Thursday at 7.30pm on Nine and 9Now.

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Get ready to be enthralled by High Country — Binge’s edge-of-your-seat mystery thriller

There’s a new mystery-thriller afoot as Aussie streaming service Binge prepares to release the Original series, High Country.

Starring award-winning actress Leah Purcell (Wentworth), the eight-part series will premiere with a double episode on Tuesday, March 19 2024, with new episodes dropping weekly.

Here’s everything we know!

Aaron Pedersen and Leah Purcell, High Country. Binge

What is High Country about?

High Country revolves around detective Andrea (Andie) Whitford (Purcell), who is transferred to the Victorian High Country and thrust into a baffling mystery of five missing persons who have vanished into the wilderness.

Through an edge-of-the-seat, high-stakes investigation, Andie uncovers a complex web involving murder, deceit, and revenge.

Who is in the cast?

Joining Purcell are internationally acclaimed actor Ian McElhinney (Game of Thrones) plus actors Sara Wiseman (A Place to Call Home) and Aaron Pedersen (Mystery Road).

Ian McElhinney, High Country. Binge
Ian McElhinney, High Country. Binge

Is there a trailer?

You bet! On February 12, Binge released a suspenseful long-form trailer that offered us a look into the remote and rarely-seen on-screen landscape. As the team behind the release said, it gives us a glimpse at “the people and their secrets who vanish without a trace along with the complex, intriguing characters that inhabit the high country, where the lost will be found.”

Who is the team behind High Country?

High Country is produced by Curio Pictures in association with Rage Media and was created by Marcia Gardner and John Ridley. Both also Executive Produce alongside Jo Porter and Rachel Gardner (Curio Pictures) and Lana Greenhalgh and Penny Win (Foxtel Group) with Producers Pino Amenta and Sue Edwards.

The late Brian Walsh commissioned the project.

Stream High Country from March 19 only on Binge.

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How to watch Taylor Swift, uh, the Chiefs vs 49ers at the Super Bowl 2024 in Australia

You’re probably going to want to add some frankfurts and mac and cheese to your next grocery list because it’s almost time for America’s biggest sporting event of the year, the Super Bowl.

While watching the event is a quintessential American pastime, it’s so big that it’s got its own following here in Australia. Fortunately, it will be available live and free here in Aus.

While most years, the biggest musical acts perform centre stage, there’s hype that one of the biggest celebrities will be sitting in the audience in 2024. Pop princess Taylor Swift has famously been dating the Kansas City Chiefs player tight end Travis Kelce, and she’s attended multiple games this season.

Will Taylor be at the Super bowl 2024?
Taylor and Travis. Instagram.

How to watch the Super Bowl LVIII

The 2024 Super Bowl will air live and free on Channel 7, 7mate and 7plus from 10.00am AEDT on Monday, 12 February.

It will also be broadcast on KAYO and Foxtel on its ESPN channel. 

Who’s performing?

Last year’s show-stopping half-time performance saw Rihanna announce her second pregnancy by revealing her belly during the show. With stakes that high, the bar has been set for the 2024 halftime performance.

This year, early noughties superstar Usher will be taking the stage. But he won’t be alone, he’ll be joined by Post Malone, Tiesto, Reba McIntire and Andra Day.

See below for when the Half-Time show starts.

  • 12pm AEDT: ACT, New South Wales, Tasmania, Victoria 
  • 11:30am ADCT: South Australia
  • 11am AEST: Queensland
  • 11:30am ACST: Northern Territory
  • 9am AWST: Western Australia

Who is playing?

The Kansas City Chiefs will be taking on the San Francisco 49ers. Australian betting site Sportsbet has the Californian team pegged to win, with a return of $1.77 versus The Kansas City Chiefs odds of $2.10.

The Chiefs. Instagram.

Will Taylor Swift be there?

Of course, the question on every Swiftie’s mind is whether Taylor Swift will be there to cheer on her boyfriend Travis Kelce.

Taylor is currently in the middle of her worldwide Eras tour, so the schedule is tight – but not impossible.

She’s performing at Tokyo Dome on Saturday, February 10th, and the Super Bowl is on Sunday, February 11th.

The concert starts at 6pm (local Tokyo time) and her shows usually run for about three hours, which means she’ll wrap up at about 9pm local time, which is 4am, February 10th in Las Vegas.

The kick-off for the Super Bowl is 3:30pm local time on February 11th, giving Taylor almost a 36-hour gap between finishing her Tokyo show, and the beginning of the sporting event.

The flight time is around 12 hours without a stopover, and considering that Taylor has her own private jet, she can easily make it.

However, her next show is on February 16th in Melbourne. Victoria is 19 hours ahead of Las Vegas, and the travel time is around 17 hours.

Taylor Swift. Instagram.

It’s all very confusing but that means that if Taylor flew to Melbourne straight after the Super Bowl, she’d arrive in Melbourne at 7:30pm on Monday, February 12th.

TL;DR Yes, Taylor has enough time to get to the Super Bowl between her tour dates, especially if she uses her private jet.

Catch the Super Bowl LVIII on Channel 7, 7mate and 7plus from 10.00am AEDT on Monday, 12 February.

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Collins deserves a Razzie, and all the other bombshells from the MAFS Commitment Ceremony

MAFS 2024 has already been packed full of drama and the very first Commitment Ceremony of the season certainly kept up the trend.

There were fights with the experts, tear-inducing moments and confessions of intimacy (as the experts John Aiken, Alessandra Rampolla and Mel Schilling like to call it).

So, let’s dive straight into the biggest bombshells of the night, shall we?

MAFS. Nine.

Cassandra and Tristan

In a heartbreaking moment, Tristan told Alessandra, John and Mel: “I hate myself”.

“I’m aware of it that I don’t like myself, and I don’t know how to change it,” he explained.

Tristan said he doesn’t like the way he looks, the way he sounds and or “lack of achievement”.

Alessandra asked him to tell her the things he loves about himself, and he couldn’t answer, but Cassandra said she likes that he’s thoughtful, patient, kinda, generous, absolutely hilarious and has a beautiful energy. Aww!

MAFS. Nine.

Cassandra wrote: Stay

Timothy wrote: Stay

Verdict: They’re staying.

Lucinda and Timothy

The biggest bombshell between Lucinda and Timothy didn’t come during their time on the couch, instead, it came when Jack and Tori were talking to the experts.

After Tori admitted that she and Jack hadn’t slept together yet, her partner said it was a “slow burn” however, Timothy called that “bulls**t”.

Richard then jumped in and said that at the Buck’s Night Jack said he wouldn’t sleep with his bride on the first night, while Timothy said he would. Of course, Timothy and Lucinda haven’t been intimate yet, and the revelation had her looking like this:

MAFS. Nine.

Lucinda wrote: Stay.

Timothy wrote: Stay.

Verdict: They’re staying.

Jack and Tori

As Lauren eloquently put it, “here we go”. Naturally, Jack was asked about his ex-girlfriend who went to the press and said he lied about going overseas and dumped her to go on MAFS.

John asked Jack how long ago he broke up with her, to which he responded “Seven to eight weeks”, before adding: “Or eight or nine”.

Daddy John made Jack confess that he was doing assessments with the experts while he was seeing his ex. The look on his face was truly satisfying. If looks could kill…

MAFS. Nine.

Tori wrote: Stay.

Jack wrote: Stay.

Verdict: They’re staying.

Sara and Tim

Sara and Tim were given a Confessions Week challenge to go through each other’s phones earlier in the week, and Sara flat-out refused.

When Sara was asked about it by Alessandra at the Commitment Ceremony, she launched into defensive mode and Tim admitted that Sara intimidates him.

MAFS. Nine.

Sara wrote: Stay.

Tim wrote: Stay.

Verdict: They’re staying.

Ellie and Ben

Ellie and Ben’s time on the couch was a bit of a snoozefest, and of course, she didn’t mention anything about the THING everyone wants to know (warning: spoiler alert!).

MAFS. Nine.

Ellie wrote: Stay.

Ben wrote: Stay.

Verdict: They’re staying.

Lauren and Jonathan

In her typical style, chatterbox Lauren confirmed that she and Jonathan have had sex “the second the doors closed and the producers left”. Alessandra was overjoyed! Yay!

MAFS. Nine.

Lauren wrote: Stay.

Jonathan wrote: Stay.

Verdict: They’re staying.

Eden and Jayden

Eden and Jayden sat down with the experts to talk about Jayden’s absolutely wild confession about sleeping with his cheating ex’s best friend in a revenge act. While his girlfriend watched.

It was awkies to say the least, although Timothy managed to have a good chuckle about it.

Jayden and Eden  at the MAFS Commitment Ceremony
MAFS. Nine.

Eden wrote: Stay.

Jayden wrote: Stay.

Verdict: They’re staying.

