Married at First Sight fans were left baffled last night when an old episode of the show aired instead of the scheduled finale.
Fans hoping to see which couples would choose to stay together were disappointed as E4 aired a rerun.
Then, around 15 minutes into the programme, the channel froze on a still of Josh for a few minutes before a message reading “programmes will continue shortly” showed on screen.
So maybe it’s me, but I think E4 has been transmitting the previous night’s episode of Married at First Sight UK. And now it’s kind of fallen off air. Oh dear. pic.twitter.com/Lo0hHt90lq
— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) September 30, 2021
Is anyone else seing this instead of Married At First Sight UK ?#MAFSUK pic.twitter.com/HbfyDeElNP
— DaveJem B (@lovinJADEalways) September 30, 2021
E4 said the issue had been caused by ongoing “tech issues” stretching back to last week, when both Channel 4 and More4 went off air on Saturday.
In a statement on Twitter, E4 said: “We’re aware it’s yesterday’s episode of #MAFSUK playing out this evening and apologise. It’s all down to our ongoing tech issues which we’re working hard on. We’ll update here as soon as we know more and when you’ll be able to see the final episode of MAFS UK.
“To confirm, #MAFSUK and Afters won’t be playing tonight. We’re sorry again – we’re working to make it available on All 4 and E4 as soon as possible and we’ll update as soon as we know more.”
E4 then showed an episode of First Dates in the Married at First Sight slot instead.
To confirm, #MAFSUK and Afters won’t be playing tonight. We’re sorry again – we’re working to make it available on All 4 and E4 as soon as possible and we’ll update as soon as we know more.
— E4 (@E4Tweets) September 30, 2021
Channel 5 was also faced with technical issues and went off air on Saturday.
Red Bee Media, which handles playout services for Channel 4 and 5, said disruption was due to an “activation of the fire suppression systems” on Saturday evening.
Fans took to Twitter to express their disappointment and to poke fun at the incident:
On my way to bed tonight after watching an hour of adverts #MAFSUK pic.twitter.com/7OdF6QzogK
— A M B U L A R (@amberjanelush) September 30, 2021
This isn’t what I ordered #MAFSUK pic.twitter.com/RhcHOsUvuG
— Abbie Mercier (@abbie_mercier) September 30, 2021
The twitter chaos currently because someone at E4 hasn’t put the finale of Married At First Sight UK on, but instead put last night’s episode on #MAFSUK pic.twitter.com/UpTUXEx5ti
— Lucy Ford (@LuceFord_) September 30, 2021
“Can I watch the final episode of #mafsuk ?” Channel 4: pic.twitter.com/TPoldlnYBu
— Oli Bowler (@oli_bowler) September 30, 2021
Me realising this isn’t a quick recap but in fact the same episode as last night #MAFSUK pic.twitter.com/q8ncyvARls
— 𝓐𝓶𝔂 𝓛𝓲𝓵𝓲𝓽𝓱-𝓛𝓸𝓾🥀🏹 (@amylilithlou) September 30, 2021
#mafsuk it’s not the episode you wanted but it’s the episode you deserve pic.twitter.com/M0JNkXUxAe
— andrew pointon (@andyroo1122) September 30, 2021
Me with my snacks right now in bed 💀💀 married at first sight uk #MAFSUK #MarriedAtFirstSightUK pic.twitter.com/ilrPMgZL9O
— 🌛Conor 🌜 (@XSpontaneousssX) September 30, 2021
Oh come on I’ve waited all day to see what happens on married at first sight uk to find out it’s last nights @E4Tweets 😭😤😩
— Kat (@KCzartowski) September 30, 2021
I once deleted the final episode of #MAFSUK for a packet of KP Nuts pic.twitter.com/pSAQslit72
— Simon🇪🇺 (@5imon1963) September 30, 2021
The people in the control room at E4 #MAFSUK pic.twitter.com/vcWy6Bv4gM
— abi (@spabs1) September 30, 2021
WE WANT THE RIGHT EPISODE OF MARRIED AT FIRST SIGHT UK. ITS WHAT WE DESERVE!
— Natasha (@xtashajacksonx) September 30, 2021
Me tomorrow morning waiting for the program to continue shortly #MAFSUK pic.twitter.com/orM6iZkrwz
— Aidy (@AidyWhenImGood) September 30, 2021
"Maybe don't repeat when I repeat" #MAFSUK pic.twitter.com/gCYgK0Kz3X
— Daniel Collier (@JoyDivisionDan) September 30, 2021
Folks at home patiently waiting for @E4Tweets to somehow fix this 😂😬married at first sight uk #MarriedAtFirstSightUK #MarriedAtFirstSight pic.twitter.com/7svujQyKkj
— M Jessie H 💎💕 (@MelanieH2020) September 30, 2021
The person that pressed play at 9pm @E4Tweets Married at first sight uk #MarriedAtFirstSightUK #MarriedAtFirstSight pic.twitter.com/NwezHHjpZA
— M Jessie H 💎💕 (@MelanieH2020) September 30, 2021
“Show last nights episode instead of the finale to piss everybody off” #MAFSUK #MarriedAtFirstSightUK pic.twitter.com/wfwVLe4mMn
— Ryan Eaton (@ryaneaton93) September 30, 2021
"now put first dates on" #MAFSUK pic.twitter.com/WVwxknZRDF
— CAROLINE ୨୧ (@caroline22943) September 30, 2021
The E4 producer right now to whoever made this fuck up #MAFSUK pic.twitter.com/TfWFj4nV2S
— K (@k970212) September 30, 2021
Writing on Twitter, Married at First Sight Afters host AJ Odudu said the finale is “coming soon”.
The finale and the afters show will air tonight (Friday) on E4. The episodes will be available on All 4 shortly after transmission and Monday’s scheduled reunion special will not be impacted, the channel said.
A spokesperson for E4 said: “Following the incident at the weekend, ongoing technical issues have meant that Thursday night’s episode of Married At First Sight UK was a repeat from Wednesday September 29. We apologise to the fans of the show and have worked hard to get the episode to you this evening at 9pm.
“We hope that when you finally watch it you can find out whether Amy and Josh, Tayah and Adam and Morag and Luke renew their vows.”
The finale will bring an end to a drama-packed season which saw one contestant booted out for “unacceptable behaviour”, a secret kiss that caused chaos, and perhaps the most, er, interesting wedding speeches we’ve ever witnessed.
Married at First Sight fans won’t have long to wait for the next series once this one (eventually) wraps up.
Season eight of the Australian version of the matchmaking show is set to air next Monday October 4 at 7:30pm on E4.
Let’s hope they sort out the technical issues before then so we can all get our reality TV fix.
Additional reporting by PA.
