Exclusive: MAFS star wants 'baby boomers' on reality TV

Emma Tinson
·2-min read

Married At First Sight relationship expert Mel Schilling has revealed she's keen to see more age diversity on reality dating shows.

She's currently back on screens offering up love-life advice to a new group of hopefuls in season 10 of MAFS Australia, which she recently teased will be jam-packed with "conflict and tricky dynamics".

Speaking exclusively to Digital Spy, Schilling shared how "proud" she is about the broad range of representation on MAFS and insisted she'd like to see similar shows follow suit.

mel schilling
Matt Monfredi Ltd - Channel 4

Related: Married at First Sight UK couple announce split with Instagram statements

The relationship expert highlighted the importance of including a variety of age ranges in the cast, by pointing out it's not only young people who tune in to the show.

"I think when we dive into the data and look at our audiences, who actually are watching reality shows, it's not just the Gen Z's and the Gen Y's," Schilling explained. "There's a much broader group. You know, even us old Gen X's tend to watch it too… maybe even a baby boomer or two!

"So, it would really pay to have more of that representation so that some of those older midlife viewers can see themselves reflected back."

Related: Married At First Sight expert Mel Schilling shares delight over "MAFS babies"

Married At First Sight is well known for welcoming a broad range of individuals into the experiment over the years, with some participants in their early 20s and others in their 50s.

One former MAFS star, Melissa Walsh, was very open during her time on the show about her experience being an older bride and grandmother-of-seven.

Further sharing her pride for the show's diversity, Schilling reiterated how she'd like to see other reality dating shows follow the footsteps of MAFS with more age inclusive casts.

"I think there's a lot of merit in that," the relationship expert remarked.

Married at First Sight UK airs on E4 in the UK. Married at First Sight Australia airs on Nine Network in Australia and E4 in the UK.

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