MAFS casting producers slide into the DMs of an engaged Channel Nine sports presenter’s
Channel Nine presenter Danika Mason found herself at the centre of an unexpected blunder that could have seen her fiancé, Todd Liubinskas, turn into a reality star overnight.
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Married At First Sight casting producers recently reached out to Todd, son of former Wests star Mick Liubinskas, via his Instagram direct messages, probing his interest in starring in the upcoming series.
The couple were left puzzled as Liubinskas’ Instagram page heavily features loved-up photos with the glamorous sports presenter.
Mason and Liubinskas, who are set to tie the knot later this year, aren’t shy when it comes to posting about their love story on social media.
However, the MAFS scouts apparently didn’t quite get the memo.
Channel Nine sports presenter Danika Mason found herself chuckling at an unexpected blunder that could have had her fiancé, Todd Liubinskas, turning reality star overnight
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Married At First Sight casting producers reached out to Todd, son of former Wests star Mick Liubinskas, via his Instagram direct messages, probing his interest in starring in the upcoming series
While it’s not every day that a sports presenter’s fiancé gets tapped for a reality TV show, the couple took the mix-up in stride.
It comes just weeks after Daily Mail Australia revealed that casting for the eleventh season of the show is already proving to be a headache for Channel Nine.
The network is scrambling to find genuine participants looking for love, according to a production insider.
With his Instagram page heavily featuring loved-up photos with the glamorous presenter, this approach has left many puzzled
While it’s not every day that a sports presenter’s fiancé gets tapped for a reality TV show, the couple took the mix-up in stride
The hit dating show has been inundated with fame-hungry influencers and wannabe reality stars, more interested in boosting their profiles than finding their soulmates.
‘It’s been a real challenge so far,’ they said. ‘We’ve had a massive influx of influencers and wannabe celebrities applying for the show, but we’re struggling to find genuine participants who are truly looking for love.’
‘We want to maintain the integrity of the show and provide real, heartfelt connections for our viewers, but it’s getting harder and harder.’
It comes just weeks after Daily Mail Australia revealed casting for the 2024 season of the show is already proving to be a headache for Nine. Pictured: Bronte Schofield and Harrison Boon
The surge of applicants seeking their 15 minutes of fame has left the show’s producers in a bind, as they sift through countless auditions to find authentic candidates who are willing to put their hearts on the line for a chance at true love.
The source added, ‘We’ve had to increase our vetting process, with more in-depth interviews and background checks.’
‘It’s a time-consuming and costly process, but we’re determined to find the right matches for the upcoming season.’
‘We’re looking for people to be the next Tahnee and Ollie, rather than a Harrison and Bronte.’
According to the spy, the dating show has been inundated with fame-hungry influencers and wannabe reality stars, more interested in boosting their profiles than finding their soulmates
‘It’s been a real challenge so far,’ they said. ‘We’ve had a massive influx of influencers and wannabe celebrities applying for the show, but we’re struggling to find genuine participants who are truly looking for love’. Pictured: Tahnee Cook
According to the source, a bevy of participants who have applied and been approached for the show have already appeared on other reality tv shows, making them ineligible.
‘They would get through one or two stages of the interviews, then mention they were on another show, wasting everyone’s time.’
This casting crisis comes as no surprise, given the meteoric rise in popularity of MAFS in recent years.
The surge of applicants seeking their 15 minutes of fame has left the show’s producers in a bind, as they sift through countless auditions to find authentic candidates who are willing to put their hearts on the line for a chance at true love
The show has become a springboard for many former participants, who have gone on to lucrative careers in the public eye, thanks to their exposure on the series.
Some viewers have expressed concerns that the increasing number of fame-seekers on the show will lead to more manufactured drama and less genuine emotion, potentially jeopardizing the program’s credibility.
Channel Nine, however, remains committed to delivering an authentic and engaging viewing experience for its loyal audience.
It follows reports Nine bosses were furious to discover some brides and grooms were already trying to make the most of their newfound fame. (Pictured: Melinda Willis)
MAFS’ executive producers Tara McWilliams, who is credited with transforming the show into the ratings juggernaut it is today, previously acknowledged that some of the participants are not ‘100 per cent genuine’.
She told Mediaweek it’s ‘not realistic’ to expect all the brides and grooms to be ‘only motivated by finding love’.
But regardless of their intentions, she does make sure all the contestants are ‘authentic’ in their own way and that they sincerely want to take part in the experiment – even if romance isn’t their primary motivation.
MAFS’ executive producers Tara McWilliams (pictured) previously acknowledged that some of the participants are not ‘100 per cent genuine’