Married at First Sight has found its newest relationship expert, with Dr Lurve understood to have signed on for the show’s 2027 season.
Production insiders tell Daily Mail that the well-known love and relationship coach, whose real name is Brigitte Zonta, will join longtime expert John Aiken and sexologist Alessandra Rampolla on the panel for the reality television juggernaut’s 14th series.
The appointment, which has not yet been formally announced by Nine, comes as the experiment enters a sensitive new chapter following the death of beloved expert Mel Schilling.
Dr Lurve had reportedly been travelling through Europe and was in Milan when she received the call to return to Australia ahead of filming.
Sources say she cut her overseas trip short after securing the coveted role and is now preparing to take her place alongside Aiken and Rampolla.
One production insider described Dr Lurve as an ideal television personality, combining extensive relationship knowledge with warmth, humour and an ability to explain complicated ideas in a way viewers can immediately understand.
Married at First Sight has found its newest relationship expert, with Dr Lurve (pictured) understood to have signed on for the show’s 2027 season
Production insiders tell Daily Mail that the well-known love and relationship coach, whose real name is Brigitte Zonta , will join longtime expert John Aiken (right) and sexologist Alessandra Rampolla (left) on the panel for the reality television juggernaut’s 14th series
The source said she would not be afraid to confront questionable behaviour while also seeking to understand what was driving it.
Another insider said Dr Lurve would bring a contemporary understanding of dating, intimacy, attachment, self-worth and communication that should resonate with the participants and the show’s audience.
‘No one can replace Mel, and that is not what they are asking Dr Lurve to do,’ the source said.
‘She has her own voice, her own energy and her own way of connecting with people.
‘She can be warm and entertaining, but she can also cut through the excuses when somebody is not being honest.’
The insider said Dr Lurve’s work examining relationship patterns, emotional availability and the difference between chemistry and genuine compatibility would be particularly relevant to the experiment.
‘She understands modern dating and why people become attached to the wrong person,’ the source said.
‘She will be looking at whether the participants’ words and behaviour actually match. That is going to make her very interesting at the dinner parties and commitment ceremonies.’
The appointment, which has not yet been formally announced by Nine, comes as the experiment enters a sensitive new chapter following the death of beloved expert Mel Schilling
Dr Lurve had reportedly been travelling through Europe and was in Milan when she received the call to return to Australia ahead of filming
‘No one can replace Mel, and that is not what they are asking Dr Lurve to do,’ the source said. ‘She has her own voice, her own energy and her own way of connecting with people’
The significant appointment comes as MAFS continues to evolve behind the scenes following Mel’s shock death.
The Mail previously revealed that Endemol Shine executives had quietly begun contingency planning for the future of the panel, with producers determined to preserve the credibility of the social experiment as it enters a new era.
Sources insisted producers wanted someone with genuine professional credentials and extensive relationship expertise rather than a celebrity appointment.
‘The audience wants someone they can trust,’ one source said. ‘They want experts who aren’t afraid to call out bad behaviour, challenge the participants and actually help the couples.’
Despite ongoing speculation online, insiders said one prominent name had already been ruled out.
‘They’ve completely ruled out having a former participant like Lucinda Light join the panel,’ the source revealed.
‘They absolutely love Lucinda, but they don’t believe having a former bride as an expert fits the direction they’re taking.
‘They’re looking for someone with professional authority who complements John and Alessandra – not someone who becomes part of the story.’
Daily Mail can reveal the upcoming series will feature former Bachelorette contestant Kayne Buik (left) and former coal miner Wintah Cunnington (right) as grooms
The brides participating include Adelaide real estate agent Kristen Goedecke , Perth cosmetic nurse Kodie Wyatt (pictured), flight attendant Shona Marino and personal trainer Victoria Sellar
A diverse cast prepares to marry
Daily Mail can reveal the upcoming series will feature former Bachelorette contestant Kayne Buik and former coal miner Wintah Cunnington as grooms.
The brides participating include Adelaide real estate agent Kristen Goedecke, Perth cosmetic nurse Kodie Wyatt, flight attendant Shona Marino and personal trainer Victoria Sellar, with further participants expected to emerge.
Several of the cast members are already familiar with public attention.
Buik appeared on Sam Frost’s season of The Bachelorette in 2015 and has since built Hey Honey, a singles-events business operating around Australia.
The collection of hospitality operators, business owners, athletes and returning reality personalities should give the incoming expert plenty to unpack.
A difficult new chapter
If confirmed, Dr Lurve’s appointment will come at an intensely emotional moment for everyone connected to the program.
Schilling, centre, was one of the defining faces of MAFS, working alongside Aiken for more than a decade as the Australian format developed into an international phenomenon
Following her death, Aiken described his longtime colleague as his ‘partner in crime’ and spoke of the vitality, humour and determination she brought to the set
Schilling was one of the defining faces of MAFS, working alongside Aiken for more than a decade as the Australian format developed into an international phenomenon.
Following her death, Aiken described his longtime colleague as his ‘partner in crime’ and spoke of the vitality, humour and determination she brought to the set.
Her absence will inevitably be felt during the dinner-party debriefs and commitment ceremonies where the experts assess the couples and challenge their behaviour.
Production sources say choosing the person who would join Aiken and Rampolla was therefore approached with considerable sensitivity.
‘They were never looking for a carbon copy of Mel,’ an insider said.
‘They needed somebody credible, confident and compassionate who could respect what Mel brought to the show while establishing a completely authentic presence of her own.’
The source said Dr Lurve’s mix of relationship coaching, media experience and accessible communication helped her stand out.
‘She can explain why somebody keeps repeating the same destructive pattern without making it sound like a lecture,’ the insider said.
‘She is also quick, funny and very comfortable talking about subjects other people might avoid. For a show like MAFS, that combination is enormously valuable.’
Dr Lurve’s reported dash home from Milan suggests she is wasting little time preparing for what could become the most prominent role of her career.
Nine has been contacted for comment.
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