# Married at First Sight (Australian TV series) season 8

The eighth season of Married at First Sight premiered on 22 February 2021 on the Nine Network. Relationship experts John Aiken and Mel Schilling returned from the previous season, and were joined by sexologist Alessandra Rampolla to match 9 brides and 9 grooms together. Halfway through the experiment, the experts matched another 3 brides and 3 grooms together.

## Couple profiles

| No. | Couple | Age | Home | Occupation | Honeymoon | Final Decision | Status |
| 1 | Melissa Rawson | 31 | Melbourne, Victoria | Workplace Trainer | Edith, New South Wales | Yes | Married with children |
| 1 | Bryce Ruthven | 31 | Canberra, Australian Capital Territory | Radio Announcer | Edith, New South Wales | Yes | Married with children |
| 2 | Rebecca Zemek | 27 | Perth, Western Australia | Business Manager | Hunter Valley, New South Wales | Yes | Separated |
| 2 | Jake Edwards | 32 | Melbourne, Victoria | Charity CEO | Hunter Valley, New South Wales | Yes | Separated |
| 3 | Samantha Harvey | 31 | Canberra, Australian Capital Territory | Property Developer | Casuarina, New South Wales | Broke up before final decision | Separated |
| 3 | Cameron Dunne | 32 | Melbourne, Victoria | Crane Operator | Casuarina, New South Wales | Broke up before final decision | Separated |
| 4 | Booka Nile | 31 | Perth, Western Australia | Musician/Mental Health Worker | South Coast, New South Wales | Broke up before final decision | Separated |
| 4 | Brett Helling | 31 | Melbourne, Victoria | Psychology Student/Electrician | South Coast, New South Wales | Broke up before final decision | Separated |
| 5 | Coco Stedman | 30 | Sydney, New South Wales | Pilates Studio Owner | South Coast, New South Wales | Broke up before final decision | Separated |
| 5 | Sam Carraro | 32 | Melbourne, Victoria | Clothing Brand Owner | South Coast, New South Wales | Broke up before final decision | Separated |
| 6 | Alana Lister | 30 | Brisbane, Queensland | Teacher | South Coast, New South Wales | Yes | Separated |
| 6 | Jason Engler | 35 | Brisbane, Queensland | Construction Estimator | South Coast, New South Wales | Yes | Separated |
| 7 | Joanne Todd | 39 | Melbourne, Victoria | Barber | Shoalhaven, New South Wales | Broke up before final decision | Separated |
| 7 | James Susler | 44 | Melbourne, Victoria | Prestige Car Company Owner | Shoalhaven, New South Wales | Broke up before final decision | Separated |
| 8 | Belinda Vickers | 29 | Melbourne, Victoria | Door-to-Door Sales | Caves Beach, New South Wales | Yes | Separated |
| 8 | Patrick Hayes Dwyer | 27 | Melbourne, Victoria | Personal Trainer | Caves Beach, New South Wales | Yes | Separated |
| 9 | Beth Moore | 39 | Perth, Western Australia | Retail Worker/Student | Mimosa Rocks, New South Wales | Broke up before final decision | Separated |
| 9 | Russell Duance | 37 | Adelaide, South Australia | Diesel Mechanic | Mimosa Rocks, New South Wales | Broke up before final decision | Separated |
| 10 | Georgia Fairweather | 25 | Brisbane, Queensland | Entrepreneur | Hunter Valley, New South Wales | No | Separated |
| 10 | Liam Cooper | 29 | Brisbane, Queensland | Prison Case Officer | Hunter Valley, New South Wales | No | Separated |
| 11 | Kerry Knight | 30 | Sunshine Coast, Queensland | Occupation Therapist | Cabarita, New South Wales | Yes | Married with child |
| 11 | Johnny Balbuziente | 30 | Brisbane, Queensland | Theatre Producer | Cabarita, New South Wales | Yes | Married with child |
| 12 | Jaimie Gardner | 35 | Sydney, New South Wales | Brand Manager | Adelaide, South Australia | Broke up before final decision | Separated |
| 12 | Chris Jensen | 32 | Sunshine Coast, Queensland | FIFO Driller | Adelaide, South Australia | Broke up before final decision | Separated |

