MAFS Australia Season 8: Cast & Couples Still Together
Two years after the cameras stopped rolling, fans still ping each other on Instagram asking about the couples from Married at First Sight Australia Season 8. Two couples said yes for real — at least one is navigating parenthood, and a few former participants have found love outside the experiment entirely.
Premiere Date: 22 February 2021 · Network: Nine Network · Experts: John Aiken, Mel Schilling · Top Result Source: Wikipedia · Couples Still Together: 2
Quick snapshot
- Season premiered 22 February 2021 on Nine Network (Wikipedia)
- Two couples still together from 12 matched pairs (Cosmopolitan UK)
- Melissa Rawson and Bryce Ruthven welcomed twin sons Levi and Tate (The Tab)
- Full current status of all 12 couples not fully verified
- Specific separation reasons for most pairs beyond general incompatibility
- Post-show activities of lesser-known cast including Booka Nile and Brett Helling
- Chris Jensen and Tayla Made announced IVF plans (The Tab)
- Jake Edwards continuing radio and buyers agent career (The Tab)
- Ongoing fan speculation about remaining couples via social media (The Tab)
The table below summarizes key verified facts about Season 8 sourced from Wikipedia, Cosmopolitan UK, and The Tab.
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Season | 8 |
| Premiere Date | 22 February 2021 |
| Network | Nine Network |
| Returning Experts | John Aiken, Mel Schilling |
| Notable Update Source | 9now.com.au |
Is anyone from series 8 MAFS Australia still together?
Of the 12 couples matched during Season 8, only two remained together through the experiment and beyond. Cosmopolitan UK confirms that Melissa Rawson and Bryce Ruthven, along with Kerry Knight and Johnny Balbuziente, both said yes during the final vow ceremony and went on to build real lives together.
Couples updates from official sources
Melissa Rawson, a 31-year-old Workplace Trainer from Melbourne, and Bryce Ruthven, a 31-year-old Radio Announcer from Canberra, tied the knot in February 2023 after meeting on the experiment. Their family expanded with the arrival of twin sons Levi and Tate, a milestone that came after navigating rumors about Bryce having a girlfriend back home during filming — allegations Melissa publicly addressed and dismissed.
Kerry Knight and Johnny Balbuziente nearly didn’t happen at all. Johnny told The Tab that Kerry was matched with him at the last minute after an earlier pairing fell through. The couple got engaged in 2022 and legally married in January 2023, now living together in a house in Brisbane.
Season 8 specific pairings
The two successful couples came from very different starting points. Kerry Knight, a 30-year-old Occupational Therapist from Sunshine Coast, Queensland, was a late addition to the experiment, making her pairing with Johnny Balbuziente — a 30-year-old Theatre Producer from Brisbane — a last-minute arrangement that defied expectations.
Late additions sometimes outperform original pairings. Kerry and Johnny’s success story suggests the experts sometimes need more time to find the right match — and that chemistry can emerge when least expected.
MAFS Australia season 8 cast
Season 8 featured 12 couples matched by relationship experts John Aiken and Mel Schilling, with filming beginning in late 2020 and airing from 22 February 2021 on Nine Network. The full cast roster from Wikipedia includes participants from across Australia, ranging in age from mid-20s to mid-40s.
Brides and grooms list
Beyond the couples who stayed together, notable cast members include Jake Edwards, who separated from Rebecca Zemek after the show and has since built a new life. Jake is now a buyers agent specializing in Gold Coast, Brisbane, and Adelaide property markets, also hosting on SENQ 693 sports radio in Queensland.
Cast details and ages verified against Wikipedia’s Season 8 page. Current career updates primarily sourced from The Tab’s 2023 follow-up reporting.
Key participants like Booka and Kerry
Kerry Knight emerged as one of the season’s most compelling figures, joining the experiment late and initially struggling to connect. Her eventual match with Johnny Balbuziente proved to be one of the show’s genuine success stories. Details on lesser-known cast members like Booka Nile and Brett Helling remain limited in publicly available sources.
Where are they now: MAFS Australia season 8 couples
Three years on from the original broadcast, former participants have scattered into varied circumstances — some thriving in new relationships, others rebuilding after separation, a few leveraging their television fame into career opportunities.
Post-show relationships
Jake Edwards separated from Rebecca Zemek after filming wrapped but found happiness with Clare Ranking, getting engaged on Christmas Eve 2022. He has since transitioned into real estate and radio work, establishing himself in Queensland’s property and sports media markets.
Chris Jensen, who left the experiment single, found love with cosmetic tattooist Tayla Made. The couple got engaged in 2022 and recently announced plans to start IVF. Their relationship culminated in a wedding ceremony held in Italy during 2023.
Notable updates like Melissa and Bryce
Melissa Rawson and Bryce Ruthven have maintained one of the most active public profiles among Season 8 couples. Beyond their legal marriage in February 2023 and the birth of twins Levi and Tate, they have remained close friends with fellow cast members Jason Engler and Belinda Vickers, suggesting the social bonds formed during filming sometimes outlast the romantic ones.
“We were close to not being matched together — Kerry was matched with me at the last minute.”
— Johnny Balbuziente, speaking to The Tab about his unexpected pairing with Kerry Knight
“It’s been two years since MAFS Australia season 8 — here’s what the cast have been up to.”
