Fans roast Nine for casting TV veterans Evelyn Ellis and Alyssa Barmonde on MAFS – despite insisting applicants are ‘ineligible’ if they’ve been on another reality show
Channel Nine has been slammed on social media for its decision to ban previous reality TV stars from applying for MAFS next year – despite long allowing former stars on it.
A source told Daily Mail Australia on Wednesday the network wanted to find ‘genuine’ participants looking for love and thus had cracked down on the application process.
This means people who have previously appeared on a different reality show will now be banned from appearing on the dating experiment.
However, this decision quickly ruffled the feathers of Reddit viewers who called Nine out for having no problems with casting former reality stars and actors in the past.
‘They’ve been well aware that past participants were influencers or had TV experience and cast them based on this very fact,’ one irate user wrote.
Channel Nine has been called out on social media for its decision to ban previous reality TV stars from applying for MAFS next year – despite long allowing former stars on it. Pictured: Bride Evelyn Ellis on Big Brother UK in 2016
Others noted that the cast this year included brides Evelyn Ellis – who appeared on Big Brother UK in 2016 – and Alyssa Barmonde – who was on Judge Judy in 2011.
‘Don’t forget the many who have tried but failed to get on another reality show (Harrison Boon = Bachelor applicant reject),’ added another user.
Casting for the eleventh season of Married At First Sight is under way – but it’s already proving to be a headache for Channel Nine.
The network is scrambling to find genuine participants looking for love, a production insider told Daily Mail Australia.
The decision quickly ruffled the feathers of Reddit viewers who called Nine out for having no problems with casting reality stars and actors in the past
Utah-born bride Alyssa Barmonde (pictured) appeared on the American reality show Judge Judy in 2011
According to the source, the hit dating show has been inundated with fame-hungry influencers and wannabe reality stars, more interested in boosting their profiles than finding their soulmates.
‘It’s been a real challenge so far,’ they said. ‘We’ve had a massive influx of influencers and wannabe celebrities applying for the show, but we’re struggling to find genuine participants who are truly looking for love.’
The surge of applicants seeking their 15 minutes of fame has left the show’s producers in a bind, as they sift through countless auditions to find authentic candidates who are willing to put their hearts on the line for a chance at true love.
According to the source, a bevy of participants who have applied and been approached for the show have already appeared on other reality tv shows, making them ineligible.
‘They would get through one or two stages of the interviews, then mention they were on another show, wasting everyone’s time.’
The source said Channel Nine wanted to find more ‘genuine’ couples like lovebirds Tahnee Cook and Ollie Skelton (pictured)
