Marryam Chehelnabi will join John Aiken and Alessandra Rampolla on the MAFS Australia 2027 panel
Marryam Chehelnabi is joining the Married at First Sight Australia panel for the upcoming 2027 series (Image: Getty Images )
The relationship expert taking Mel Schilling’s spot on MAFS Australia has been revealed.
Channel 9 has finally named the therapist who will be joining John Aiken and Alessandra Rampolla for the 2027 series. It comes after the departure of long-serving expert Mel, who stepped away from the programme to focus on her health and family before her tragic death in March.
The Australian network broke the news on social media, revealing that “highly respected” expert Marryam Chehelnabi has joined the reality show’s panel. The broadcaster also said that “her extensive background and wealth of experience will bring a fresh and distinctive perspective to the experiment”.
But who exactly is the latest Married at First Sight relationship guru?
Who is new MAFS Australia expert Marryam Chehelnabi?
Marryam Chehelnabi is a registered clinical psychotherapist who holds a Master of Science in Medicine and a Master of Counselling and Applied Psychotherapy. Her professional experience also includes working in areas such as domestic violence and homelessness, reports OK!.
MAFS won’t be the first time Marryam has worked in TV, as she previously starred in Couples Therapy Australia. The reality series, which started back in 2022, follows real-life couples as they sit through months of therapy with Marryam.
She has now branched into the MAFS family and appears to be settling in well. The new expert recently revealed that the transition has been seamless. “It was very, very organic. Meeting them [John and Alessandra] on the couch, we just fit. It was seamless,” she told PedestrianTV.
Her co-star John shared a similar opinion, saying: “We met Marryam on set and basically we gelled straight away. She’s very knowledgeable, she’s got great expertise but also she’s a real team player, so it was so nice for us to welcome her.”
Alessandra added: “It was a very easy breezy kind of fit between the three of us. And, like John said, she does bring a very particular expertise and has her very own special way of communicating and getting her thoughts across, which we really welcome. So I think it’s a beautiful balance.”
The upcoming series is now in production and expected to air in 2027 for Australian viewers. But UK-based fans will face a long wait before it lands on our screens. All 13 seasons are available to stream now on Channel 4 for those who have yet to catch up.
Marryam’s appointment comes just months after beloved expert Mel died aged 54, following a battle with cancer. Her tragic passing came shortly after she announced her MAFS exit.
Writing on Instagram at the time, Mel said: “I am incredibly grateful to the fans, the production team, and my fellow experts for their trust and passion over the years. I am leaving not with sadness, but with a deep sense of gratitude for everything we’ve achieved together.” She then spoke directly to fans, stating: “Thank you for being part of this chapter with me.”
MAFS Australia is available to stream on Channel 4
