Married At First Sight viewers were left stunned on Tuesday as they watched this season’s strongest couple start to implode.
Dave Hand and Jamie Marinos, who quickly became fan favourites for their strong bond and instant connection, revealed they may not be as close as it seems.
The towering tradie, 36, was left questioning his relationship with his bride, 28, after he woke up in bed next to Veronica Cloherty during ‘partner swap’ week.
Dave and Veronica, 32, were caught getting cosy and giggling in the bed he shares with Jamie when producers entered the room on the final morning of the challenge.
When the pair were separated and asked how they got along during the couple swap, the ‘gentle giant’ and personal trainer became cagey with their answers.
‘Yeah fine. We get on. So it’s good. I am having a good time. I’m not going to deny that. It’s a stark contrast to my relationship with Eliot,’ Veronica said.
‘It’s definitely different. Feedback week has given me time to think,’ Dave added.
‘Prior to leaving the apartment, Jamie told me she loved me and I did not say it back.
‘Jamie saying that she loves me sort of put the pressure on me but I don’t move that quick. I had to take the time to think about that,’ he said.
The pair were later seen on a date and tension filled the air as they kept locking eyes and giggling with one another.
‘It’s been good having a little break from it all. It’s nice to chat about it to someone who gets it,’ Veronica told Dave.
‘It can get very intense. You can start to overthink. It’s not easy with Eliot. Maybe I’m not chill enough for him.’
Dave immediately jumped in to talk Veronica up, saying: ‘I’ve only got a little period of time with you but I don’t think that’s true at all. I think you’re pretty easy going.’
The compliment left Veronica blushing as she agreed: ‘I think I am too. I think I’m pretty chill.’
Producers then pulled Veronica aside to question her suddenly bubbly behaviour, which was in stark contrast to her harsh interactions with Eliot.
‘The last few days have been really great. I’m having a great time. Dave’s an attractive person. [We] have a similar sense of humour. He’s ticking a lot of boxes,’ she said.
‘It’s very easy spending time with Dave. He’s attentive, he looks at me when I come into the room. We laugh.’
Dave also sang Veronica her praises, though he appeared to be more careful with his comments about her.
‘Eliot seemed to struggle to get along with Veronica so I was a bit wary of it at the start. She’s actually pretty cool,’ he said.
‘I think Veronica and I are pretty similar. She is a good person. We have good banter.’
But while Dave let loose with bride Veronica, his TV ‘wife’ Jamie was facing a harsh truth back in the hotel with Adrian Araouzou, who she was paired with for the week.
During the Honesty Letter challenge, Jamie confided in Adrian, 30, saying Dave didn’t want to have sex as frequently as she did.