Natalie and Collins

MAFS producers really saved the best (?) for second last with Natalie and Collins‘ couch sesh. Collins got into a heated argument with John and demanded that the relationship give him some advice.

After Natalie wrote leave, Collins launched into a Razzie Award-worthy performance of being devastated. Fortunately, for those who love drama, Collins decided to write stay and we’ll be seeing more of Collins and Natalie this week!

Collins at the MAFS Commitment Ceremony
MAFS. Nine.

Natalie wrote: Leave.

Collins wrote: Stay.

Verdict: They’re staying.

Richard and Andrea

Richard and Andrea also confirmed that they’ve been intimate “two to four days a day, every day”. Which is v cute… or gross, depending on how you view people over 60 having sex.

Andrea and Richard at the MAFS Commitment Ceremony
MAFS. Nine.

Richard wrote: Stay.

Andrea wrote: Stay.

Verdict: They’re staying.

Watch Married at First Sight Sundays at 7.00pm and Monday – Wednesday at 7.30pm on Nine and9Now.

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MAFS’ Bronte reveals why her mum told her to join Only Fans and shares the huge amount she’s made

MAFS 2023 bride Bronte Schofield has revealed that it was actually her mum who suggested that she join the adult content-sharing platform OnlyFans.

The reality star joined the site back in June 2023, just a few months after her season of Married At First Sight Australia finished airing.

Bronte Schofield. OnlyFans.

While it’s the career direction that a number of former MAFS stars have taken, like Domenica Calarco, Olivia Frazer and Hayley Vernon, Bronte said it was her mother’s idea to join OnlyFans.

“My parents were the ones who told me to do it!” she told Yahoo Lifestyle Australia. “They’re like, with the housing crisis and everything that’s going on at the moment, the way to get ahead is to be doing something like this… so many reality stars do it, so many celebrities do it and they make really good money and set themselves up.

“My mum was like ‘Bronte, you’re not gonna have this body and you’re not gonna look like this forever’. So she goes, ‘If I was your age and I needed to make some money in a year I’d do it.'”

Bronte Schofield. Instagram.

How much has Bronte made on OnlyFans?

Like many other MAFS stars turn OnlyFans creators, Bronte has earned bank on the platform.

“The money is freaking great,” she said. “My first month, my account did $250,000, it was insanity and I was hardly even posting on there.”

Bronte explained that she doesn’t necessarily need to post nude photos to get subscribers.

“It’s the freedom I’ve always wanted and it’s not what everyone thinks it is. I get photos of people wanting to see my belly button or my feet. You don’t have to sell yourself completely to make money,” she said.

“If you can accept and get through the backlash of being on OnlyFans you can get through anything. It’s $700 for my belly button, I’m like, that’s rent paid!”

Bronte Schofield. Instagram.

The former MAFS bride said that she used a lot of her OF funds to start her new bikini label, Lolë Swim.

“It’s never been something that I wanted to do full-time. It’s funded my new business, so now that I’ve got my swimwear label with my best friend Lauren, that’s something that’s been a dream of mine for pretty much most of my twenties.

“If you can accept and get through the backlash of being on OnlyFans you can get through anything. It’s $700 for my belly button, I’m like, that’s rent paid!”

Catch Married at First Sight Sundays at 7.00pm and Monday – Thursday 7.30pm on Nine and 9Now.

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“Railroaded, set up and backstabbed”: A popular MAFS 2023 contestant defends his mate Collins

Collins Christian has shocked viewers on MAFS 2024 with his treatment of Natalie, as well as his bizarre reactions to, well, everything.

While he’s certainly not a fan favourite, he does have one popular MAFS alum on his side. Jesse Burford, who starred in season 9 of the show, took to social media to defend the executive assistant.

Yahoo Lifestyle Australia reported that Jesse commented on an Instagram post announcing the new group of participants in January, and said that he was mates with Collins.

Jesse made it clear that the new groom and his partner didn’t make it to the end… which is hardly surprising.

He revealed that Collins allegedly told him he was  “railroaded, set up and backstabbed” and was “horrified and saddened with his time on the show” 

Jesse added that he hopes his friend’s edit “isn’t too rough”, and described him as “one of the nicest, kindest, friendliest blokes I’ve met”.

Nine. MAFS.

Another couple has threatened to “ruin the whole show” 

And, the pre-show drama didn’t end there, either. Apparently, another MAFS 2024 couple are so enamoured with one another that they’re struggling to keep their new relationship under wraps.

The same publication reported that the couple hard launched their relationship on the Gold Coast last month. The move apparently caused Nine to roll out new measures in an attempt to silence the couple.

“They must know they are breaking their signed agreement with the Nine Network,” a source said. “No one’s more happy for contestants to actually find love but they are going to need to be more secretive for now and keep their time on the show hidden from the public.

“These 2024 contestants have all completed filming for the eleventh series and while some may have walked away with a loving relationship, others have been left to lick their wounds. Either way, they have signed contracts forbidding them from ruining storylines.”

Eden from MAFS
MAFS. Nine.

Married at First Sight 2024 premieres at 7:30pm on January 29th on Channel Nine and 9Now.

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“I’m not a victim”: MAFS’ Tori slams her edit and reveals what really happened at the Dinner Party

MAFS bride Tori Adams has slammed her edit on the show, saying she’s “not a victim” and revealed that footage was removed from the Dinner Party to make her look a certain way.

Tori married Jack Dunley, however, just a few episodes into the season, a website ran a story about his ex-girlfriend, who he allegedly left to go on the show.

The article claimed that Jack broke up with his ex Courtney Jade and told her that he was going on a work trip, only to appear on MAFS 2024 as a groom.

Jack’s past relationship was the main topic of conversation at the first Dinner Party, and Tori stood by her partner, saying she wasn’t bothered by the revelation.

Tori has since come out saying that she isn’t pleased about how she’s been presented on MAFS, and stressed that she stood up for herself and the relationship at the group gathering.

“I addressed the table that night and I was very clear on my stance regarding that article and they just cut all of it out and made me look like I was a damsel in distress,” she told Yahoo Lifestyle Australia.

“It was really disappointing to kind of figure out the angle that they’re going with is just not an accurate depiction whatsoever,” she added.

MAFS. Nine.

The business development manager told the publication that she thinks her edit makes it look as though she doesn’t have a “voice”.

“I feel like I come across quite silenced and quite uncomfortable and quite submissive in a way of not being able to speak up, and that’s not me at all,” she said. “I am not afraid to speak up, I am quite outspoken and happy to share any thoughts.

“I’m not a victim. I’m not this helpless, poor sod that needs the nation to stand behind me. I’m great, I’m fine. We’re just getting done real dirty with how they’re showing it on TV, and it’s really disappointing. But it is what it is, you know, it’s TV and I signed up to it.”

What happened with Jack and his ex?

Jack’s ex Courtney Jade spoke to The Wash when the reality TV show was filming, and said made the claim that he abruptly broke up with her and told her he was going on a work trip.

“I was dating him this year and he broke up with me a week after I flew to Melbourne, met all his family and he said he loves me. He told me he was moving to America for “work opportunities”. I only found out yesterday from a friend he is in fact in Sydney on Married At First Sight,” she told the publication.

Jack has since fired back, telling Daily Mail Australia that he expected Courtney Jade to reach out to the press in regards to their former relationship.

jack tori mafs 2024
MAFS. Nine.

“It wasn’t a surprise. I had a feeling that my ex was going to go rogue at some point and probably sell something to the media,” he said.

He told the publication that the news didn’t affect his relationship with his on-screen wife Tori.

“Tori was all over it,” he said. “I think I discussed it with her day two or day three of meeting her and caught her up to speed with my latest relationship and where it was and how I couldn’t get away from the communications even though I wasn’t responding.”

Watch Married at First Sight Sundays at 7.00pm and Monday – Thursday at 7.30pm on Nine and 9Now.

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2024 AACTA Awards: Check out the full list of nominations

AACTA has unveiled the much-anticipated nominees for the prestigious 2024 AACTA Awards, presented by Foxtel Group.

This ceremony serves as a celebration, acknowledging exceptional Australian Film, TV, Documentary, and Online productions.

Held on the Gold Coast on February 10, the awards will recognise excellence within the industry with powerhouse productions like The Newsreader, The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart, Colin from Accounts, and Deadloch amassing an impressive array of nods. 

The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart
The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart. Prime Video

In terms of film, The New Boy, Talk to Me, and Shayda all lead the film nominations.

See below for the full list of nominations for the 2024 AACTA Awards.

