The saying goes that love finds you, you don’t find it - but many people aren’t prepared to sit around and wait for their one true love to find them. That’s why there’s so many TV shows, both here in the UK and over in the US, which are all about helping people to find relationships.
From Love Island to First Dates, and Love Is Blind to Married at First Sight, the list goes on and on. Contestants going on these shows are hoping to find romance when they take part, and these lucky couples actually did find lasting love when they took part.
All of these pairs first locked eyes in front of TV cameras, but their romances have blossomed off screen and many are now engaged, married or have started a family together.
Have a click through our gallery to see who got the ultimate reality show prize - love.
45. Jack Dunkley and Tori Adams
Jack Dunkley and Tori Adams are one of the success stories from Married at First Sight Australia series 11, which aired earlier this year. They didn't have the easiest of journeys, however - and that's putting it mildly. Jack was accused of still being with his ex just weeks before MAFS began, he also openly told the producers of the show and his fellow grooms that he was't sexually attracted to his wife - and then caused an even bigger stir by 'joking' with fellow groom Jono that during the couples swap week another groom could sleep with her if they wanted to. Despite all this, they got matching tattoos as the experiment came to a close and chose to continue their relationship in the real world. They now post about each other on Instagram. Photo by Instagram/@torileighadams. | Instagram/@torileighadams Photo: Instagram/@torileighadams
46. Jonathan McCullough and Ellie Dix
Jonathan McCullough and Ellie Dix are one of the success stories of season 11 MAFS Aus - but they weren't actually in the experiment together. The pair were each matched with other people, but found that they preferred each other. Dix’s marriage to Ben Walters came to an end after a few weeks as the couple struggled to agree on their relationship goals and he blew hot and cold. Jonathan, known as Jono, meanwhile, experienced an up-and-down marriage with Lauren Dunn. They had made it to the final dinner party, however, and were looking forward to final vows - that was until McCullough’s cheating with Dix was exposed. It was during that dinner party that fellow bride Tori Adams confronted him about messaging Dix without Dunn knowing. He initially claimed the pair were “just friends” and insisted that she “wasn’t his type” - but just weeks later at the reunion the Jono and Ellie walked in hand-in-hand and announced their relationship to the group. They then insisted that their relationship had not started until after they had each left the experiment. In November they celebrated one year together and announced they had bought a house. Photo by Instagram/@elliedixoxo. | Instagram/@elliedixoxo. Photo: Instagram/@elliedixoxo.
47. Angel Star-Heron and Brett Renall
Angel Star-Heron and Brett Renall were matched together back in the first season of Married at First Sight New Zealand in 2017 and have been together ever since. After they left the experiment, their relationship went from strength-to-strength on the outside world. They bought a farm to live on together and welcomed a daughter Vienna in 2022. The pair often share insights on to their family life on Instagram, which includes sweet photos of Vienna. Photo by E4. | E4 Photo: E4
48. Carmen Stimpson and Jimmy Hardy
Carmen Stimpson and Jimmy Hardy had a less picture perfect experience in season three of MAFS NZ in 2019 - but they remain in a relationship in the real world. The couple caused a stir among their fellow castmates and viewers alike when Hardy was accused of using derogatory slurs whilst filming. However, Stimpson stood by her husband. Back in May 2024, they announced they were taking a big step in their relationship as they are expecting a baby. Photo by E4. | E4 Photo: E4