Married at First Sight UK 2023: release date, premise, brides & grooms, experts and everything we know

Married at First Sight UK 2023 contestants under a floral arch and a purple background.
Married at First Sight UK 2023 returned. (Image credit: Channel 4)

TV’s most exciting, daring, drama-packed relationship show Married at First Sight UK 2023 returned after a record-breaking run last year — and this time, Married at First Sight UK was bigger and better than ever before with a huge 36 episodes.

This year's series was the largest to date and the show's longest-ever run after Married at First Sight UK 2022 had 30 drama-filled episodes.

Following the success of Married at First Sight Australia, the UK version saw 16 strangers tie the knot without ever meeting each other. 

The brides and grooms first laid eyes on each other at the altar where they made a lifelong commitment to each other, before experiencing the rollercoaster journey of married life together. 

They weren't alone on their whirlwind adventure however, as relationship experts Mel Schilling, Paul C. Brunson and Charlene Douglas were there to help the newlyweds with expert advice throughout the stages of their marriages.

Married at First Sight UK 2023 release date

Married at First Sight UK 2023 started on Monday, September 18 at 9pm on E4. Episodes continued to air on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. It did not air on Friday and over the weekend.

The vow renewals, where the remaining couples decided if they wanted to stay in their marriages, took place on Monday, November 13 and Tuesday, November 14 at 9pm on E4.

On Wednesday, November 15 at 9pm on E4, the group reunited for a dinner party since the experiment ended to see which marriages flourished in the outside world.

What happened in Married at First Sight UK 2023?

Channel 4 officially revealed what happened throughout the social experiment: "The couples will make a lifelong commitment to one another at a glamorous ceremony, overseen by a wedding celebrant, that includes guests, bridal gowns, dancing, speeches and cake. 

"After the ceremony and celebrations are over, true love is well and truly put to the test, as they embark on a luxurious honeymoon, before moving in with each other and their fellow couples.

"Relationships will be put under the microscope, by fellow brides and grooms at weekly dinner parties — as well as by the experts, at recurring commitment ceremonies, where couples choose whether they want to stay in or leave the process. All this and more will build to a dramatic series finale: glossy, high-stakes vow renewals, in which each couple must decide if they will recommit to their partner or go their separate ways, for good. Across the process, the couples will be matched and guided by returning experts Melanie Schilling, Paul C. Brunson and Charlene Douglas."

Meet the Married at First Sight UK 2023 brides and grooms

Let's meet the singletons who hoped to find their forever partner...

The brides

The grooms

Meet the Married at First Sight UK 2023 intruders

Married at First Sight UK 2023 was already underway with some of the most dramatic scenes we had seen in the experiment, but the series was hiding a secret under their veil as four brand new couples entered the experiment to shake everything up.

With these new additions, did any heads turn? Did people clash? Or did true love conquer all?

Let's meet the eight new faces who said "I do"...

The brides

Adrienne

Adrienne is 26 and a Project Support Officer from Cumbria.

Feeling she’s run out of dating options in rural Cumbria, Adrienne is on the hunt for a worthy man. After leaving the family home at 15, she's always been fiercely independent, but is now searching for someone equally self-driven.

Having recently lost a life-changing eight stone, Adrienne is full of a newfound confidence and ready to meet her perfect partner.

Bianca

29 year old Bianca is a Hair Extension Specialist from Buxton.

Bianca likes to look glamorous when going out shopping or clubbing and has struggled with self-doubt in the past, but now she's more confident than ever. 

Having prioritised her career for most of her adult life, she's now ready to marry a stranger and put love first for once! 

Erica

Erica, 25, is a Dance Teacher and Social Media Manager from Edinburgh.

Unlucky in love Erica is desperately looking for the one after being heartbroken far too many times.

After studying and pursuing a career in dance, Erica lost her passion for performing and decided to start teaching students in dance. With a huge love for all things social media, Erica recently set up her own social media business and loves being her own boss. Single for over a year, she is insistent that her soulmate isn’t from Edinburgh and wants to hand the control over to the experts so they can search nationwide.

The grooms

JJ

JJ is 30 and a Fashion Brand Owner from Essex.

Proud mummy’s boy JJ would love to make his mum happy on his wedding day. Determined to ditch the ‘Essex boy’ stereotype, JJ prides himself on being down to earth and is actually a massive softie. 

After dating models in LA, JJ is now keen to find love closer to home and is a hopeless romantic at heart. He loves his life, but is desperate to find his dream girl.

Jordan

Jordan, 26, is a Personal Trainer from Sheffield.

Cheeky Northerner Jordan is a complete socialite. With unrivalled energy and enthusiasm for life, Jordan truly is a big kid at heart. He’s been through some incredibly tough times but now has more confidence and self worth than ever. 

He has amazing friends and a great career ahead of him, but he's missing a life partner to share it all with. He's not had the best luck with relationships and is extremely picky. Jordan has officially given up on conventional dating, so he’s enlisting the help of the experts to find his perfect partner.

Mark

36 year old Mark is a Customer Service Manager from London.

Fashionista Mark likes to stand out from the crowd. Mark’s motto is “too much is never enough,” and looking good is always his first priority. But underneath the glam is a fun, loving man who has experienced his fair share of heartache and turmoil. After 10 years of being single and exploring every avenue to find a husband, Mark is ready for the experts to help him find Mr Right.

Matt

Matt is 29 and a Window Cleaner and Athlete from Harrogate.

Matt is laid back and a secret softie! He is very caring and wears his heart on his sleeve. Single for the last year, he has not had much luck in the past. But he’s now ready to find the perfect person.

Sean

Sean is a 31 year old Store Manager from Durham.

Although Fashion savvy Sean describes himself as a social butterfly and a party animal, he is very career driven. His friends call him ‘brutal Barry’ as he is so outspoken and honest, which often gets him in to trouble. For his whole life, Sean has felt misunderstood and confused, with friends and family knowing he was gay before he did himself. 

After coming out later in life, Sean feels that he is behind and has lost so many years that he could have spent navigating the gay scene. He has never had anything near a relationship, let alone love and, at the age of 30, he feels it is time to put his fate into the hands of the experts.

Who were the experts on Married at First Sight UK 2023?

The relationship experts: Mel Schilling, Paul C Brunson and Charlene Douglas.

Relationship experts Charlene Douglas, Paul C. Brunson and Melanie Schilling are back for Married at First Sight UK 2023. (Image credit: Channel 4)

Married at First Sight UK would not be complete without the trusted relationship experts. 

Returning for a third year were Mel Schilling, Paul C. Brunson and Charlene Douglas, who assisted the couples throughout their marriage journeys and helped them to achieve their happily ever afters (some of them at least!).

Is there a trailer?

The official Married at First Sight UK Instagram account released a video introducing the brides and grooms...

Grace Morris
Staff Writer

Grace is a digital writer with WhatToWatch.com, where she writes series guides, recaps and features for must-watch shows and delivers all the latest soap news and reactions. She graduated from Anglia Ruskin University in 2020 with a degree in Writing and Film Studies, which only made her love for creative writing, film and TV grow stronger.

You'll usually find her watching the drama unfold in the latest reality series or much-loved UK soaps (usually with chocolate by her side!). She's an expert in EastEnders, Emmerdale, Coronation Street and everything reality-related from Selling Sunset and Married At First Sight UK to 90 Day Fiancé UK. Plus Netflix megahit Virgin River!

Grace also likes to explore new places with her friends and family and, of course, watch and read about the latest films and TV series.