The Married At First Sight stars are taking things to the next level!

In full swing: Playing happy families at the park with Landon. Phillip Castleton

They’re the couple who every Married At First Sight Australia fan is dying to see go official. And it seems like things are definitely progressing between Awhina Rutene and Billy Belcher. With the Kiwi bride letting the British-born lad meet her seven-year-old son Landon!
(Credit: Phillip Castleton)
“I introduced Billy to Landon around November last year, when we were still filming MAFS,” reveals Awhina, 31, during our exclusive Woman’s Day photoshoot in Perth. “They get on so well. Landon loves Billy.”

When questioned whether it was a big decision to acquaint her son, whom she shares with an ex-partner. With Billy –given she and her twin sister Cleo were staunchly against her MAFS husband Adrian Araouzou going anywhere near him – Awhina insists it was a no-brainer.

“There was no question,” she says.

“Landon loves Billy so much. They’ve bonded over soccer.”
(Credit: Phillip Castleton)
Billy, 31, enthuses that he also loves spending time with Landon, explaining that he “reminds me of myself when I was younger”.

Billy adds, “He’s such a funny little kid. What a menace! But such a good lad.”

And it seems like the cheeky wee chap is much like many fans in wanting to see his mum and Billy get together!

“Landon is so funny,” laughs Awhina.

“I’m always telling him Billy’s just a friend and he’s always saying the opposite. He’s always making comments here and there.”

Early in June, Awhina and Billy, who both live in Perth, set the internet alight when they uploaded a series of images of them snuggling up to each other on social media. While they’ve certainly noticed their fans’ hopeful comments, they’re not ready to put a label on their relationship quite yet.
(Credit: Phillip Castleton)
“Just because of what happened on screen, that’s what people want and that’s actually so lovely,” says Billy.

“Obviously, we’ve got good chemistry and we do have a good connection. It’s very natural with me and Fee. “Whenever we’re together, we’re laughing and smiling. We’re as close as can be. But to try to start something new off the back of MAFS is really hard. Obviously, I’ve seen Fee go through a lot and so it wasn’t like, ‘Let’s try to crack on.’ “I don’t think that’s the right time to be doing anything like that, so we’re just trying to enjoy each other’s time and have a laugh.”

Billy was originally matched with Sierah Swepstone by MAFS relationship experts John Aiken, Mel Schilling and Alessandra Rampolla.

Thinking back to his days on the show, he says, “If I’m being truthful, I asked the experts for something that I didn’t even receive – as in what I would look for in a partner. “And Fee definitely matches what I would go for compared to what I was paired with. We would have probably gone a lot better.”

Awhina agrees, “A lot of the qualities Billy has are something I asked for in a partner, so it would have definitely been different.”

Though the timing may not be quite right for them, could the duo ever see themselves taking things further?

“Never say never!” says Billy with a cheeky grin.