The UK’s iconic Married At First Sight (MAFS) returned to our screens this week, with a handful of new singletons looking to find ‘The One’. 

Like usual, strangers met at the altar for the very first time before diving head-first into a simulation of married life. 

After six weeks, couples will then decide whether it’s truly an ‘I do’ or an ‘I don’t’ by confirming whether they want to stay with each other beyond the show.

But the new season got us thinking — just how effective is MAFS, and does The One really exist?

MailOnline spoke with two psychologists to uncover whether dreams of love at first sight are truly possible or just fairytale ideals. 

Does ‘The One’ really exist?

It’s no secret that marrying a handsome prince is a major plot point of countless fairytales.

Albeit idealistic, Dr Louise Goddard-Crawley told MailOnline that finding your own soulmate or ‘The One’ may be possible for not only the MAFS contestants, but the rest of us too.

‘Whether “The One” exists or not is a personal belief, and it can vary greatly from person to person,’ she said. 

‘Ultimately, the pursuit of a fulfilling and lasting relationship should be based on individual values, needs, and experiences rather than a rigid adherence to a romantic ideal.

‘It’s important to acknowledge that media, including romance films and novels, often present idealised and romanticised versions of love and relationships.’

Dr Goddard-Crawley claims that robust relationships are centred around four key components which include compatibility, effort, shared values and communication.

MAFS match Jay Howard and Luke Morley also gave hope to us all this week as the giddy pair set off on their honeymoon to Grenada. 

She added: ‘Discovering a partner with whom you share compatibility and collaboratively fostering the relationship takes precedence over the notion of finding “The One”.’

Dr Gurpreet Kaur agreed, also adding: ‘All of this will be influenced by cultural, social, religious, spiritual, and economic factors. 

‘Perhaps the idea of “The One” is only as important as one’s personal connection to the concept.’

Can you truly fall in love at first sight?

Whether it’s Romeo and Juliet or Dumb and Dumber, falling in love at first sight is yet another trope of romance movies.

MAFS contestant Arthur Poremba also startled the world this week as he declared his love for Laura Vaughan at their wedding — despite meeting her just a few minutes before.

In reality, Dr Kaur believes this is unrealistic, with many singletons mistaking initial attraction for the phenomenon of love.

‘Initially, there can be a strong feeling of attraction which can be easily mistaken for love,’ she told MailOnline.

‘The physical pull can be mistaken for intense emotional feelings and interpreted as a sign of something much deeper.’

During the first stages of a relationship, Dr Kaur explains that most people are often on their best behaviour and are perhaps more attentive than usual.

She added: ‘This is amplified greatly on a show like Married at First Sight, where a camera crew and an expert panel are involved throughout the process. 

‘However, determining compatibility in values, goals and personalities often takes time in reality and occurs through varied shared experiences.’

Dr Goddard-Crawley agreed, but added: ‘In the end, the quality of the connection matters more than how quickly it develops, as there’s no one-size-fits-all timeline for finding the right life partner.’

What are the signs you’ve found The One?

Kindness, intelligence and a good sense of humour are among countless typical traits we may hope for in a partner.

But Dr Goddard-Crawley explains that finding ‘The One’ takes much more than this, and MAFS participants must seek to strike a balance between stability and surprise.

‘While comfort and stability are important, there should still be a spark of excitement and attraction in the relationship,’ she told MailOnline.

‘However, anxiety can lead to misinterpreting whether you’ve found “The One” by causing overthinking, doubt, and fear of abandonment. 

‘It can amplify insecurity, avoidance behaviours, and unrealistic standards.’

Oxytocin -– often nicknamed the ‘love drug’ –  is a hormone that’s produced in the brain, stimulating feelings of intimacy and trust.

Meanwhile, adrenaline is another hormone in our bodies that is often linked to new experiences and excitement.

A combination of these two hormones can make finding ‘The One’ confusing at times, according to Dr Goddard-Crawley. 

But ‘The One’ should allow you to feel respected and accepted for who you are. 

‘Adrenaline can lead to infatuation, where the relationship feels exhilarating and passionate,’ she added.

‘However, this type of attraction is often short-lived and may not necessarily lead to a deep, long-lasting connection.

