They were the pairing no one saw coming – and now Married At First Sight’s Jamie Marinos and Eliot Donovan have finally revealed the truth behind their whirlwind romance in their first and only joint interview.
Speaking exclusively to Daily Mail Australia, the pair lifted the lid on their post-show connection, revealing the flirty friendship that blossomed into something deeper – even if they insist they’re not labelling it.
‘It just kind of happened,’ Jamie admitted. ‘We were both single, we were vibing, and the flirting just ramped up.’
Eliot added: ‘It was a bit of a flirtationship. We were just having fun with the time we had together.’
The bond began during filming, but didn’t deepen until after the show aired.
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They were the pairing no one saw coming – and now Married At First Sight’s Jamie Marinos and Eliot Donovan have finally revealed the truth behind their whirlwind romance in their first and only joint interview
Jamie reached out to Eliot after watching his tumultuous return with intruder bride Veronica, asking for his number through groom Adrian Araouzou.
‘We had a 45-minute phone call the first time we spoke,’ Eliot recalled. ‘We haven’t stopped talking since.’
Jamie said Eliot was a vital support system after her breakup with Dave Hand.
‘As much as Eliot can be a pain, he’s been incredible,’ she said. ‘He always had empathy for what I went through. He was one of the few guys who genuinely cared.’
Eliot added: ‘I just felt a moral duty to have her back. It wasn’t about sliding into DMs, I just cared.’
While neither confirmed a relationship, both admitted there’s chemistry.
‘We may or may not have had sex,’ Eliot joked.
Jamie quipped: ‘If I say “yes”, Dave’s gonna make a TikTok shaming me again.’
Speaking to Daily Mail Australia, the pair lifted the lid on their post-show connection, revealing the flirty friendship that blossomed into something deeper – even if they insist they’re not labelling it
But the pair are adamant they’re not rushing into anything.
‘We’re in different states, we have a lot happening, and we don’t want to lose the friendship,’ Eliot said.
Jamie added: ‘We’d probably clash if we jumped into something now. I just got out of something heavy. This is my time.’
Both stars described the jarring shift from filming to anonymity – and then to instant fame once the show aired.
‘No one knew who we were at first. Then overnight, you can’t go anywhere without getting stopped,’ Jamie said.
Eliot said he never fully returned to normal life: ‘It’s like being in limbo – you’re waiting for the fallout.’
Jamie spoke openly about her struggles with anxiety and the online abuse she feared would come after her failed marriage.
‘All I could think was, people are going to say they wouldn’t have sex with me either,’ she said.
Jamie said Eliot was a vital support system after her breakup with Dave Hand. ‘As much as Eliot can be a pain, he’s been incredible,’ she said. ‘He always had empathy for what I went through. He was one of the few guys who genuinely cared’
‘That humiliation, and knowing people were happy to see me in pain – that was hard.’
Despite this, Jamie said public support helped rebuild her confidence.
‘People loved me without makeup, being real – it made me feel like myself again.’
Eliot went from public enemy to fan favourite. ‘At first, I was labelled an “incel”. But then TikTok changed everything. My mum texted me saying people at work suddenly loved me.’
Jamie revealed that during the reunion, producers privately showed experts the footage of her clash with Carina Mirabile – resulting in all three experts apologising to her. However, the footage was never aired.
‘I had a panic attack at the retreat commitment ceremony because they made me feel like I was the bully. But when the experts saw the footage, they admitted they got it wrong. I felt robbed when none of it was shown.’
Jamie shared a string of behind-the-scenes antics never shown on air. Her favourite prank? Ding-dong ditching.
‘I knocked on almost every door on our floor. I even interrupted Rhi and Jeff having sex – twice!’
![While neither confirmed a relationship, both admitted there's chemistry. 'We may or may not have [had sex],' Eliot joked](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/07/20/23/100467699-14922697-While_neither_confirmed_a_relationship_both_admitted_there_s_che-a-3_1753051389340.jpg)
While neither confirmed a relationship, both admitted there’s chemistry. ‘We may or may not have [had sex],’ Eliot joked
She also recalled a hilarious moment where Carina accused Sierah Swepstone of stealing her heels at a dinner party, only to find Channel Nine publicity had taken them by mistake.
Jamie said she is no longer in contact with Dave, despite once thinking he’d be in her life long term.
Eliot confirmed ongoing tension with Billy Belcher: ‘He drags everyone’s name on every podcast. I wouldn’t do that to people I was friends with.’
Jamie stood by Adrian during airing and revealed that she’s since reconciled with Carina.
‘We made peace during our Queensland appearance. I didn’t want her to feel isolated.’
When rumours first surfaced that Jamie had moved in with Eliot and cancelled a TV opportunity to pursue him, the pair said it was all blown out of proportion.
‘That’s exactly why we’re cautious now,’ Jamie said.
‘We don’t want to pass on major career opportunities based on what-ifs.’
Eliot added: ‘We’re pragmatic. We have a connection, but we don’t want to force something that could ruin the friendship.’
What they argue about (and how they solve it)
Despite their closeness, Jamie and Eliot admit they clash.
‘We’re both direct communicators,’ Eliot said. ‘We don’t beat around the bush. We just hash it out.’
Jamie added: ‘We’re brutally honest with each other. That’s why it works.’
Jamie admitted she drifted from some castmates like Awhina due to geography and life changes.
‘Fee and I will always have love, but we’re on opposite sides of the country now. Life gets in the way.’
Eliot and Jamie also took a dig at contestants who play to the cameras.
‘Everyone who faked it got exposed,’ Jamie said.
‘Just be real or you’ll get eaten alive.’
What’s next for Jamie and Eliot?
Both said they’d consider future TV gigs – but with conditions.
‘I’d host Love Island in a heartbeat,’ Jamie said.
‘I’ve got a lot more to say than Sophie Monk.’
Eliot added: ‘I’d do The Bachelor if it meant I could just have fun with it. Hosting something would be ideal.’
They’ve ruled out jungle duties, though. ‘Don’t put me in I’m A Celeb,’ Jamie said bluntly.
Advice to future MAFS stars
Asked what they’d tell the next batch of brides and grooms, Jamie didn’t hold back.
‘Be yourself. The audience sees through fake. Everyone who tried to curate an image got exposed.’
Eliot added: ‘Don’t DM former castmates asking for advice. Just be authentic – or you’ll get eaten alive.’
So… are they or aren’t they?
While they may not be locking in couple status anytime soon, the chemistry is undeniable.
‘If we end up together, I’d be happy,’ Jamie said.
‘But right now, I’m focusing on me.’
Eliot summed it up best: ‘We choose to be in each other’s lives. That’s something the show never gave us.’
