The latest season of Married At First Sight (MAFS) has been nothing short of dramatic, but fans were left stunned by a new twist involving two participants who were once fierce rivals. Jamie Marinos and Eliot Donovan, whose on-screen journey began with conflict and tension, appear to have grown unexpectedly close — so much so that they were spotted sharing a bed after a reunion event.
Eliot, 35, originally entered the experiment with Lauren Hall but famously exited the process during their honeymoon. He later re-entered the show with new bride Veronica Cloherty. Jamie, 28, was originally paired with Dave Hand, and their pairing was initially seen as strong. However, all expectations were turned upside down during a recent reunion party hosted by Daily Mail Australia at the Ovolo Hotel in Woolloomooloo, Sydney.
Attendees at the reunion witnessed surprising chemistry between Jamie and Eliot, raising eyebrows among fellow cast members. In exclusive behind-the-scenes footage, Jamie jokingly commented that viewers should stop worrying about her former partner Dave and Veronica — and instead start paying attention to her own connection with Eliot.
The intriguing moment occurred when Eliot was asked a cheeky question during a dinner game. “Did you ever hook up with or kiss another MAFS cast member who wasn’t your match?” he read aloud, prompting laughter around the table. He appeared hesitant to respond, prompting Jamie to playfully tell him to sit down.
Just as things seemed to settle, fellow participant Awhina Rutene made a surprising remark, suggesting she had seen Jamie and Eliot in bed that morning. Eliot responded with a sly, “Not yet,” before Jamie added, “The night is still young, guys. Don’t c*** block me.”
The flirtation didn’t stop there. Throughout the night, Jamie and Eliot were spotted sitting closely, exchanging touches, and joking with one another. At one point, Jamie jokingly referred to Eliot as “my husband” when a cocktail was served to her — leaving everyone stunned. “Sucked in, guys. You thought it was Dave and Veronica!” she exclaimed.
Earlier in the season, drama unfolded when couples participated in a Feedback Week, where they were encouraged to swap partners to test their relationships. During that week, Dave and Veronica appeared to form a close bond, even sharing a bed and laughing together — much to Jamie and Eliot’s dismay. This emotional betrayal may have laid the groundwork for Jamie and Eliot’s unexpected friendship and possible romantic spark.
Veronica was evasive when asked about her bond with Dave, describing it as “good” and a “stark contrast” to her strained connection with Eliot. Meanwhile, Dave admitted he struggled with Jamie’s feelings and wasn’t ready to reciprocate her declaration of love. “Jamie said she loved me, and I didn’t say it back,” he revealed. “It put pressure on me. I needed time to think.”
Following these developments, Jamie and Eliot seemed to find comfort in one another. Jamie even joked about her former intimacy with Dave, stating that Eliot was now her new source of affection — another hint that their relationship may have grown beyond mere friendship.
The reunion party itself brought together several familiar faces from the MAFS universe, including Awhina Rutene, Paul Antoine, Carina Mirabile, and Ryan Donnelly, along with other notable contestants such as Beth Kelly and Tony Mojanovski. But all eyes were on Jamie and Eliot, whose behavior that night continues to fuel rumors of a romantic connection.
While it’s unclear whether their bond will blossom into something more, one thing is certain: this unexpected pairing has added yet another layer of intrigue to a season already packed with surprises.
