Married at First Sight UK‘s latest episode left viewers feeling uneasy as they watched the wedding of Alex and Holly unfold on their screens.
The show introduced 29 year old Holly as a mother of two, having had her first child at 16.
But it soon became apparent that her match, Alex, was not entirely comfortable with the idea of marrying someone with children.
This prompted a flurry of reactions on Twitter, with many expressing concern for Holly’s emotional well-being and criticising the experts’ decision-making in pairing them up.
One viewer tweeted: “The experts matching Holly with a man who would rather be with a childless woman is a big no-no! That’s something that can’t be compromised on and should’ve been prioritised in the match-making process.”
Another shared their apprehension, adding: “Why do I feel Holly is going to get hurt again? I hope I’m wrong.”
A third person expressed doubt about the couple’s future, commenting: “Don’t have a good long-term feeling about Holly and Alex.”
“The experts seem to love taking a risk in matching polar opposites in the hope something good comes from it don’t they?” another viewer remarked.
One fan criticised the experts, tweeting: “Now you know the experts are messy for pairing someone who clearly isn’t ready to be a step-parent, with someone with kids.”
While another commented on the discomfort they felt for Holly, adding: “Every time Holly is on screen … I just feel bad for her and deeply anxious about how this is going to go.”
Despite the concerns, there were initial signs of chemistry as Alex admitted that Holly was everything he had asked for when they first met, reports OK!.
Holly and her match were all smiles as they instantly hit it off, with Holly even dubbing the pairing “perfect”. After exchanging wedding vows, the 29 year old bride decided it was time to inform her new husband about her kids.
However, while Alex didn’t outwardly react, he later confided in the camera: “It is a bit of a shock that Holly’s got children. I wasn’t expecting it, I don’t know how I really feel about it.”
Following a deep sigh, he mentioned he’d wait and see how things would unfold at their upcoming reception.
But the mood shifted when Alex had a chat with one of Holly’s mates at the top table.
When quizzed on whether he could embrace being with someone who’s already a parent, Alex revealed his lack of paternal inclination, which he explained was down to not having any children himself.
He replied:: “It was a preference if they didn’t have kids, but if I fall head over heels for somebody, I’ll overlook all of that and you just love that person.”
Upon hearing about Alex’s initial reaction through her friend, Holly found herself overcome by emotion and tears started flowing.
Conflicted and questioning why Alex hadn’t been upfront, she voiced her worries to the camera, mindful of the potential issues if Alex didn’t warm up to the idea of kids.
Married at First Sight UK continues Monday – Thursday on E4 from 9pm