## Commitment ceremony history

| Episode: | 9 | 13 | 17 | 21 | 25 | 29/30 |
| Ceremony: | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Final Decision |
| Melissa | Stay | Stay | Stay | Stay | Stay | Yes |
| Bryce | Stay | Stay | Stay | Stay | Stay | Yes |
| Rebecca | Stay | Leave | Stay | Stay | Leave | Yes |
| Jake | Stay | Stay | Stay | Stay | Stay | Yes |
| Alana | Stay | Stay | Stay | Stay | Stay | Yes |
| Jason | Stay | Stay | Stay | Stay | Stay | Yes |
| Belinda | Stay | Stay | Stay | Stay | Stay | Yes |
| Patrick | Stay | Stay | Stay | Stay | Stay | Yes |
| Kerry | Not in Experiment | Not in Experiment | Stay | Stay | Stay | Yes |
| Johnny | Not in Experiment | Not in Experiment | Stay | Stay | Stay | Yes |
| Georgia | Not in Experiment | Not in Experiment | Stay | Stay | Stay | Yes |
| Liam | Not in Experiment | Not in Experiment | Stay | Stay | Stay | No |
| Booka | Stay | Stay | Stay | Leave | Leave | Left |
| Brett | Stay | Stay | Stay | Stay | Leave | Left |
| Jaimie | Not in Experiment | Not in Experiment | Stay | Left | Left | Left | Left |
| Chris | Not in Experiment | Not in Experiment | Stay | Left | Left | Left | Left |
| Joanne | Stay | Stay | Leave | Left | Left | Left |
| James | Stay | Leave | Leave | Left | Left | Left |
| Beth | Stay | Leave | Left | Left | Left | Left |
| Russell | Leave | Leave | Left | Left | Left | Left |
| Coco | Leave | Leave | Left | Left | Left | Left |
| Sam | Stay | Leave | Left | Left | Left | Left |
| Samantha | Leave | Leave | Left | Left | Left | Left |
| Cameron | Stay | Leave | Left | Left | Left | Left |
| Notes | none | none | 1 | 2 | none | 3, 4 |
| Left | none | Beth & Russell | Joanne & James | Jaimie & Chris | Booka & Brett | Georgia & Liam |
| Left | none | Coco & Sam | Joanne & James | Jaimie & Chris | Booka & Brett | Georgia & Liam |
| Left | none | Samantha & Cameron | Joanne & James | Jaimie & Chris | Booka & Brett | Georgia & Liam |
    This couple left the experiment outside of commitment ceremony.
    This couple elected to leave the experiment during the commitment ceremony.
* ^1 : Three new couples were introduced into the experiment.
* ^2 : Chris left the experiment on his own. Due to this Jaimie also had to leave the experiment.
* ^3 : Alana originally decided to leave, but changed her mind to stay after hearing Jason's vows.
* ^4 : Liam originally decided to stay, but changed his mind to leave after hearing Georgia's vows.

## Controversy

The season was heavily criticised by media outlets and fans of the show due to the lack of diversity in casting. The series also saw accusations of misogyny against a number of the male participants. In June the Australian Communications and Media Authority revealed they were looking into the season after receiving 54 complaints from viewers about the show. Several of the complaints alleged the series had aired abusive interactions between participants through "gaslighting, social, verbal and mental abuse". The Network was later cleared of any breaches.