AACTA Award for Best Film

  • Of An Age – Kristina Ceyton, Samantha Jennings – Causeway Films
  • Shayda – Vincent Sheehan, Noora Niasari – Origma 45
  • Sweet As – Liz Kearney – Arenamedia
  • Talk to Me – Samantha Jennings, Kristina Ceyton – Causeway Films
  • The New Boy – Kath Shelper, Andrew Upton, Cate Blanchett, Lorenzo de Maio – Dirty Films & Scarlett Pictures
  • The Royal Hotel – Liz Watts, Emile Sherman, Iain Canning, Kath Shelper – See-Saw Films

AACTA Award for Best Drama Series

  • Bay Of Fires – Marta Dusseldorp, Yvonne Collins – Archipelago Productions and Fremantle Australia (ABC)
  • Black Snow – Kaylene Butler, Lois Randall, Rosemary Blight – Goalpost Pictures (Stan)
  • Bump – Dan Edwards, John Edwards, Claudia Karvan, Kelsey Munro – Roadshow Rough Diamond (Stan)
  • Erotic Stories – Liam Heyen, Helen Bowden, Jason Stephens – Lingo Pictures (SBS)
  • Love Me – Nicole O’Donohue, Hamish Lewis, Michael Brooks – Warner Bros. International Television Production Australia (Binge)
  • The Newsreader – Joanna Werner, Michael Lucas – Werner Film Productions (ABC)

AACTA Award for Best Narrative Comedy Series

  • Colin From Accounts – Ian Collie, Rob Gibson, Patrick Brammall, Harriet Dyer – Easy Tiger (Binge, Foxtel)
  • Deadloch – Kate McCartney, Kate McLennan, Andrew Walker, Kevin Whyte – Guesswork Television, OK Great Productions and Amazon Studios (Amazon Prime Video)
  • Fisk – Vincent Sheehan, Kitty Flanagan – Origma 45 (ABC)
  • Gold Diggers – Ujuk Linda, John-Paul Sarni, Muffy Potter, Kate Butler – KOJO Studios (ABC)
  • Upright – Jason Stephens, Meg O’Connell, Tim Minchin, Helen Bowden – Lingo Pictures (Foxtel)
  • Utopia – Michael Hirsh, Deb Herman – Working Dog Productions (ABC)

AACTA Award for Best Miniseries

  • Bad Behaviour – Amanda Higgs – Matchbox Pictures (Stan)
  • In Our Blood – Nathan Mayfield, Tracey Robertson – Hoodlum Entertainment PTY LTD (ABC)
  • Safe Home – Imogen Banks, Emelyne Palmer – Kindling Pictures (SBS)
  • The Clearing – Jude Troy, Richard Finlayson, Matt Cameron, Elise McCredie, Jeffrey Walker – Wooden Horse (Disney+)
  • The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart – Jodi Matterson, Bruna Papandrea, Steve Hutensky, Barbara Gibbs, Sarah Lambert, Glendyn Ivin – Made Up Stories, Amazon Studios, Fifth Season (Amazon Prime Video)
  • While The Men Are Away – Lisa Shaunessy, Alexandra Burke, Kim Wilson, Elissa Down – Arcadia (SBS)
while the men are away
While the Men are Away. SBS

AACTA Award for Best Lead Actress in Film

  • Zar Amir Ebrahimi – Shayda
  • Shantae Barnes-Cowan – Sweet As
  • Cate Blanchett – The New Boy
  • Julia Garner – The Royal Hotel
  • Sarah Snook – Run Rabbit Run
  • Sophie Wilde – Talk to Me

AACTA Award for Best Lead Actor in Film

  • Elias Anton – Of An Age
  • Simon Baker – Limbo
  • Thom Green – Of An Age
  • Phoenix Raei – The Rooster
  • Aswan Reid – The New Boy
  • Osamah Sami – Shayda

AACTA Award for Best Lead Actress in a Drama presented by BINGE

  • Kate Box – Erotic Stories
  • Aisha Dee – Safe Home
  • Bojana Novakovic – Love Me
  • Teresa Palmer – The Clearing
  • Anna Torv – The Newsreader
  • Sigourney Weaver – The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart

AACTA Award for Best Lead Actor in a Drama presented by BINGE

  • Tim Draxl – In Our Blood
  • Travis Fimmel – Black Snow
  • Joel Lago – Erotic Stories
  • Sam Reid – The Newsreader
  • Richard Roxburgh – Bali 2002
  • Hugo Weaving – Love Me

AACTA Award for Best Acting in a Comedy

  • Celeste Barber – Wellmania
  • Kate Box – Deadloch
  • Patrick Brammall – Colin From Accounts
  • Harriet Dyer – Colin From Accounts
  • Kitty Flanagan – Fisk
  • Nina Oyama – Deadloch
  • Helen Thomson – Colin From Accounts
  • Julia Zemiro – Fisk
Colin from Accounts. Binge

AACTA Award for Best Documentary

  • Ego: The Michael Gudinski Story – Paul Goldman (Dir.), Bethany Jones, Paige McGinley – Mushroom Studios
  • Harley & Katya – Selina Miles (Dir.), Blayke Hoffman, Jo-anne McGowan, Aaliyah-Jade Bradbury – Stranger Than Fiction
  • John Farnham: Finding The Voice – Poppy Stockell (Dir.), Mikael Borglund, Paul Clarke, Martin Fabinyi, Olivia Hoopmann – Beyond Oz in association with Blink TV Production
  • The Dark Emu Story – Allan Clarke (Dir.), Darren Dale, Belinda Mravicic, Jacob Hickey – Blackfella Films
  • The Giants – Laurence Billiet (Dir.), Rachael Antony (Dir.), Helen Panckhurst – General Strike and Matchbox Pictures
  • The Last Daughter – Brenda Matthews (Dir.), Nathaniel Schmidt (Dir.), Simon Williams, Brendon Skinner – Gravity Films
  • This Is Going To Be Big – Thomas Charles Hyland (Dir.), Jim Wright, Josie Mason-Campbell – Truce Films and Fremantle Media
  • To Never Forget – Peter Hegedüs (Dir.), Jaclyn McLendon, Bobbi-Lea Dionysius – Soul Vision Films

AACTA Award for Best Indie Film

  • A Savage Christmas – Madeleine Dyer (Dir.), Ben McNeill, Daniel Mulvihill – Roaring Entertainment
  • Limbo – Ivan Sen (Dir.), David Jowsey, Greer Simpkin, Rachel Higgins – Bunya Productions
  • Monolith – Matt Vesely (Dir.), Bettina Hamilton – Black Cat White Rabbit Productions
  • Streets of Colour – Ronnie S Riskalla (Dir.), Yolandi Franken – SkyCross Entertainment
  • The Rooster – Mark Leonard Winter (Dir.), Geraldine Hakewill, MahVeen Shahraki – Don’t Crow!, Thousand Mile Productions and Clever Rabbit Productions
  • The Survival of Kindness – Rolf de Heer (Dir.), Julie Byrne – Vertigo Productions and Triptych Pictures

AACTA Award for Best Comedy Performer presented by Network Ten

  • Tom Gleeson – Hard Quiz
  • Jim Jefferies – The 1% Club
  • Luke McGregor – Taskmaster Australia
  • Rhys Nicholson – RuPaul’s Drag Race Down Under
  • Nina Oyama – Taskmaster Australia
  • Charlie Pickering – The Weekly with Charlie Pickering
  • Natalie Tran – The Great Australian Bake Off
  • Cal Wilson – The Great Australian Bake-Off

AACTA Award for Best Supporting Actress in Film

  • Alex Jensen – Talk to Me
  • Deborah Mailman – The New Boy
  • Tasma Walton – Sweet As
  • Mia Wasikowska – Blueback
  • Ursula Yovich – The Royal Hotel
  • Selina Zahednia – Shayda

AACTA Award for Best Supporting Actor in Film

  • Mojean Aria – Shayda
  • Eric Bana – Blueback
  • Wayne Blair – The New Boy
  • Rob Collins – Limbo
  • Zoe Terakes – Talk to Me
  • Hugo Weaving – The Rooster

AACTA Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama

  • Alycia Debnam-Carey – The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart
  • Marg Downey – The Newsreader
  • Michelle Lim Davidson – The Newsreader
  • Heather Mitchell – Love Me
  • Leah Purcell – The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart
  • Brooke Satchwell – Black Snow

AACTA Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama

  • Tim Draxl – Erotic Stories
  • Alexander England – Black Snow
  • William McInnes – The Newsreader
  • Bob Morley – Love Me
  • Hunter Page-Lochard – The Newsreader
  • Guy Pearce – The Clearing

AACTA Award for Best Direction in Film

  • Of An Age – Goran Stolevski
  • Shayda – Noora Niasari
  • Sweet As – Jub Clerc
  • Talk to Me – Danny Philippou, Michael Philippou
  • The New Boy – Warwick Thornton
  • The Royal Hotel – Kitty Green