‘Oxytocin is instrumental in building and maintaining emotional connections in long-term relationships. It’s what fosters the sense of safety, attachment, and bonding between partners.’

Should you trust your first impressions?  

As MAFS participants walked down the aisle this week, there’s no doubt they quickly made judgements on their new partners.

But Dr Kaur also claims that first impressions shouldn’t always be trusted as they can be influenced by an array of different factors.

First date nerves and unconscious biases are encompassed in this, as well as your own mood on the day. 

‘The initial click is often more about attraction and preconceived ideas about what is a good match,’ she told MailOnline.

‘The scenario in which a couple initially meet might also lend itself to a romanticised view of what each other should be like.

‘Stepping away from ideals and “shoulds” in regards to assessing the other person will help to see them more realistically and give you a chance to decide whether the interaction is worth pursuing.’

A fascinating new documentary sheds light on nomadic life in the Arctic, with finding love being the main focus.

In the short movie, uploaded to YouTube by Patrushevs, two groups of reindeer herders in a remote part of Russia are followed as a young woman and man are introduced as part of an arranged marriage.

The girl is taken to her husband-to-be on a sled with dozens of reindeer in tow, which will be offered as her dowry.

When she arrives at her new home – a cylindrical yurt or chum – she quietly eats dinner with her new family while wearing a ceremonial dress and decorative headdress.

After the festivities have taken place, the girl’s mother-in-law bathes her by hand in a small tub in preparation for her wedding night. 

The video captions reveal that all of the nomadic families sleep in the same shelter and there are no walls for privacy.

All of the rooms are combined with one space serving as a bedroom, kitchen, living room and bathroom.  

In the film, the bride can be seen getting into bed next to her husband come nightfall, with a small canopy being the only thing separating them from the rest of the family. 

Everyone – from the children to the grandparents – sleep on deerskins with their coats used as blankets. 

‘Obviously the young couple have to be quiet,’ the subtitles explain. 

After her marriage, the video details how the young girl must prove herself to her new family by helping them with tasks around the house, from keeping the fire burning to melting snow for water. 

The newlyweds will continue living with the man’s family ‘for years’ as it is expensive to buy or create another yurt or chum. 

While the girl in the film went through with an arranged marriage set up by her parents, the subtitles reveal that other young nomads attend an annual reindeer herder celebration in a bid to meet perspective partners. 

During the event, the young men showcase their strength and skills by competing against one another.

Some of the events include a tug of war, lassoing contests and wrestling.

The women, watching from the sidelines, will then be on the look out for the ‘most strong and dexterous guy.’

In one scene, an elder explains that being a nomadic wife is ‘really hard’ with basic living conditions and brutally cold winters. 

As a result, an increasing number of girls want to move to modern towns and leave their nomadic traditions behind. 

However, when it comes to relationships, the elder says they are just as complicated in the Arctic as they are in the modern cities. 

She explains: ‘There is a myth that reindeer herders are puritans that we don’t make love… don’t cheat… it’s all lies! 

‘We make love here in tundra. We make love, we get lovers, wives cheat on husbands and vice versa. We get divorced, we fight like other people.’

The film reveals that because the nomads live in a small space together, they are quite emotionally reserved and when couples fight other people in their space will not know. 

However, the woman will do ‘silent things’ to punish her husband, such as not cook him dinner, while the man will ignore his wife in bed. 

To date, the short film has been watched more than 11,000 times with many viewers thanking the filmmaker for an interesting glimpse into another way of living. 

One commenter wrote: ‘I cannot imagine a more awkward situation than having my wedding night in the same space as my mother-in-law. 

‘I understand it is normal for them and nobody makes a big production of it. 

‘This is why I love your videos and always want them to go on longer. I get to see how people live in different countries and in different areas of those countries. It’s fascinating and always interesting.’

Another viewer added: ‘Excellent documentary. It is vital to learn and appreciate how other cultures live, thrive and exist on the planet earth.’ 

Joe Jonas officially files for DIVORCE from Sophie Turner – stating that their marriage is ‘irretrievably broken’ and revealing former couple plan to share custody of daughters Willa and ‘D.J.’

• Jonas, 34, has filed divorce paperwork in Miami, Florida
• Turner, 27, and Jonas have been married for just four years and share two kids 
• The divorce filing states the the former couple plan to share custody of their children, three-year-old daughter Willa and a one-year-old referred to as ‘D.J.’

