EXCLUSIVE: John Aiken and Alessandra Rampolla spill on season 13.

MAFS’ John Aiken and Alessandra Rampolla reveal what fans can expect from the upcoming season. Photos: Channel 9

Production for the upcoming thirteenth season of Married At First Sight is well and truly underway, with a majority of the participants spotted filming their weddings across the country last month. Despite behind-the-scenes setbacks and rumours that producers struggled to lock in a complete cast, the new season is tipped to be one of the wildest viewers have ever seen.

As first revealed by Daily Mail this week, the 2026 cast includes a former reality star, an AFL player, a TV presenter, and several popular TikTok personalities. Relationship experts Alessandra Rampolla and John Aiken told Yahoo Lifestyle at the 65th Annual TV WEEK Logie Awards on Sunday that if they were to describe the upcoming season in one word, it would be “complex”.

“I think we’re gonna have a lot of twists and turns, and we have a lot of strong women on the show this year,” John teased.

Alessandra revealed that they are yet to film the first dinner party of the season, so she has no idea what the cast dynamic will be like.

“Right now, I think everybody’s lovely! Ask me in a couple of months, I might have a different opinion!” she laughed.

Alessandra and John attended the 2025 Logies together. Photo: Getty

‘I will enjoy that very much’

Since production began last month, the experts have filmed their sit-down interviews with each of the brides and grooms to discuss their relationship history and intentions heading into the experiment.

“I think what you get in those initial interviews is opinions, you get dating and relationship mindsets, you get very different background stories, and that’s what we’re looking for,” John detailed. “And one of the great parts of the show is it’s very diverse, so we get different ages, different cultures, different backgrounds and upbringings, and that’s one of the reasons why it’s so successful.”

Alessandra, who first joined the series in 2021, added that she’s very excited about the “cultural diversity” amongst this year’s cast.

“On the same topic, so to speak, it will give you a slightly different perspective. And I think there’s something to be learned and understood about human behaviour in general when you’re able to take those nuances into the mix, so I will enjoy that very much,” she remarked.

Do the MAFS experts stay in contact with previous brides and grooms?

Speaking about the cast from this year’s season, Alessandra revealed that the only participant she’s stayed in touch with is Katie Johnston, who recently revealed her 28kg weight loss transformation.

“I literally had a small chat with Katie online after her A Current Affair special the other night, because we’ve both gone through a weight loss journey and issues with certain same topics. It was very nice to reach out to her and know that she’s doing so well,” she shared.

“I don’t really get an opportunity to keep up with past casts, and I don’t live in the country, so I’m not here most of the time. It makes it a little more difficult when you’re 15 hours difference and on the other side of the world.”

John also shared that he hasn’t stayed in touch with any of the 2025 participants post-show, but wishes them well.

“I mean, we all care for them, and we want them to get the fairytale during the show, but after the show, I don’t see them or speak to them at all. They go on to much bigger and better things,” he said.