AACTA Award for Best Entertainment Program

  • Dancing With The Stars – Peter Beck, Kylie Washington, Deb Spinocchia – BBC Studios Australia (Seven Network)
  • Eurovision Song Contest 2023 – Grand Final – Paul Clarke, Emily Griggs – Blink TV Production Pty Ltd (SBS)
  • Lego Masters: Grand Masters – David McDonald, AJ Johnson, Di Yang – Endemol Shine Australia (Nine Network)
  • Mastermind – Lucy De Luca, Kylie Washington, Deb Spinocchia – BBC Studios Australia (SBS)
  • The 1% Club – John Leahy, Deb Spinocchia, Kylie Washington – BBC Studios Australia (Seven Network)
  • The Amazing Race Australia: Celebrity Edition – Rikkie Proost – Eureka Productions (Network Ten)

AACTA Award for Best Direction in Drama or Comedy

  • Colin From Accounts (Episode 3) – Trent O’Donnell
  • Colin From Accounts (Episode 6) – Matt Moore
  • Deadloch (Episode 1) – Ben Chessell
  • The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart (Episode 1) – Glendyn Ivin
  • The Newsreader (Episode 4) – Emma Freeman

AACTA Award for Best Children’s Program

  • Barrumbi Kids – Monica O’Brien, Danielle Maclean, Julia Morris – Ambience Entertainment Pty Limited and Tamarind Tree Pictures Pty Ltd (NITV, SBS)
  • Beep and Mort – Kaye Weeks – Windmill Pictures (ABC)
  • Bluey – Charlie Aspinwall, Sam Moor, Daley Pearson – Ludo Studio (ABC)
  • Crazy Fun Park – Joanna Werner – Werner Film Productions (ABC)
  • The PM’s Daughter – Tim Powell, Kieran Hoyle, Warren Clarke, Yingna Lu – Fremantle (ABC)
  • Turn Up The Volume – Philippa Campey, Amanda Higgs, Rachel Davis – Matchbox Pictures and Film Camp (ABC)

AACTA Award for Best Stand-Up Special

  • Aaron Chen: If Weren’t Filmed, Nobody Would Believe – Aaron Chen, Craig Ivanoff, Joshua Duncan – Junkyard Artists (YouTube Premium)
  • Celeste Barber: Fine, thanks – Celeste Barber, Andy McIntyre, Nicole Dixon, Sarah Ben-m’rad, Steven Fisher, Trevor Engelson, Lisa Mann, Kay Lawrence– Big Yellow Taxi Productions (Netflix)
  • Hannah Gadsby: Something Special – Hannah Gadsby, Kevin Whyte, Kathleen McCarthy, Jenney Shamash, Frank Bruzzese – Guesswork Television Pty Ltd (Netflix)
  • Jim Jefferies: High & Dry – Jim Jefferies, Brian Volk-Veiss, Andrew Murray – Nugget Productions (Netflix)
  • Lizzy Hoo: Hoo Cares!? – Lizzy Hoo, Frank Bruzzese, Kathleen McCarthy, Georgina Ogilvie, Lauren Moore – Guesswork Television Pty Ltd (Amazon Prime Video)
  • Rhys Nicholson’s Big Queer Comedy Concert – Rhys Nicholson, Andy McIntyre, Nicole Dixon, Sarah Ben-m’rad, Kay Lawrence, Katherine Dale – Big Yellow Taxi Productions (Amazon Prime Video)
Rhys Nicholson. Prime Video

AACTA Award for Best Comedy Entertainment Program

  • Hard Quiz – Chris Walker, Kevin Whyte, Tom Gleeson, John Tabbagh – Thinkative Television and ABC (ABC)
  • RocKwiz – Ken Connor, Peter Bain-Hogg, Brian Nankervis, Joe Connor – Renegade Films (Foxtel)
  • Taskmaster Australia – Cam Bakker – Kevin & Co and Avalon (Network Ten)
  • Thank God You’re Here – Michael Hirsh, Deb Herman, Rob Sitch – Working Dog Productions (Network Ten)
  • The Cheap Seats – Michael Hirsh, Deb Herman, Rob Sitch – Working Dog Productions (Network Ten)
  • The Weekly with Charlie Pickering – Chris Walker, Kevin Whyte, Charlie Pickering, Julia Holmes – Thinkative Television and ABC (ABC)

AACTA Award for Best Factual Entertainment Program

  • Alone Australia – Riima Daher, Beth Hart – ITV Studios Australia (SBS)
  • Gogglebox Australia – David McDonald, Will Minchin, Danielle Vos – Endemol Shine Australia (Foxtel, Network Ten)
  • Kitchen Cabinet – Julie Hanna, Madeleine Hawcroft, Annabel Crabb, Rebecca Lamond – Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)
  • Old People’s Home for Teenagers – Tony De La Pena, Tara McWilliams, Emily Potts – Endemol Shine Australia (ABC)
  • Take 5 with Zan Rowe – Nikita Agzarian, Josh Schmidt, Zan Rowe, Phoebe Bennett – ABC (ABC)
  • Who The Bloody Hell Are We? – Tony Jackson, David Collins, Nick McInerney – Chemical Media (SBS)

AACTA Award for Best Documentary or Factual Program

  • Matildas: The World at Our Feet – Steve Bibb – Barking Mad Productions and Station 10 Media (Disney+)
  • Ningaloo Nyinggulu – Celia Tait, Tim Winton, Peter Rees, Karen Williams – Artemis Media (ABC)
  • Queerstralia – Jon Casimir, Kevin Whyte, Zoë Coombs Marr, Plum Stubbings – Guesswork Television Pty Ltd (ABC)
  • The Australian Wars – Darren Dale, Rachel Perkins, Belinda Mravicic – Blackfella Films Pty Ltd (NITV, SBS)
  • War on Waste – Craig Reucassel, David Galloway, Leonie Lowe – Lune Media (ABC)
  • Who Do You Think You Are – Maxine Gray – Warner Bros. International Television Production Australia (ABC)

AACTA Award for Best Lifestyle Program

  • Adam and Poh’s Great Australian Bites – Adam Liaw – i8 Studio (SBS)
  • Gardening Australia – Gill Lomas, Rachel Coffey – ABCTV (ABC)
  • Grand Designs Australia – Brooke Bayvel, Michael Collett – Fremantle (Foxtel)
  • Love it or List It Australia – Karen Warner, Geoff Fitzpatrick, Caroline Audcent, Howard Myers – Beyond Productions, a Banijay Company (Binge, Foxtel)
  • Selling Houses Australia – Nicole Rogers, Monique Bushby, Kam Vurlow – Warner Bros. International Television Production Australia (Foxtel)
  • The Great Australian Bake Off – Alenka Henry, Howard Myers, Kylie Washington, Deb Spinocchia – BBC Studios Australia (Foxtel)

AACTA Award for Best Reality Program

  • Australian Survivor: Heroes V Villains – Amelia Fisk, David Forster, Maria Handas, Toby Trappel – Endemol Shine Australia (Network Ten)
  • FBOY Island Australia – Caroline Swift, Anson Charody-Bognar, Dean Toccini, Laura Cassidy – Warner Bros. International Television Production Australia (Binge)
  • Hunted Australia – Marty Benson, Natalie Cattach, Ben Davis – Endemol Shine Australia (Network Ten)
  • MasterChef Australia – David Forster, Simon Child, Eoin Maher, April Mackay – Endemol Shine Australia (Network Ten)
  • Real Housewives of Sydney – Samantha Martin, Natalie Brosnan, Dan Sheldon – Matchbox Productions (Binge, Foxtel)
  • RuPaul’s Drag Race Down Under – Amanda Duthie, Cailah Scobie – World of Wonder (Stan)

AACTA Award for Best Screenplay in Film

  • Of An Age – Goran Stolevski
  • Shayda – Noora Niasari
  • Talk to Me – Danny Philippou, Bill Hinzman
  • The New Boy – Warwick Thornton
  • The Royal Hotel – Kitty Green, Oscar Redding

AACTA Award for Best Screenplay in Television

  • Black Snow (Episode 1) – Lucas Taylor
  • Colin From Accounts (Episode 3) – Harriet Dyer
  • Colin From Accounts (Episode 6) – Patrick Brammall
  • Deadloch (Episode 1) – Kate McCartney, Kate McLennan
  • The Newsreader (Episode 4) – Adrian Russell Wills

AACTA Award for Best Short Film

  • An Ostrich Told Me the World is Fake and I Think I Believe It – Lachlan Pendragon – Griffith Film School
  • Ashes – Georgina Haig, Dean Francis, Daisy Betts-Miller, Charmaine Kuhn – Stewart Haig Productions
  • Finding Addison – Francisca Braithwaite, Jess Milne, Nick Bolton – Blue Sparrow Entertainment
  • Jia – Vee Shi, Nicholson Ren, Taysha McFarland – Niu Studios
  • Mud Crab – David Robinson-Smith, Adam Daniel, Adam Finney – Australian Film Television and Radio School (AFTRS)
  • Not Dark Yet – Bonnie Moir, Nicholas Denton, Michael Jones – Exit Films

