Married At First Sight is filming its 2027 season, but producers could end up in jail after a serious complaint by a participant.
In this edition of Media McKnight:
- MAFS: police investigation claims
- Today show’s new sports presenter gets in late, but what really happened behind the scenes
- Foxtel breaches tobacco advertising rules
- Ian Smith opens up about depression, failures as an actor, and beating cancer
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DID PRODUCERS ON MAFS BREAK THE LAW?
Filming is underway on the 2027 season of Married At First Sight. Behind the scenes, I’m told the production has become the focus of a police investigation.
Sources have told me a male participant has lodged a formal complaint with police. It’s understood he was allegedly ambushed by producers, who shared private information about him with his bride.
I’m hearing that what was shared was very personal, and that it was between him and an ex-girlfriend.
That matters because New South Wales has strict revenge porn laws, and my sources say this is an important part of the story. Private texts and photos can’t be shared without the consent of everyone involved.
It’s understood police have visited Endemol Shine to conduct interviews, and producers have been supplied with lawyers. Phones have been seized.
I’m also told the participant has refused all forms of settlement. That’s why the investigation continues.
Endemol Shine Australia has not responded to calls, texts or emails seeking comment. I can’t confirm every detail of this is 100 per cent accurate. But it comes from sources who have not been wrong before. If the information were incorrect, you’d expect the company to want to correct the record.
Word is also starting to leak about this latest drama. The show has faced scrutiny over its practices in the past, but this would be the first time producers have faced serious allegations that could result in jail time.
I’ll keep you posted.
IS TODAY FOR REAL?
Channel 9 has officially announced Michael Atkinson as the Today show’s new sports presenter. For those playing at home, our own Kevin Perry revealed those hosting changes more than a month ago, in an exclusive report right here on TV Blackbox.
Atkinson made headlines this week by turning up late on his first day. He strolled onto the set, joked about it being “weekend Today time”, and the hosts ribbed him about being three bulletins behind. He also confirmed he’ll stay on Weekend Today for the rest of this year before moving to Monday to Friday in 2027.
If you thought something was a bit off about all of that, you were right. Inside sources tell me the late start was a planned joke. The idea was that he’d arrive late because he’s used to getting up for Weekend Today at 7am.
It got some headlines, so I guess it worked. But will viewers care?
On Monday, Sunrise beat Today by 180,000 viewers, with the Channel 7 breakfast show averaging 460,000. Channel 9 has a long way to go, and no amount of fake lateness will close that gap.
FOXTEL PULLED UP OVER TOBACCO BRANDING
Foxtel has been taken to task by ACMA, which found it in breach of broadcasting laws involving tobacco.
The regulator’s investigation found that Fox Sports’ coverage of the New Zealand Grand Prix on 31 January 2026 featured a vintage race car carrying the branding of two well-known cigarette brands. Under the Broadcasting Services Act 1992, licensees must not broadcast advertisements for tobacco or e-cigarettes.
According to ACMA, the branding appeared prominently and repeatedly over roughly 20 minutes of coverage. That included slow-motion replays and a close-up shot lasting about 40 seconds.
ACMA member Carolyn Lidgerwood said tobacco branding can have a promotional effect regardless of why it appears in a broadcast.
“We recognise that this was a historic vehicle and that the race was staged for commemorative reasons,” she said. “However, those circumstances did not exempt Foxtel from complying with the tobacco advertising rules.”
Are they serious? I don’t know how much control Foxtel had over a vintage race, but I think ACMA gets it wrong on too many occasions. When it should go hard, it doesn’t. And here, where the event was paying tribute to the past, the regulator has hit a broadcaster over cars that wore those sponsors’ colours when they were raced.
Foxtel shouldn’t have been found in breach. Or, if it had to be, no action should be taken given the circumstances. Is that really so hard?
IAN SMITH ON SURVIVING CANCER
Beloved Neighbours actor Ian Smith has opened up about his remarkable recovery from cancer, in an interview that streams Wednesday night on McKnight Tonight.
I sat down with Ian over the weekend at the Partners in Crime event in Melbourne. He was a special guest on Saturday for a Neighbours reunion, then on Sunday for Prisoner.
The interview covers a lot of ground, including how he wrecked the ending of a planned documentary by not dying. The man who plays the iconic Harold Bishop also admits to some insecurities about whether he’s any good at acting and talks about his ongoing battle with depression.
It’s a very honest and frank conversation. You can watch it Wednesday night on McKnight Tonight. For more on the Partners in Crime events, head to partnersincrime.com.au.
THIS WEEK
On Thursday I’ll be live from the 7Upfront event for a special edition of McKnight Tonight. Catch it on YouTube at youtube.com/@mcknighttonight at 9pm AEDT.
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