By Charlie Lankston For Dailymail.com

Updated: 16:42 EDT, 5 September 2023

When relationships hit a rocky patch, couples usually try to fix things by taking a break, going on more date nights or even attending therapy.

But lovers are increasingly turning to ketamine — more famous for being a party drug than a love potion — to bring themselves closer together.

The powerful sedative is a Schedule III controlled substance in the US, but a legal loophole allows for it to be used off-label as long as a licensed medic is present.

This has allowed it to be deployed as a novel therapy to help people battle depression and PTSD in major cities like New York City, Houston, Miami, Los Angeles and Seattle.

But now couples like Jay Godfrey, 43, and his wife of 17 years Dara, 40, are using the drug with the hope that its ability to regenerate brain connections can strengthen their connection to each other.

The couple, who live in Chelsea, Manhattan, met back in 2004 in New York City when a friend set them up on a blind date at a sushi bar.

They hit it off immediately, drawn to each other’s sense of adventure and love of music and reading — as well as learning that they had grown up five minutes away from each other in Toronto, Canada, but had never met.

Eighteen months later they were engaged, and later married by the sea in Miami, Florida, and took a honeymoon to Bali before settling in New York City, where they now have two young girls, aged 13 and 11, and a cat.

But the pair decided they wanted to strengthen their relationship, after noticing themselves putting on a show on social media.

Dara told DailyMail.com: ‘We used to profess our love to the public, all the things we love about each other.

‘It felt great in the moment, posting, but it did not feel genuine and it did not feel the best way for us to connect. It wasn’t personal, it was for other people’s pleasure, not our own.’

Then Jay, who was struggling with insecurities, said he wanted to try ketamine therapy after reading up on the health benefits.

His wife said she would come along too.

Ketamine works by blocking a receptor for the neurotransmitter glutamate in the brain, causing it to build up to high levels.

When this happens, synapses in the brain — which form connections between cells — become more plastic and can easily be remodeled or there is a higher chance of new connections being formed.

Dr Jeffrey Ditzell, who runs a clinic administering the drug in downtown New York, says that when people use the drug it allows them to dissociate and view emotionally charged situations from a neutral standpoint.

Jay added: ‘I really would search for validation so much prior to doing this treatment, whether that meant in the clothes I wore or even the things that I did.

‘I used to love telling people that I went to some restaurant opening before anyone else, and if that’s not ego, then I don’t know what is.

‘I have recognized… that so much of that display of that search for validation or that ego display, was simply an underlying condition of just not feeling good enough,’ he told DailyMail.com.

Asked about how ketamine affects someone, Dr Ditzell added: ‘You are not as attached to the fact someone wronged you or you can see a situation from a neutral standpoint and, when you are in that neutral standpoint, you get more insight into the situation.

‘That might actually be useful in couples therapy… [because] you are looking at it from a creative standpoint. It could be helpful.’

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the use of ketamine via prescription as an anesthetic for patients back in the 1970s, when it was first deployed for soldiers in the Vietnam War.

This created a legal loophole for medics to also start prescribing the drug off-label to treat other conditions such as depression.

Doctors began to take advantage of this in the early 2000s amid early medical research showing that the drug could work as an effective antidepressant. This led to a steady blossoming of clinics offering the drug in major US cities.

But over the last few years, clinics have also started to offer the drug in couples therapy, arguing it can help people to lower their defenses and explore their emotions with their partner.

There are now even ‘couples retreats’ available for ketamine therapy in upstate New York, where couples take the drug once a day for three days. A few hours are also set aside for ‘intimacy and sexuality’.

Jay and Dara went for a session of ketamine talk therapy once a week for six weeks in October 2021 at a clinic in the Upper East Side.

During the sessions, the drug was administered intravenously via shots, that were stronger than those in nasal sprays but weaker than those used in surgery, over about an hour while they were seated in chairs. 

A therapist was also present to help guide them before taking the drug and to discuss the experience afterwards, alongside separate machines to monitor their vital signs in case of any untoward reactions.

This differs from how the drug is taken on the street, where it may be injected in one shot as a liquid or snorted as a white powder.