AACTA Award for Best Online Drama or Comedy

  • Appetite – Mohini Herse, Karen Radzyner – Fell Swoop Pictures and Photoplay Films
  • Latecomers – Liam Heyen, Hannah Ngo, Angus Thompson, Emma Myers, Nina Oyama, Madeleine Gottlieb, Alistair Baldwin – Mad Ones Films & Lazy Susan Films
  • Me & Her(pes) – Gemma Bird Matheson, Hannah Ngo, Kasia Vickery, Vic Zerbst – Chips & Gravy Films in association with Lazy Susan Films
  • Monologue – Jim Wright, Elise Trenorden, Nicholas Clifford, Nina Oyama – Truce Films
  • The Disposables – Karen Radzyner, Renny Wijeyamohan, Sonia Whiteman, Keir Wilkins – Photoplay Films and Dragonet Films
  • The Future of Everything – Nicholas Colla, Mike Greaney, Nicolette Minster – LateNite

AACTA Award for Best Direction in Nonfiction Television

  • Aaron Chen: If Weren’t Filmed, Nobody Would Believe – Henry Stone
  • Adam and Poh’s Great Australian Bites (Episode 1) – Josh Martin
  • Matildas: The World at Our Feet  (Episode 2) – Katie Bender Wynn
  • Queerstralia (Episode 1) – Stamatia Maroupas
  • The Australian Wars (Episode 1) – Rachel Perkins, Dylan River, Tov Belling

AACTA Award for Best Visual Effects or Animation

  • Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania – Jesse James Chisholm, Fiona Campbell Westgate, Jamie Macdougall, Rachel Copp, Paul Corbould – Rising Sun Pictures
  • I Am Groot: Season 2 – Kirsten Lepore, Brad Winderbaum, Raphael de Almeida Pimentel, Adam Goins – Luma Pictures
  • Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny – Andrew Whitehurst, Kathy Siegel, Alistair Williams, Julian Hutchens, Ian Cope – Rising Sun Pictures
  • Scarygirl – Sophie Byrne, Tania Vincent, Ricard Cussó, Nathan Jurevicius – Highly Spirited
  • Wolf Like Me – Jason Hawkins, Mark Millar, Martina Joison, Flavia Riley, Matthew Chance – Alt.vfx

AACTA Award for Best Cinematography in Film

  • Godless: The Eastfield Exorcism – Carl Allison
  • Shayda – Sherwin Akbarzadeh
  • Sweet As – Katie Milwright
  • Talk to Me – Aaron McLisky
  • The New Boy – Warwick Thornton

AACTA Award for Best Cinematography in Television

  • Aunty Donna’s Coffee Cafe – Episode 1 – Aaron Farrugia
  • Deadloch – Episode 1 – Katie Milwright
  • Erotic Stories – Episode 2 – Tania Lambert
  • The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart – Episode 1 – Sam Chiplin
  • The Newsreader – Episode 4 – Earle Dresner

AACTA Award for Best Editing in Film presented by Spectrum Films

  • Carmen – Dany Cooper
  • Scarygirl – Michelle McGilvray, Matt Villa, Courtney Teixera
  • Sweet As – Katie Flaxman
  • Talk to Me – Geoff Lamb
  • The New Boy – Nick Meyers

AACTA Award for Best Editing in Television

  • Aunty Donna’s Coffee Cafe – Episode 1 – Peter Bennett
  • Colin From Accounts – Episode 3 – Danielle Boesenberg
  • Deadloch – Episode 1 – Angie Higgins
  • The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart – Episode 1 – Deborah Peart
  • The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart – Episode 6 – Deborah Peart, Dany Cooper
  • The Newsreader – Episode 4 – Angie Higgins

AACTA Award for Best Original Score in Film

  • Blueback – Nigel Westlake
  • Godless: The Eastfield Exorcism – Dmitri Golovko
  • Suka – Me-Lee Hay
  • Talk to Me – Cornel Wilczek
  • The Big Dog – Sam Weiss

AACTA Award for Best Original Score in Television

  • Bad Behaviour – Episode 1 – Caitlin Yeo
  • Deadloch – Episode 1 – Amanda Brown
  • Fisk – Episode 4 – Megan Washington, Daniel O’Brien
  • In Limbo – Episode 1 – Matteo Zingales
  • RFDS – Episode 5 – Amanda Brown, Damien Lane

AACTA Award for Best Production Design in Film

  • Carmen – Steven Jones-Evans
  • Scarygirl – Nathan Jurevicius
  • The New Boy – Amy Baker
  • The Portable Door – Matthew Putland
  • True Spirit – Michelle McGahey, Bill Booth, Gillian Butler

AACTA Award for Best Production Design in Television

  • Beep and Mort – Episode 2 – Jonathon Oxlade
  • Black Snow – Episode 1 – Helen O’Loan
  • Deadloch – Episode 1 – Emma Fletcher
  • Gold Diggers – Episode 3 – Simon McCutcheon
  • The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart – Episode 1 – Melinda Doring
  • The Newsreader – Episode 4 – Paddy Reardon

AACTA Award for Best Costume Design in Film

  • Blueback – Lien See Leong
  • Carmen – Emily Seresin
  • Seriously Red – Tim Chappel
  • The New Boy – Heather Wallace
  • The Rooster – Ellen Stanistreet

AACTA Award for Best Costume Design in Television

  • Ten Pound Poms – Episode 1 – Xanthe Heubel
  • The Claremont Murders – Episode 1 – Lisa Galea Gunning
  • The Clearing – Episode 1 – Erin Roche
  • The Newsreader – Episode 4 – Zed Dragojlovich
  • While The Men Are Away – Episode 2 – Nina Edwards

AACTA Award for Best Sound in Film

  • Godless: The Eastfield Exorcism – Benni Knop
  • Scarygirl – Stuart Morton, Cameron Grant
  • Seriously Red – Sam Hayward, Angus Robertson, Guntis Sic, Danielle Wiessner
  • Talk to Me – Emma Bortignon, Pete Smith, Nick Steele
  • Three Chords and the Truth – Anthony Marsh

AACTA Award for Best Sound in Television

  • Black Snow – Episode 6 – Mark Cornish, Tom Heuzenroeder, Justin Spasevski, Robert Mackenzie
  • Last King of The Cross 

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Jock Zonfrillo’s widow Lauren Fried shares an adorable post about their son’s recent milestone

Jock Zonfrillo’s widow Lauren Fried has shared a huge update about the son she shared with the late MasterChef Australia host.

Lauren posted an adorable photo of Alfie, who turns six this month, dressed in his school uniform and beaming on his first day of school while she held him.

“The wee man’s first day at school,” she captioned the cute pic.

Jock Zonfrillo. Instagram.

Lauren’s emotional updates on life without Jock

In January, Lauren shared an emotional tribute to Jock after their wedding anniversary. They got married on January 1st 2017 in a seaside ceremony.

“Happy anniversary, My Love,” Lauren wrote alongside a photo from the beautiful day. “Our dream of growing old together in the middle of nowhere in Italy – kids and dogs under our feet, you laughing your enormous laugh, falling asleep on your chest – is so vivid.”

“That’s where I imagine you now. Lx.”

Jock Zonfrillo. Instagram.

Shortly before that, Lauren shared another moving tribute about spending her first Christmas without Jock.

“It’s different this year. No less love or excitement, just my stubbornness to see the kid’s faces light up in spite of it all,” she wrote alongside a video of her celebrating Christmas with her children.

“Watching our gorgeous children navigating their first Xmas, I can see now that tragedy will make them. It will make them fierce and fearless, they’ll have a strength no-one can quite put their finger on,” the post continued.

“And they will undoubtedly have a life bigger than the one Jock and I dreamt for them because of this. They’ll be stronger in the broken bits.”

Jock Zonfrillo. Instagram.

What happened to Jock Zonfrillo?

Zonfrillo died suddenly on April 30, 2023 and he is survived by his wife and children Alfie, 5, and Isla, 2, as well as two older daughters, Ava and Sophia, from his first two marriages.

In July, Fried took to Instagram to share how she honoured her husband’s MasterChef legacy by wearing a traditional Scottish piece from his final episode.

“What a gorgeous man, always happiest in his kilt. This is the fly plaid (tartan over his shoulder) that I chose to wear to Jock’s funeral, the last one he wore,” she captioned a photo of the MasterChef Australia judge wearing the piece.

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Is MAFS scripted? Everything we know about the batshit show

As the premiere of Married At First Sight 2025 (MAFS) approaches, we’re eagerly awaiting what could be the most dramatic season yet.

As much as fans can’t wait for all the wine-throwing and juicy scandals on the horizon, MAFS has always raised the question: How much of the world’s dishiest “social experiment” is real?

We’ve done some digging to uncover answers to your burning MAFS questions.

Does MAFS hire actors? 

Rumours have long persisted that MAFS producers hire a sprinkling of actors to help boost the drama.

