Married At First Sight UK star Brad Skelly has confessed he ‘never loved’ wife Shona Manderson – despite his constant declarations of affection on the show.
Last week, it emerged the 27-year-old model was kicked off the show after he displayed ‘controlling’ and ‘manipulative’ behaviour towards his bride, 31.
MailOnline then exclusively revealed that Brad and Shona had called it quits shortly after leaving the show, with Brad striking up a a new romance with a bridal model.
Now reflecting on his ill-fated romance, Brad confessed that he wasn’t ‘in love’ but had been swept up by the ‘highly emotional environment’.
He told the Mirror: ‘I most definitely can confirm that I wasn’t in love, but at that time, it was a strong feeling of lust that I got confused with.’
Oh dear: Married At First Sight UK star Brad Skelly has confessed he ‘never loved’ wife Shona Manderson – despite his constant declarations of affection on the show
When he was on the show, the relationship experts had to intervene as they warned his behaviour could become ‘dangerous’.
During a commitment ceremony, Brad accused Shona of being ’emotionally immature’, adding: ‘Not that I’m in a position of authority or to teach her, but if I allow her to get angry, is she ever going to learn?’
Mel Schilling was quick to pull him up on his behaviour, asking Shona if he ‘preached’ to her and pointing out to Brad that he was using words like “I will allow you to and let you”.
She explained: ‘I want to make sure you’re aware of the language you’re using with her and giving her the space to think for herself. She’s an independent thinker and she’s got a lot to bring to the table.
‘We’re calling this out because these are the kind of patterns that can become dangerous between two people.’
Charlene Douglas added that it was important for Shona ‘to be able to say actually that language makes me feel like a student, that doesn’t make me feel very comfortable’.
The scenes were praised by Women’s Aid, who told MailOnline: ‘It is really important that the experts on the show called this out as controlling behaviour and challenged Brad’s view that it was acceptable to say that he had the right to “allow” Shona to be angry.
‘TV programmes like these, which are based on the formation of relationships, need to be aware of the dynamics of controlling and coercive behaviour, and always send a clear message that it is wholly unacceptable.’
Concerning: Last week, it emerged the 27-year-old model was kicked off the show after he displayed ‘controlling’ and ‘manipulative’ behaviour towards his bride, 31
Brad has now admitted that he agrees with the experts for calling him out but insisted he didn’t mean any offence.
He explained: ‘I agree with what they’re saying [about controlling language]. So the way that I project certain terminology, however, is never intended that way.
‘So for me, when I expressed that “if I allow Shona to do this, then she will never learn.” Yeah, it was more so the whole conversation was coming from the heart… It was obviously snipped at the part where I said that and I can completely understand how it looks.’
It was confirmed on the weekend that Brad was removed from the show.
A Channel 4 spokesperson told MailOnline: ‘The couple’s exit plays out in the show. It was agreed alongside experts Paul, Mel and Charlene that the intensive Married at First Sight environment was not working for the couple and it was the right time to leave the experiment.
‘The relationships on Married at First Sight UK are closely monitored off screen, by production and an independent psychologist. If any of the relationships develop in a way that is deemed to be potentially unhealthy for either party, we would take expert psychological advice as to whether it was time for them to leave the process.
‘The welfare of all contributors on Married at First Sight UK is our top priority and we ensure that appropriate support is available to contributors at all times during filming, including 24/7 access to a member of the welfare team or psych support.’
Upcoming emotional scenes will see dating coach Paul Carrick Brunson telling Brad and Shona that they must leave.
Yet Brad didn’t waste a second back on the dating scene and is now in a relationship with Hollie Baldwin, 25, who he was seen passionately kissing at the VIP Scarefest launch at Alton Towers on Friday night.
The Grimsby-born groom was seen snogging new girlfriend Hollie, who on Sunday night confirmed her love for the father-of-one by sharing a photo of them together on her Instagram alongside a padlock emoji.
A source told MailOnline: ‘It wasn’t long after Brad was axed from Married At First Sight UK that he and Shona went their separate ways, it was clear from the process that their relationship was never going to work.
‘Brad and Hollie know each other from their hometown and connected instantly, they were kissing in front of the other MAFS UK cast on Friday night, they weren’t holding anything back.
‘Hollie didn’t pose for any of the official photographs at the launch event as Brad was keen not to give away that his marriage with Shona is over.
‘But they are an item and looked really loved up.’
No slowing him down: Brad didn’t waste a second back on the dating scene and is now in a relationship with Hollie Baldwin, who he was seen passionately kissing on Friday night