Doctors warn people off snorting the drug, saying it can cause damage to the nasal passageway and respiratory system. There are also concerns over injections in a non-medical setting, with doctors saying it raises the risk of infection and damage to veins. 

The couple said they both felt very nervous before their first appointment, but that the treatment quickly prompted an outpouring of love.

Dara said: ‘I just remember opening my eyes afterward and looking over at my husband and the first thought that came through in my mind, I remember saying it out loud to him, was “You are the best thing that has ever happened to me in my life”.’

The pair now credits ketamine with strengthening their relationship and bringing them closer together.

One way it has achieved this is by allowing them to be more supportive of each other.

Jay tends to get stressed over conferences but now, when this happens, Dara knows to tell him not to worry and points out that he is already one of the best in the field on the topic he is speaking about.

It has also led them both to move away from Instagram and instead of making professions of love on the platform, to post about their children and, of course, the cat.

It has also strengthened their relationship when it comes to sharing household chores, the couple told DailyMail.com while laughing.

Summing up the treatment, Jay said: ‘The biggest change for us was number one, vulnerability, and number two, safety.

‘So, I know deep down that our relationship is inherently safe and I never ever, ever question that now.’

He added that it had also helped him to realize he is ‘good enough’, saying: ‘Through ketamine treatment I really saw it and I couldn’t unsee it, that I was truly good enough and that I was deserving and I didn’t need to go to such great lengths to search for validation.’ 

The pair said there were no unexpected revelations about their lives while on the treatment, adding that they had no secrets from each other.

Asked about how ketamine influenced their sex life, Jay said: ‘This is not something we typically talk about, but we’ve always had an incredible relationship which has just been strengthened in every department.’

Jay described being on ketamine as like having a ‘floating sensation’ and being ‘dissociated’ from the body.

He added that he would also ‘forget my consciousness is attached to a physical being and dissociate from that feeling of being in your body’.

Jay is also the co-founder of a ketamine clinic, which he decided to set up in June 2020 after receiving the drug in a clinical setting and thinking that it could be offered in a more friendly environment. 

In October the following year, he opened Nushama Psychedelic Wellness, which occupies the entire 21st floor of a building in Midtown Manhattan.

It now has about 2,000 clients every year, who pay $4,500 to receive six treatments for three to six weeks as well as preparatory sessions and talking therapy.

Clients are everyone from 18 to as much as 80 years old and from all professions, who tend to be suffering with depression, anxiety, PTSD and addiction, Jay said.

He and his wife received the treatment at a separate clinic, however, as they had signed up to take the drug before Jay’s clinic opened.

Amid the blossoming of ketamine therapy, doctors are also preparing to test out psilocybin for depression — or the active ingredient found in magic mushrooms.

Early studies show that it is already more effective than standard treatments, with the FDA hinting it could even be approved for use by 2024.

Oregon is the only US state currently planning to legalize the drug for people to use as long as they are with a ‘hallucination buddy’. 

Michael Palin previously shared the secret to a happy marriage and explained how ‘fate’ played a hand in his 57-year union with wife Helen whom he met as a teen.

The Monty Python star, 79, sadly announced on Tuesday Helen had sadly passed away following a battle with chronic pain and kidney failure.

The childhood sweethearts first met when they were just 16 years old during a summer holiday.

In a twist of fate, they reunited on Michael’s first day at Oxford University, where Helen was visiting her friend for the weekend and married years later in 1966 when they were in their 20s.

Michael had said: ‘I was lucky to find someone in my teens who I got on with – and it got better as time went on.’

During their 57-year marriage, they welcomed three children together – Thomas, 54, William, 52, and Rachel, 48 – and also have four grandchildren.

Back in 2015, the actor opened up about the secret to a happy marriage, saying it isn’t anything physical but simply wanting to spend time with one another.

He told The Telegraph: ‘What is the really important thing in a relationship, what is the main thing? Sex, or going to the theatre, or having lots of friends, or whatever?

‘None of that matters, there’s something underneath that works, that you’re happy to be with somebody for an awful lot of the time.’

‘The more time you spend together, the more things you have to share, the less likely it is that you want to throw all that away,’ he added, stressing the importance of having different interests in a marriage.