The 2024, for example, featured a number of contestants with performing pasts, such as fan-favourite Lucinda Light and groom Collins Christian

And looking ahead to the upcoming 2025 season, it seems the pattern is continuing, with groom Jeff Gobbels, Ryan Donnelly, and bride Carina Mirabile all similarly sporting acting backgrounds.

MAFS 2025’s Jeff Gobbels (left) smiling in a black shirt, and Carina Mirabile (right) wearing a black dress.
MAFS’ 2025 Jeff Gobbels (left) and Carina Mirabile (right) both have acting backgrounds. Image: Instagram

Despite these claims, it seems many of the contestants are the real deal, although not all of them apply to be on the show.

Ollie Skelton from MAFS Season 10, for example, revealed on the Behind the Edit podcast that he was headhunted for the show… and his initial reaction was a hard pass!

“I actually said no and sent them this massive email essentially saying thank you for this opportunity, but I can’t really think of a reason as to why I do want to get married,” he shared.

However, it seems the producers weren’t taking no for an answer and eventually managed to change his mind.

Meanwhile, Sara Mesa (MAFS Season 11) took to TikTok to share some juicy behind-the-scenes deets on how producers really cast contestants.

“Producers reach out to everyone,” Sara said.

“I’m telling you right now, most of the people that go on these reality TV shows were scouted by producers on Instagram. There were probably one or two people on my season that actually applied, but the rest were scouted.”

She added that even after being approached, potential contestants still have to endure around ten interviews to make the final cut.

“They’re looking for one narrative for each person, and if you don’t fit that narrative, you’re most likely not going to get accepted.”

@saramessy

In the spirit of MAFS airing soon, here’s some things you may not have known. If you want part two let me know x

♬ original sound – saramessy

Josh White (MAFS Season 10) also jumped on TikTok in a video alongside fellow MAFS alum Janelle Han, admitting he was scouted too.

“I didn’t apply for MAFS, I was approached,” he revealed.

“I got an email and after I laughed for a solid ten minutes I then spotted… I just kind of felt, well, I’ve had enough regrets in my life and I just don’t even wanna regret something else.”

@janellemyh MAKING OVER MAFS: JOSH WHITE! Josh and I have been great friends since the beginning, so I feel privileged that he let me give him a makeover! Who should I makeover next!? #mafs #mafsau #mafsaustralia #makemakeover #makeover #grwm ♬ original sound – Janelle Han

And it doesn’t stop there! As reported by Pedestrian, Lauren Dunn spilled in what seems to be a now-deleted Instagram Q&A that she’d been scouted for the show multiple times but repeatedly turned it down because of nerves about how she would come across on camera.

“I am the most wildly inappropriate human being,” she confessed.

“The things that come out of my mouth – like you guys didn’t even get to see some of the shit that came out of my mouth that didn’t make it to air,” she said.

That all being said, producers have repeatedly denied allegations that cast members are hired performers. 

Network Executive Producer John Walsh previously told 9Honey Celebrity: “We are well aware that some of the cast have done part-time modelling, appeared as extras in commercials or TV shows to supplement their income, but the suggestion that any of them were hired as performers to appear on Married At First Sight is categorically untrue.”

Is Married At First Sight real or fake?

The show is billed on Nine as a “reality series,” but how much of that reality is carefully crafted has been called into question.

For example, MAFS 2024 saw a tonne of drama, and according to Jono McCullough and Lauren, a lot of it was orchestrated by producers.

The couple called Daily Mail Australia to dish the dirt about what went down at the first Dinner Party.

Jono told the publication the MAFS cast was told by producers to amp up the drama between the couples and cast members.

“Everyone was having an awesome time and then we got a stern talking to that we needed to be real and honest,” he said.

“Soon everyone just starts unleashing, so expect some sparks to fly.”

Couples Tristan and Cassandra (left) and Eden and Jayden (right) at a MAFS dinner party
MAFS 2024 couples Tristan and Cassandra (left) and Eden and Jayden (right). Image: Nine

MAFS EP denies encouraging the contestants to create drama

Although Jono and Lauren went rogue and said that the producer pushed them to create drama, the show’s executive producer said that wasn’t the cast.

During an interview with Chattr, MAFS producers said that the job of the producers is to follow the storyline lines that the couples create themselves.

“A lot of that [the stories] comes down to the cast and the casting of the show, the matches,” Endemol Shine Australia Executive Producer Alex Spurway said.

“When you’re casting 20 different people to what you cast in the last series, you’re always going to get completely different storylines, completely different reactions, dinner parties, weddings and relationships,” he said.

“We never truly know what will happen between each of these couples, and without a doubt, you’re always going to have something different.”

“We’ve got to follow those stories that come,” Nine’s MAFS EP John Walsh added. “That’s the big job. Then, it’s about telling those stories because these people all have something to share. Something engaging about them.”

MAFS 2024 couple Collins and Natalie
MAFS 2024 couple Collins and Natalie. Image: Nine

A past contestant backed Lauren and Jono’s claims

Former MAFS groom Michael Brunelli, who is engaged and has a baby with bride Martha K, revealed that producers do play puppet master to a degree.

“If they know you have a problem with someone [and] they know you’re feeling a little bit emotional, they might put you at a dinner party sitting across from them, knowing that after a few hours, something is going to brew,” he said on TikTok.

@mbrunelli Reply to @a.neke #MAFS #MAFSA ♬ original sound – Michael Brunelli

However, Michael denied that the drama on MAFS is fake.

“The emotions are real, the issues are real,” he added.

So, do producers create the drama?

The jury’s still out, however, it appears that a lot of the issues form organically between the cast members. That being said, it definitely sounds as though the producers don’t mind giving the drama an extra little push.

Are the people on MAFS legally married? 

No, the marriages on MAFS are not legally binding. Despite the illusion of a real wedding, the ceremonies are purely symbolic. Under the Australian Marriage Act, couples must notify the court one month and one day before legally tying the knot.

“They are not,” a Nine spokesperson confirmed to Now to Love when asked if the MAFS weddings were genuine.

“Each participant embarked on a commitment ceremony with a wedding celebrant with all due intention to commit fully to this union for the duration of the experiment.” 

“At the end of the experiment, they are given the option to continue with the relationship or go their separate ways.”

This policy was clarified back in 2015 when the show first aired. As a network representative explained to the publication:

“In order to comply with the Australian Marriage Act (1961), which requires one month and one day notification, a marriage in law was not conducted.”

What is the failure rate on MAFS?

It’s safe to say MAFS doesn’t have a stellar track record when it comes to long-lasting matches. Out of over 100 matches matched by the experts, only a handful are still together eight are still together and considering there are anywhere form 10-to-12 couples getting paired a year, that’s pretty bleak.

Among these success stories are Kerry Knight and Johnny Balbuziente from Season 8, who legally married after meeting on the show. The couple even welcomed their first child, Chloe, in 2024.

From the 2024 season, two couples (Jade Pywell and Ridge Barredo and Jack Dunkley and Tori Adams) are still going strong, with engagement rumours even circling both pairs.

MAFS 2024’s Jack Dunkley and Tori Adams kissing together in a gym (left), and Jade Pywell and Ridge Barredo posing outside in formalwear (right)
MAFS 2024’s Jack Dunkley and Tori Adams (left) and Jade Pywell and Ridge Barredo (right) are reportedly still together. Image: Instagram

Despite these highlights, most MAFS marriages don’t seem to last longer than a few months, leading some fans to question the integrity of the experts’ matches.

On Reddit, one fan weighed in: “The experts are great at giving advice. I don’t think they do much in the way of matchmaking. They did away with the theatrics where they pretend to find pairs.”

Another added, “If the experts were good, this show would be on at about 1pm so the oldies could enjoy it and not prime time where everyone can enjoy the drama of the deplorable entitled cast members. So no they’re absolutely terrible at their jobs and they’re meant to be,” another added.

So there you have it! Love it or hate it, while MAFS may blur the lines between what’s real and what’s a bit ahem produced, one thing is for sure: the couples, the emotions, and of course, the drama keeps us hooked season after season.

Married At First Sight Season 12 will premiere on January 27 on Channel 9 and 9Now.

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Here’s the Australian Idol 2024 cast who’ve scored a Golden Ticket and make up the top 30

Amy Shark, Marcia Hines and Kyle Sandilands have been busy making and breaking dreams on Australian Idol 2024 by giving out Golden Tickets.

They have given out thirty during the Auditions, and those contestants who received one make up the top 30 who will later battle it out through song.

Here are the contestants who have received a Golden Ticket so far on Australian Idol 2024.

Episode Seven

TJ Zimba, WA, 24.

Australian Idol. Seven.

Imogen Spendlove, 23, VIC.

Australian Idol. Seven.

Chenai Boucher, 26, VIC.

Australian Idol. Seven.

Episode six

Prayer Corby, 23, NT.

Australian Idol. Seven.

Kiani Smith, 17, QLD.

Australian Idol. Seven.