— The Tab, comprehensive 2023 follow-up reporting on Season 8 participants
Did Melissa get pregnant on MAFS?
Melissa Rawson and Bryce Ruthven welcomed twin sons Levi and Tate after their Season 8 appearance ended, making them one of the first couples from the experiment to expand their family. The pregnancy did not occur during filming — it followed their decision to stay together after the show and legalise their union.
Season 8 pregnancy rumors
The Tab confirms that Melissa and Bryce’s twins represent their only confirmed children together. No other Season 8 couples have publicly announced pregnancies or births as of the most recent available reporting.
Confirmed family expansions
The Rawson-Ruthven household now includes two young children, with the couple occasionally sharing glimpses of family life on social media. By contrast, Kerry and Johnny have not publicly announced children, instead focusing on their careers and married life in Brisbane.
Building a family on television and then replicating it off-screen requires both and commitment. Melissa and Bryce managed both — but they’re the exception rather than the rule among MAFS couples.
MAFS Australia season 8 controversies and updates
Season 8 generated the usual crop of on-show conflicts, post-show disputes, and social media fallouts that have become characteristic of the franchise.
Jail and legal issues
While no Season 8 participants have faced significant legal trouble publicly documented, the franchise has seen controversies involving cast members from other seasons. Fans continue to speculate about specific participants through social media and forum discussions.
Celebrity crossovers like rappers
The MAFS Australia franchise occasionally features participants with connections to other celebrity circles. However, Season 8 primarily drew participants from professional backgrounds — trainers, producers, radio hosts — rather than entertainment industry figures.
Timeline
What we know for certain
- Two couples still together: Melissa and Bryce, Kerry and Johnny
- Melissa and Bryce married February 2023, twins born same year
- Kerry and Johnny married January 2023 after 2022 engagement
- Jake Edwards engaged to Clare Ranking Christmas Eve 2022
- Chris Jensen married Tayla Made in Italy 2023, pursuing IVF
What remains unclear
- Complete current status of all 12 couples
- Post-show lives of lesser-known cast members
- Whether other couples have had children quietly
- Specific reasons for most separations beyond incompatibility
Voices from the season
“We were close to not being matched together — Kerry was matched with me at the last minute.”
— Johnny Balbuziente, speaking to The Tab about his unexpected pairing with Kerry Knight
“It’s been two years since MAFS Australia season 8 — here’s what the cast have been up to.”
— The Tab, comprehensive 2023 follow-up reporting on Season 8 participants
This article draws primarily from Wikipedia, Cosmopolitan UK, and The Tab for confirmed facts. The research confidence is rated low overall given limited primary sources for lesser-known cast members. Forum-based claims (tier3) have been flagged accordingly and should be verified independently.
Summary
MAFS Australia Season 8 produced two lasting unions from twelve initial pairings — a success rate consistent with the franchise’s general pattern. For viewers wondering whether any of the couples they watched in 2021 are still together: Kerry and Johnny are building married life in Brisbane while Melissa and Bryce are raising twin sons in Melbourne. The remaining cast members have largely moved on to new relationships, careers, or both. For fans still following along, the real drama may have shifted off-screen — but the updates keep coming.
Related reading: Cast of Once Upon a Time TV series by season · Peaky Blinders cast list by season
While many MAFS Australia season 8 couples have since parted ways, the season 8 scandals overview uncovers key scandals that influenced their trajectories.
Frequently asked questions
What is MAFS Australia season 8 about?
Season 8 of Married at First Sight Australia aired from 22 February 2021 on Nine Network. Experts John Aiken and Mel Schilling matched 12 couples who committed to legally marry upon first meeting, filming their relationships over several weeks before they faced the final decision to stay together or separate.
Who were the experts in MAFS Australia season 8?
Psychologist John Aiken and relationship therapist Mel Schilling returned as the show’s experts for Season 8, responsible for matching participants and providing ongoing guidance throughout the experiment.
How many couples were in MAFS Australia season 8?
Twelve couples participated in Season 8, making it one of the largest casts in the franchise’s Australian version. Only two of these couples remained together through the experiment and beyond.
Where can I watch MAFS Australia season 8 episodes?
Season 8 episodes are available on 9now, the Nine Network’s streaming platform. Reunion episodes and special updates may also air on the main network periodically.
What happened after MAFS Australia season 8 final vows?
After the final vow ceremony, most couples separated. Two couples — Melissa Rawson and Bryce Ruthven, and Kerry Knight and Johnny Balbuziente — stayed together and went on to legally marry outside the show. Other participants found new partners, including Jake Edwards (engaged to Clare Ranking) and Chris Jensen (married to Tayla Made in Italy).
Are there any season 8 reunions?
Nine Network typically produces reunion episodes following each season’s final broadcast, bringing cast members back together to discuss their experiences. Updates on post-show relationships are sometimes addressed in these specials.
Who is Booka from MAFS Australia season 8?
Booka Nile was a participant in Season 8, though detailed information about her post-show life remains limited in publicly available sources. The article includes only facts that could be verified through tier 1 or tier 2 sources.
Which couples from season 8 have children?
Melissa Rawson and Bryce Ruthven are the only Season 8 couple confirmed to have children together — twin sons Levi and Tate born in 2023. No other couples have publicly announced children as of the most recent reporting.
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