Elsewhere in the interview, Michael went on to recall the moment he met Helen for the first time when they were both 16 years old and holidaying in Southwold, Suffolk.

He explained how their families were staying in neighbouring cottages and they quickly struck up a romance, before rekindling their flame years later at university.

Recalling their first meeting, the doting husband described Helen as a ‘vision of rebellion’ when he first laid eyes on her during their seaside holiday.

But the pair didn’t live near each other, as Michael was based in Sheffield while Helen was in Cambridgeshire, but they stayed in touch by writing letters and met up the next summer.

And reuniting on Michael’s first day at Oxford University, Michael said of the extraordinary moment: ‘You can see fate was actually tightening the screws on us very hard at that time.’

The childhood sweethearts incredibly went on to tie the knot in 1966 and welcomed three children together, as well as four grandchildren.

Detailing their decades-long romance, Michael also reflected on his day-to-day marriage with his wife Helen while speaking to MailOnline in 2012.

He told how he collects stamps, drinks sensibly jogs daily on Hampstead Heath and would sooner run up and down Oxford Street with his underpants on his head than cheat on Helen.

Gushing over his wife in an intimate insight into their marriage, he said: ‘I was lucky to find somebody early on when I was in my teens who I got on with really well and still get on with really well. It sort of works better as it goes along. You build up layers of experience.’ 

Michael also told how his wife has always been supportive of his love for travel, which he took into his career with his 2020 TV show Travels of a Lifetime.

He said: ‘Helen’s always been really tolerant of my travels. If she said, ‘You’ve got to stay home’ she’d just have a frustrated man kicking chairs in the kitchen and looking at atlases. 

‘So she’s always been very happy to let me go. I see no reason to rupture such an extraordinary relationship. I don’t like a life that’s edgy and uncomfortable. I’m restless in other ways – in terms of work.’

However, things weren’t always been plain sailing for the couple as Michael recently spoke about how he had to have heart surgery in 2019 and the struggles that came with it.

But he candidly spoke about how his family house in Hampstead Heath was a huge comfort for him, as he admitted the ‘best part’ of his recovery after the operation was returning home.

Speaking to Radio Times, he said of his surgery: ‘Coming home has always been the best part of the process. We live near Hampstead Heath in London and near friends.’

‘The great surprise is that I’ve been extremely content to be in the same place for some time,’ he added.

While Michael launched a career in comedy and acting, Helen worked as a teacher before becoming a bereavement counsellor.

On Tuesday, Michael announced the sad news that his wife Helen had passed away just weeks after they celebrated their 57th wedding anniversary. 

He described her as the ‘bedrock of my life’ and said her death was an ‘indescribable loss’ for himself and their three kids – Thomas, William and Rachel.

The Monty Python star told how Helen had been suffering with chronic pain for a few years previously and had been diagnosed with kidney failure before her death.

Announcing the news on his blog, Michael shared a selfie of them together and wrote: ‘My dearest wife Helen died peacefully in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

‘She had been suffering with chronic pain for several years, which was compounded a few years ago by a diagnosis of kidney failure.

‘We first met on a summer holiday on the Suffolk coast when we were both sixteen and we married in our early twenties. Two and a half weeks ago we celebrated our 57th wedding anniversary.

‘Her death is an indescribable loss for myself, our three children and four grandchildren.

‘Helen was the bedrock of my life. Her quietly wise judgment informed all my decisions and her humour and practical good sense was was at the heart of our life together.

‘The family ask that their privacy be respected at this time.’

Last September, Michael spoke about Helen’s ill-health as he shared that she had been moved into respite care from the home they had shared for 50 years.

He explained that she had not been responding to medication for her chronic pain, saying they had moved her to help her ‘manage’ her symptoms.

The comedian told the Telegraph at the time: ‘I don’t think you can cure it, but they will help her manage it. 

‘It’s such a bore. She was so active and still is mentally. But the body is declining. We live life with our fingers crossed.’

Michael is best known for being a member of the Monty Python comedy group alongside Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle and Terry Jones.

They rose to fame on the sketch comedy series Monty Python’s Flying Circus and went on to find success with the Monty Python film series – including 1975’s Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

The comedy genius also picked up a BAFTA Award for his role as Ken Pile in cult 80s movie A Fish Called Wanda.