Kobe White, 24, VIC.

Australian Idol. Seven.

Olivia Britton, 34, VIC.

Australian Idol. Seven.

Eli Parr, 20, QLD.

Australian Idol. Seven.

Episode five

Denvah Baker-Moller, 23, QLD.

Australian Idol. Seven.

Gab Hester, 18, VIC.

Australian Idol. Seven.

Jackson Smith, 25, VIC.

Australian Idol. Seven.

Jess Chalmers, 24, VIC.

Australian Idol. Seven.

Episode four

Isaac McCallum, 23, NSW.

Australian Idol. Seven.

Jet Cameron, 16, QLD.

Australian Idol. Seven.

Bethany Byrne, 28,

Australian Idol. Seven.

Kym Miaco, 21

Australian Idol. Seven.

Jesse Lazaroo

Australian Idol. Seven.

Episode three

Drea Onamade, 25, WA.

Australian Idol. Seven.

Jake Carlson, 20, VIC.

Australian Idol. Seven.

Saoirse Harding, 19, QLD.

Australian Idol. Seven.

Jonathan Wells, 28, VIC.

Australian Idol. Seven.

Episode two

Amy Reeves, 24, WA.

Australian Idol. Seven.

Trent Richardson, 22, QLD.

Australian Idol. Seven.

Tyler Hammill, 21, QLD.

Tyler

Natasha Rose, 19, QLD.

Australia Idol. Seven.

Cynthia Negash, 19, VIC.

Australia Idol. Seven.

Episode one

Dylan Wright, 30, NSW.

Dylan

Ivana Illic, 20, VIC.

Australian Idol. Seven.

Ripley Welsh, 19, QLD.

Australian Idol. Seven.

Billy Menhennet, 20, VIC.

Australian Idol. Seven.

Australian Idol continues at 7.30pm on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays on Channel 7 and 7plus.

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MAFS 2024: Are Ellie and Ben still together?

It was obvious that MAFS’ Ellie Dix and Ben Walters were stoked with the experts’ choice when they saw each other at the end of the altar, so are they still together now?

Well, it looks as though Ellie’s controversial cousin might have been onto something at the wedding when he shared that he wasn’t convinced the couple were well-matched.

MAFS. Nine.

Ellie and Ben’s pairing

Ellie is a registered nurse who’s previously been dealt a bad hand when it comes to relationships.

She was previously engaged but found out that her fiance was cheating on her and they cancelled the wedding just one month before it was meant to take place.

Meanwhile, Ben is a tour guide who’s looking for “the one”.

According to his MAFS bio, he needs to be stimulated and can get bored easily – and hates “vanilla”. Ben admits to sometimes having unrealistic expectations and a fear of settling but he’s trying to change that,” it reads.

MAFS. Nine.

Are Ben and Ellie still together?

All signs point to no!

Ellie was spotted cuddled up with fellow groom Jono McCullough, who’s matched with Lauren Dunn, at her work party in December.

On top of that, she made a cryptic comment about Ben, which suggested that, like her cousin, she thinks that her TV husband may have just come on the show for fame.

“I feel like, after watching it last night that, you know, there were red flags with Ben. It was interesting to watch it back. And I think maybe he was there for both reasons,” she told Yahoo Lifestyle Australia.

“Without saying too much. I feel like Ben really didn’t let his walls down completely.”

Watch Married at First Sight Sundays at 7.00pm and Monday – Thursday at 7.30pm on Nine and 9Now.

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Take a peek inside the gorgeous five-bedroom river-front house Sophie Monk just sold

Sophie Monk has been in the spotlight for what feels like forever, so it makes sense that she’s racked up enough $$ to purchase some stunning properties.

One of those is a stunning five-bedroom, three-bathroom Helensvale home, which is the suburb where the Love Island Australia host attended primary school, and it’s just been snapped up.

Sophie listed the house for $1.75m, however, the sale price hasn’t been disclosed. She purchased it for $1.1m in 2016 after returning from a decade-long stint in Los Angeles.

Of course, we know you’re all here for real estate porn, so scroll on for photos of Sophie’s gorge (ex) love nest!

Before Sophie purchased the mansion in 2021, it was rented out for $1200 a week. It has direct ocean access with a boat ramp, jetty and storage areas, as well as a pool and outdoor entertaining areas.

Inside, the home features a renovated kitchen, an outdoor alfresco area, a spacious swimming pool, and the huge master bedroom has triple wardrobes, an ensuite, and balcony access.

What other houses does Sophie Monk own?

Sophie has a few other properties, one of them in Queensland and the other in New South Wales.

She has an apartment in Mermaid Beach, which she bought for just $165,000 in 2003. The TV personality also owns a four-bedroom home on NSW’s central coast in Matcham, which she bought for $2.3 million in 2020.

Stream Love Island Australia 2023 on 9Now.

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Interview: Ben and Jared’s “competitive” relo isn’t the only reason they have beef on Below Deck

Season 11 of Below Deck is already underway and there’s some serious tension between Bosun Jared Woodin and Aussie Lead Deckhand Ben Willoughby.

Well, apart from their hugely different personalities, it seems jumping on board the St David once again meant that Ben was taking a step down after working as a Bosun in between seasons.

Jared Woodin, Below Deck. Hayu

“Going into the season after Season 10 and all the heartbreak with Camille [Lamb] and all that drama, I’d worked as a Bosun,” he said, speaking on Mediaweek and Chattr’s The Entertainment Hotline Podcast.

And according to the 27-year-old, this prompted him to start “judging” Jared on “everything that he did.”

“I wouldn’t say it was the friendliest of relationships with Jared from the get-go,” he said. “It was more of a competitive relationship.”

Even though they butted heads on numerous occasions, Ben revealed that he actually wanted to help Jared because there was a new Captain onboard — Captain Kerry Titheridge.

Ben Willoughby and Captain Kerry, Below Deck. Hayu
Ben Willoughby and Captain Kerry, Below Deck. Hayu

“I knew that Kerry would come in guns blazing because he’s a new Captain — on with a new crew, on a new boat, that he has no idea who anybody is and how people gel together,” he said. “So I think he was definitely in the hot seat and I wanted him to succeed as well as anybody else.

“But as you’ll see, Jared has certain ways of doing things, and maybe Kerry just doesn’t agree with those.”

Listen to the full episode of The Entertainment Hotline with Ben Willoughby below!

Stream Below Deck Season 11 on Hayu, with new episodes every Tuesday, the same day as the USA. 

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Interview: Nathan reveals the VERY famous past Survivor players who gave him “lots of tips”

Survivor Australia 2024′s Nathan Freeman may had a bit of a head start heading into the game thanks to his reality TV connections, but unfortunately, that didn’t help him make it to merge.

Nathan shared photos on his Instagram of himself with Love Island winner Mitch Hibberd on Instagram but revealed in an interview with Chattr that he’s actually pals with some very big names from Survivor.

“I’m really close with Shonee [Bowtell], who’s been on All-Stars before and Dave [Genat, who won Survivor All Stars],” he told Chattr in a post-elimination interview.

Dave and Shonee on Australian Survivor All Stars. Ten.

And, the former football player says he wishes he took their advice a little more seriously.

“They did give me a lot of tips, I reckon I did exactly the opposite of what they told me to do,” he laughed.

Nathan explained that he was so wrapped to be a part of Survivor, that the advice he got from Shonee and Dave went straight out the window.

“I think it does funny things to you I was just so excited and keen to get out there, obviously me and Franks got really close, and me and Jayden. We just got sucked into the game, we were way too overexcited and I think that sort of caused alarm bells with the rest of the tribe,” he said.

“They [Shonee and Dave] gave me some pointers, but I probably just did the complete opposite.”

Survivor. Ten.

This may not be the last we’ve seen of Nathan Freeman on Survivor

Nathan was undoubtedly one of the biggest personalities on Survivor Australia 2024, which could help him receive a ticket to return and play the game again.

Four of the 11 Survivor Australia seasons have featured returning contestants, and both Nathan’s pals, Shonee and Dave were on multiple seasons.

Nathan said he’d love to come back and play again, however, he added that he’d play a different game.

“Without a doubt, I’d be back in a heartbeat,” he said. “It’s the best game in the world.”

Survivor. Ten.

“I’ve had a lot of time to think about my game and what I’d do differently and I’d jump at the chance to go again because I think I’d do a lot of things differently and I think I’d do a lot better.”

“I’d be a bit more low-key and understated and work my way into the game,” he added.

“I think while you’re in the game it’s just a blur. Your brain is running on overdrive, your body is at its limit, and your emotions are redlining but when you get off this show, it think once you take a breather and have a good feed, I think you realise just how good it is.”

Stream Survivor Australia 2024 Sundays – Tuesdays at 7:30pm on Channel 10 and 10Play.