## Ratings

| No. | Title | Air date | Timeslot | Overnight ratings | Overnight ratings | Consolidated ratings | Consolidated ratings | Total viewers | Ref(s) |
| No. | Title | Air date | Timeslot | Viewers | Rank | Viewers | Rank | Total viewers | Ref(s) |
| 1 | Episode 1 | 22 February 2021 | Monday 7:30pm | 964,000 | 1 | 110,000 | 1 | 1,074,000 | |
| 2 | Episode 2 | 23 February 2021 | Tuesday 7:30pm | 992,000 | 1 | 105,000 | 1 | 1,097,000 | |
| 3 | Episode 3 | 24 February 2021 | Wednesday 7:30pm | 891,000 | 2 | 128,000 | 1 | 1,019,000 | |
| 4 | Episode 4 | 25 February 2021 | Thursday 7:30pm | 773,000 | 5 | 151,000 | 1 | 924,000 | |
| 5 | Episode 5 | 28 February 2021 | Sunday 7:00pm | 898,000 | 1 | 114,000 | 1 | 1,012,000 | |
| 6 | Episode 6 | 1 March 2021 | Monday 7:30pm | 1,020,000 | 1 | 110,000 | 1 | 1,130,000 | |
| 7 | Episode 7 | 2 March 2021 | Tuesday 7:30pm | 944,000 | 1 | 115,000 | 1 | 1,059,000 | |
| 8 | Episode 8 | 3 March 2021 | Wednesday 7:30pm | 932,000 | 1 | 111,000 | 1 | 1,043,000 | |
| 9 | Episode 9 | 7 March 2021 | Sunday 7:00pm | 945,000 | 1 | 131,000 | 1 | 1,076,000 | |
| 10 | Episode 10 | 8 March 2021 | Monday 7:30pm | 804,000 | 7 | 97,000 | 6 | 901,000 | |
| 11 | Episode 11 | 9 March 2021 | Tuesday 7:30pm | 945,000 | 2 | 89,000 | 1 | 1,034,000 | |
| 12 | Episode 12 | 10 March 2021 | Wednesday 7:30pm | 969,000 | 1 | 104,000 | 1 | 1,073,000 | |
| 13 | Episode 13 | 14 March 2021 | Sunday 7:00pm | 1,096,000 | 1 | 92,000 | 1 | 1,188,000 | |
| 14 | Episode 14 | 15 March 2021 | Monday 7:30pm | 979,000 | 1 | 106,000 | 1 | 1,085,000 | |
| 15 | Episode 15 | 16 March 2021 | Tuesday 7:30pm | 1,026,000 | 1 | 108,000 | 1 | 1,134,000 | |
| 16 | Episode 16 | 17 March 2021 | Wednesday 7:30pm | 1,030,000 | 1 | 121,000 | 1 | 1,151,000 | |
| 17 | Episode 17 | 21 March 2021 | Sunday 7:00pm | 1,116,000 | 1 | 86,000 | 1 | 1,202,000 | |
| 18 | Episode 18 | 22 March 2021 | Monday 7:30pm | 1,068,000 | 3 | 75,000 | 1 | 1,143,000 | |
| 19 | Episode 19 | 23 March 2021 | Tuesday 7:30pm | 1,040,000 | 2 | 92,000 | 1 | 1,132,000 | |
| 20 | Episode 20 | 24 March 2021 | Wednesday 7:30pm | 1,017,000 | 1 | 107,000 | 1 | 1,124,000 | |
| 21 | Episode 21 | 28 March 2021 | Sunday 7:30pm | 1,106,000 | 1 | 85,000 | 1 | 1,191,000 | |
| 22 | Episode 22 | 29 March 2021 | Monday 7:30pm | 1,065,000 | 1 | 94,000 | 1 | 1,159,000 | |
| 23 | Episode 23 | 30 March 2021 | Tuesday 7:30pm | 1,031,000 | 1 | 99,000 | 1 | 1,130,000 | |
| 24 | Episode 24 | 31 March 2021 | Wednesday 7:30pm | 1,003,000 | 1 | 126,000 | 1 | 1,129,000 | |
| 25 | Episode 25 | 5 April 2021 | Monday 7:30pm | 1,121,000 | 2 | 94,000 | 1 | 1,215,000 | |
| 26 | Episode 26 | 6 April 2021 | Tuesday 7:30pm | 1,009,000 | 1 | 65,000 | 1 | 1,074,000 | |
| 27 | Episode 27 | 7 April 2021 | Wednesday 7:30pm | 1,100,000 | 1 | 86,000 | 1 | 1,186,000 | |
| 28 | Episode 28 | 11 April 2021 | Sunday 7:00pm | 1,127,000 | 1 | 82,000 | 1 | 1,209,000 | |
| 29 | Final Vows - Part 1 | 12 April 2021 | Monday 7:30pm | 1,093,000 | 1 | 79,000 | 1 | 1,172,000 | |
| 30 | Final Vows - Part 2 | 13 April 2021 | Tuesday 7:30pm | 1,032,000 | 1 | 69,000 | 1 | 1,101,000 | |
| 31 | Reunion Dinner Party | 14 April 2021 | Wednesday 7:30pm | 1,134,000 | 1 | 112,000 | 1 | 1,246,000 | |
| 32 | Finale | 18 April 2021 | Sunday 7:00pm | 1,398,000 | 1 | 93,000 | 1 | 1,481,000 | |