{"id":645296,"date":"2026-08-19T10:56:23","date_gmt":"2026-08-19T10:56:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/645296\/"},"modified":"2026-08-19T10:56:23","modified_gmt":"2026-08-19T10:56:23","slug":"mafs-expert-alessandra-says-the-energy-is-different-without-mel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/645296\/","title":{"rendered":"MAFS expert Alessandra says the ‘energy is different’ without Mel"},"content":{"rendered":"

Less than six months after Married At First Sight expert Mel Schilling passed away<\/a><\/strong> from cancer, her fellow experts John Aiken and Alessandra Rampolla are filming the show\u2019s new season. But, as they revealed on the Logie Awards red carpet<\/a><\/strong>, it\u2019s not easy making MAFS without Mel.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s very difficult,\u201d John told TV WEEK<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Alessandra agreed. \u201cThat part has been, I would say, a big part of what\u2019s so new about coming on this year. Clearly the energy\u2019s different and we\u2019re building a new show without her. Missing her very much along the way. Yes, it\u2019s very tough.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA \u2013 AUGUST 16: Alessandra Rampolla attends the 66th TV WEEK Logie Awards at The Star on August 16, 2026 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Don Arnold\/WireImage)<\/p>\n

Puerto Rican sexologist Alessandra<\/a><\/strong> joined MAFS in 2021, replacing Dr Trisha Stratford <\/a><\/strong>who was one of the show\u2019s original experts. John Aiken is the only expert who has filmed every season of the show since it began in 2015.<\/p>\n

Rumours have been flying that a new expert has been hired for Married At First Sight this season, but John and Alessandra aren\u2019t giving anything away just yet.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll will be revealed,\u201d John teases.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo many surprises this year,\u201d Alessandra adds.<\/p>\n

\"\"Mel Shilling, Alessandra Rampolla and John Aiken were the experi<\/p>\n

As for this year\u2019s cast of brides and grooms, and how their marriages go, John says there are some \u201creal big surprises\u201d early on this season.<\/p>\n

\u201cI mean, we\u2019re always surprised,\u201d he explains, \u201cbut we\u2019ve got some bombshells early.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s always really exciting to start a new season and watch how they reveal themselves to us,\u201d Alessandra adds.<\/p>\n

\n

John says there are a lot of people that are starting to get \u201cthat chemistry\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne of the big things is whether the singles that come on are able to open themselves up and experience new things or whether they just keep repeating the same patterns,\u201d he explains, \u201cand this year, they\u2019ve really thrown themselves into it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe love seeing people committed to the experiment and we have a lot of that this year,\u201d Alessandra adds.<\/p>\n

\n\tRelated\n<\/p>\n

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