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Interview: The MAFS producers wished Jayden hadn’t made that “gross” admission about his ex-girlfriend

It’s Confessions Week and Married at First Sight 2024’s Jayden Eynaud just made a “gross” admission about his ex-girlfriend that even the producers wished he hadn’t!

In case you didn’t see it, Jayden was tasked with writing his new wife Eden Harper a letter, basically confessing his sins. And when we tell you it was one for the history books, it really and truly was!

“My ex-girlfriend cheated on me,” he began. “She was going on dinner dates, movie dates. And I even had guys openly admit to me in person that they had slept with her.”

Jayden and Eden, Married at First Sight. Nine

The kickboxer then admitted that he was “willing to give her another chance” but had a caveat.

“I’m going to sleep with one of her best friends while she watches. One of her friends agreed to do it.”

When asked by Eden if he “regretted it”, Jayden stood by his actions.

“I don’t regret it,” he said.

WOW.

The MAFS Producers wished Jayden hadn’t said that

Speaking to Chattr before the January 29 series premiere, Nine’s MAFS executive producer John Walsh admitted this was a plot twist they didn’t foresee.

“They [the stories] go in different directions we never anticipate,” before referring to Jayden’s admission.

“We have a hero kind of character this year where he revealed a story during Confessions Week.

“And we went, ‘Mate. I wish you hadn’t told that story.’ Because it suddenly derails momentarily or otherwise, his story arc.”

MAFS 2024's Eden and Jayden at the Altar
Jayden and Eden at their wedding. Nine

According to Walsh, he is a “complex character”.

“You see him one way for the first few weeks and then he says something else and you go, ‘Wow’ and it makes you stop and think. But that’s the show and you’ve got to follow that right through.”

During the same interview, Endemol Shine Australia executive producer Mollie Harwood said of the storyline: “You’ve got to trust the process and react. You’re like, ‘I wish that didn’t happen but we’ll go there!’”

Watch Married at First Sight Sundays at 7.00pm and Monday – Thursday at 7.30pm on Nine and 9Now.

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Check out the sprawling Sydney apartments where MAFS 2024 is filmed

The MAFS brides and grooms are back at Sydney’s Sky Suites for the fifth year in a row.

But, things are slightly different this year. They’ve been moved from Skye Suites which are located in the city, and they’ll be staying at Skye Suites Green Square.

The complex is schmick and beautiful, and the building features an arch through the middle, which means more windows and natural light in the rooms.

Here, the contestants will find out what living with their partners is really like, and how compatible they are.

Skye Suites. Booking.com.

Where are the Skye Suites?

The Skye Suites are located smack bang in Green Square, which is in the inner city suburb of Waterloo.

They’re conveniently located right near a tonne of bars and restaurants, and about a fifteen-minute drive from Circular Quay.

What facilities are there?

If the couples get sick of each other, there are plenty of places to go for some alone time at the Skye Suites! There’s a gorgeous heated infinity pool and spa overlooking the neighbourhood.

Fortunately for Jack and Jayden, there’s a fully equipped state-of-the-art gym so that they don’t have to miss a single sesh.

While there isn’t an actual restaurant inside Skye Suites, there are a lot of dining options around.

Skye Suites. Booking.com.

How much are rooms are Skye Suites?

If you’re looking to have a little MAFS staycation of your own, then you can find rooms for around $300 a night, which will get you a Deluxe Studio Suite. The more deluxe option is a three-bed interconnecting 116 which goes for around $700 a night.

Skye Suites. Booking.com.

Watch Married at First Sight Sundays at 7.00pm and Monday – Thursday at 7.30pm on Nine and 9Now.

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MAFS 2024: Could this evidence prove the fate of Lucinda and Timothy?

Ah Lucinda Light, the literal magical moonshine of Married at First Sight 2024 and Timothy Smith, her on-screen beau who has enough walls up to build a city. They may have been thrown together during the experiment, but are they still together?!

While we wish we could say that Lucinda had turned Timothy’s “Tin Man” into a giant teddy bear, according to Yahoo Lifestyle, it seems as though they sadly may not go the distance.

In photos obtained by the publication, Timothy is seen “enjoying a casual lunch with a mystery woman” on Melbourne’s Chapel Street.

Lucinda and Timothy, MAFS. Nine

Look, we’re going to go with this being a liiiiiiiiiiitle bit of a stretch, given the “source” said it was “unclear” whether they were on a date or not — but, we’re putting it in the maybe pile that they’re donezo!

Meanwhile, during an interview with the same outlet, Lucinda revealed that their wedding was “one of my favourite days ever!” CUTE!

More to come as it comes to light!

Watch Married at First Sight Sundays at 7.00pm and Monday – Thursday at 7.30pm on Nine and 9Now.

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“He doesn’t realise it’s not 1950 anymore”: MAFS’ Lauren and Jono dish their thoughts on Jack

MAFS newlyweds Lauren and Jono have spoken out about Jack’s treatment of his onscreen wife Tori, saying that it’s very dated.

During a recent episode of Married At First Sight, one of the cast members discovered an article about Jack, which claimed that he lied to his ex about going overseas to work, and actually went on MAFS instead.

The article was circulated around the group prior to the first dinner party, and Jayden eventually confronted him about it at the table. Throughout it all, Jack’s MAFS partner Tori stood by his side and backed him, and told the group that she was very happy with Jack.

jack tori mafs 2024
MAFS. Nine.

Despite what Tori said, MAFS couple Jono and Lauren aren’t convinced.

“Jack seems to have a good hold on her [Tori] and maybe she’s kind of – loyally backing her man regardless of what logic would suggest,” Lauren told the Hit Network’s The Pulse with Seany B & Emma G.

Jonathan added: “He seemed to know something was going to go wrong but then say, ‘No no no, it didn’t actually happen,” but he knew it was coming? Yeah, you’ll see a bit of odd behaviour.”

“His language around women is really weird, he doesn’t realise it’s not 1950 anymore and you can’t sort your Mrs out or you know, the alpha and, ‘I’m a provider, a protector, a leader,’ the language he uses just isn’t very common is day-to-day life in 2023.”

Lauren and Jono think Collins is an actor

During the spicy episode, Natalie decided to exit the experiment because she felt that her partner Collins wasn’t interested in her.

MAFS. Nine.

After the pair told the group they’d be leaving, Collins delivered a bizarre speech about how devastated he was to be leaving MAFS so early.

However, Lauren and Jonathan agreed with the radio hosts that Collins was an actor who was placed on the show.

 “It was embarrassing, we [the participants] were all dying,” Lauren said of the speech. “He loves a long dramatic speech.”

Watch Married at First Sight Sundays at 7.00pm and Monday – Thursday at 7.30pm on Nine and 9Now.

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Jump aboard and check out the Below Deck season 11 cast

The OG Below Deck is back for another season, but things look a bit different this year. In 2024, Captain Lee Rosbach won’t be driving the ship, but rather, Captain Kerry Titherage will be taking the helm.

You might already be familiar with Captain Kerry, he was on Below Deck Adventure season one, and steered the crew through a whole lot of drama back in 2022. Speaking of drama, former stew Fraser Olender and past decky (and proud Aussie) Ben Willoughby will both be back on this season of Below Deck.

Meet the other brand-spanking-new crew members who will be on Below Deck season 11.

Kerry Titheradge — Captain 

Captain Kerry Titheradge of Below Deck Season 11 wearing his uniform on a yacht.
Below Deck. Hayu.

Fraser Olender — Chief Stew

Fraser Olender of Below Deck Season 11 wearing his yachting uniform.
Below Deck. Hayu.

Ben Willoughby — Deckhand 

Ben Willoughby of Below Deck Season 11 wearing a blue tee while on a yacht.
Below Deck. Hayu.

Anthony Icracane — Chef 

Chef Anthony Iracane of Below Deck Season 11 wearing his chef's uniform.
Below Deck. Hayu.

Jared Woodin — Bosun

Jared Woodin of Below Deck Season 11 wearing his yachting uniform.
Below Deck. Hayu.

Cat Baugh — Stew

Cat Baugh of Below Deck Season 11 wearing her yachting uniform.
Below Deck. Hayu.

Sunny Marquis — Deckhand

Marie Marquis AKA Sunny Marie of Below Deck Season 11 wearing her yachting uniform.
Below Deck. Hayu.

Xandi Olivier — Stew

Xandi Olivier of Below Deck Season 11 wearing her yachting uniform.
Below Deck. Hayu.

Barbara Pascual — Stew

Barbie Pascual of Below Deck Season 11 wearing a blue tee while in front of an ocean and mountain backdrop.
Below Deck. Hayu.

Kyle Stillie — Deckhand

Kyle Stillie of Below Deck Season 11 wearing his yachting uniform.
Below Deck. Hayu.

Watch lead deckhand Ben Willoughby play This or That with Chattr.

Below Deck Season 11 launches Tuesday, February 6 on Hayu, with new episodes every Tuesday, the same day as the USA. 

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