Heartbreak for Melbourne socialites as Married At First Sight BANS Victorians from the new season after a second wave of COVID-19 cases in the state
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Melbourne influencers have been using Married At First Sight as a fast-track to fame and free breakfasts at Legacy Camberwell since 2015.
But due to the coronavirus pandemic, those days are sadly over.
Daily Mail Australia can reveal that Married At First Sight producers have decided not to cast any Victorians this season after the state recorded a spike in COVID-19 cases.
Heartbreak for Melbourne influencers as Married At First Sight ruled out all Victorians from the appearing on new season. Pictured: MAFS season six couple Ines Basic and Bronson Norrish
‘They’ve replaced all the Melbourne participants with second-option contestants from Adelaide and Queensland,’ a production insider said.
Due to the stage-four lockdown in Melbourne, it ‘just wasn’t possible’ to include anybody from there as the countdown to filming begins.
The source added that producers are ‘playing it by ear’ at the moment, and they’re hoping the pandemic doesn’t impact the weddings, which take place next month.
Furthermore, there will be ‘no overseas honeymoons’ this year for obvious reasons.
Daily Mail Australia understands Endemol Shine have neglected all plans for Melbourne participants to appear on the show. Pictured: Hayley Vernon from MAFS’ seventh season
While couples from Adelaide, Perth and Queensland will still be involved, they will be required to self-isolate for 14 days upon their arrival in New South Wales, where all the weddings are being filmed in order to centralise production.
Victoria recorded another 222 cases and 17 deaths on Tuesday, and there are fears Melbourne’s strict locked could be extended if the coronavirus cases remain high.
On Friday, Daily Mail Australia exclusively revealed filming of the participants’ backstories will commence on Friday, August 26.
It’s happening! On Friday, it was revealed filming of the participants’ backstories will commence next week Pictured: Season six couple Jules Robinson and Cameron Merchant
The weddings had originally been scheduled for late August, but were postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The cast will be more ethnically diverse this year, with a gay male couple joining the show for the first time.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Channel Nine for comment.
Pre-production of MAFS season eight began in March.
At the time, executive producer Tara McWilliams shared a short video to Instagram of herself in her office at Endemol Shine’s Sydney headquarters.
As a safety precaution, she was wearing blue surgical gloves.
The (reality) show must go on! Pre-production of MAFS season eight began in March. At the time, executive producer Tara McWilliams shared a short video of herself in her office at Endemol Shine’s Sydney headquarters wearing blue surgical gloves