Married At First Sight viewers are convinced that divorce could already be on the cards for at least one couple who’ve wed on the show, with the tan lines barely faded from their honeymoon.
In this week’s episode Ben and Stephanie entered the next phase of the TV experiment, which sees individuals who have never met tie the knot after being matched ‘by science’ – moving in together.
Having enjoyed a blissful honeymoon in Majorca where their chemistry was electric, groom Ben, 36, was already feeling apprehensive about living with his wife of just seven days.
And cracks started to develop, in seismic proportions, after Ben took Steph on a visit to his home town, where he was hit by an explosion of emotions about the past.
His ex had broken his heart, he admitted to camera, and he was now struggling with laying himself bare.
“I’m finding it hard to open up and show my true self because I’ve been burned,” he confessed. “I thought I’d put that to bed.”
When Ben subsequently went to work, leaving his wedding ring on the bedside table, policewoman Steph, 32, was devastated.
“Unfortunately in the last few days I feel like he’s pulling away,” she worried.
“I don’t feel like he’s in it anymore. We haven’t even had our first date yet.
“I’m really not sure where this is going.”
Viewers weren’t impressed with the wedding ring stunt and had a little rant about Ben’s apparent cold feet on Twitter…
No wedding ring lol
He could be allergic to it!
#MarriedAtFirstSight— Mak Mulenga (@MakankaMulenga) March 1, 2018
Too busy to wear the ring, eh Ben? #MarriedAtFirstSight pic.twitter.com/FSmOd2fM46
— BoscosBitch (@boscos_bitch) March 1, 2018
Ooooh the wedding ring off is COLD Ben #marriedatfirstsight
— ElDudeBros Podcast (@ElDudeBroPod) March 1, 2018
Literally gasped when Ben left his wedding ring at home! #MarriedAtFirstSight pic.twitter.com/dt7Emgp2rM
— jay_does_nails (@JayaKerai) March 1, 2018
#marriedatfirstsightuk Honeymoon period seems to be over for Ben & Stephanie. Ben’s taken his wedding ring off. D.I.V.O.R.C.E looming
— Mimi 💖 (@mariemurphy74) March 1, 2018
After a pep talk from one of the Channel 4 show’s matchmakers, the couple agreed to take things more slowly (oh, the irony) and reconnected over a romantic first date, agreeing a second one is definitely on the cards…
Elsewhere in the episode, a happy ever after was also looking unlikely for the other couple who said “I do” mere moments after “How do!”…
Harriet, 32, and Richard, 28, shared a pleasant but passionless honeymoon in Portugal, and sparks still failed to fly when they moved into their new home together.
Police sergeant Richard pulled out all the stops to prove what a great catch he was, bringing his new wife flowers and cooking a lasagne from scratch that was ready for her when she got home from a long day at the office.
But she was concerned there was no spark and the humdrum domestic set-up was a shock to her system.
And then Richard moved his dog Merlin in… and Harriet revealed she was a cat person! Twitter erupted:
#marriedatfirstsightuk not a dog person?? To me that translates as D.I.V.O.R.C.E !!!!! #DealBreaker #DogsForLife @Channel4
— Jo Carey (@WeeMrsC_84) March 1, 2018
Harriet lost my vote when they were on honeymoon and she didn’t say hello to the dog they passed. Then poor Merlin gets shunned by her. She doesn’t deserve Dick and Merlin. #marriedatfirstsightuk
— Suzy Baines (@Suzy_Baines) March 1, 2018
Most accurately matched according to science but she is a cat person and he is a dog person? What #marriedatfirstsightuk pic.twitter.com/k3rshu4OhD
— Lizzy Doyle (@edoyle95x) March 1, 2018
Run Richard! Run for your life!! If she can’t stand your beautiful dog in the same room then she won’t accept her in your bed (where every dog belongs) ❤🐶see you later hen! 👋🏼#marriedatfirstsightuk
— Angela Johnstone (@AngelaJ11_) March 1, 2018
Oh dear! Still, if Harriet decides after the obligatory seven weeks of cohabiting that she doesn’t want to remain married, there are plenty of offers stacking up for Richard on social media…
I would marry Richard in a HEARTBEAT. A HEARTBEAT I tell you. He is the perfect man. We wouldn’t even need to go dog shopping. And he cooks everything from scratch. What a man. #marriedatfirstsightuk #marriedatfirstsight
— Jeremy Skyrme (@DrSkyrme) March 1, 2018
Read more: First Dates couple welcome the show’s first baby
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