Married At First Sight's biggest shake-up yet: Booze ban revealed as bosses overhaul dinner party and commitment ceremonies

Married At First Sight will look very different when it returns to screens in 2027.

Daily Mail can reveal producers have overhauled two of the reality juggernaut's most important fixtures - its explosive dinner parties and emotionally charged commitment ceremonies.

For years, participants have faced John Aiken, Alessandra Rampolla and Mel Schilling together on the couch as the experts dissected their marriages and delivered some confronting home truths.

However, following Mel's devastating death from cancer aged 54 in March, the new series' first two commitment ceremonies have featured only John and Alessandra.

A third expert is still tipped to be involved in the upcoming season, but Daily Mail understands her exact role is yet to be confirmed.

Relationship coach Brigitte Zonta - better known as Dr Lurve - had previously been tipped to join the program after production insiders claimed she had signed on for the fourteenth season.

At the time, sources stressed that producers were not attempting to replace Mel, who had been a beloved member of the Australian series since 2016.

'No one can replace Mel, and that is not what they are asking Dr Lurve to do,' one insider said.

Dr Lurve was expected to bring her expertise in relationships and modern dating to the experiment while holding participants accountable for inconsistencies between their words and behaviour.

But despite filming now being well underway, several cast members have told Daily Mail that she has not appeared on the couch during either of the first two commitment ceremonies.

She has also not been spotted observing the first two dinner parties alongside John and Alessandra.

That has raised questions about whether producers have changed direction or devised a different role for her away from the weekly expert panel.

According to the insider, Dr Lurve has signed on for the series - but she hasn't been spotted yet.

'She may have a part in the series without being on the couch every week,' the source added.

Nine has not publicly confirmed Dr Lurve's involvement.

Dinner parties face a sober new reality

The expert couch is not the only MAFS institution receiving a dramatic makeover.

The show's dinner parties have become notorious for wine-fuelled confrontations, screaming matches and bombshell confessions - but the 2027 cast will find it much harder to overindulge.

Daily Mail can reveal Endemol Shine Australia has introduced a strict alcohol limit, with each participant permitted just one drink at the dinner parties.

The crackdown reportedly extends beyond the weekly gatherings, with some couples prevented from keeping alcohol inside their apartments.

An insider said the restrictions were introduced after arguments continued away from the cameras, creating concerns about both participant welfare and behaviour inside the experiment.

'It is because some of them drink and argue when the cameras are down,' the source said.

'Each couple is given a limit, and some are not allowed alcohol in their rooms. It depends on who becomes argumentative when they are drinking and who doesn't.'

Daily Mail understands the restrictions may be applied differently depending on participants' behaviour, rather than every couple automatically being subjected to the same rules throughout filming.

The move follows a turbulent 2026 season that was dominated by relationship breakdowns, bitter confrontations and allegations about participants' conduct.

Sources say producers are determined to stamp out what has been described behind the scenes as 'toxic and deplorable behaviour' before it spirals out of control.

Bec hits back at alcohol claims

The subject of drinking became particularly contentious during the 2026 season after bride Bec Zacharia was forced to publicly deny claims she had an alcohol problem.

Bec's behaviour at the dinner parties - and the deterioration of her marriage to Danny Hewitt - generated intense discussion among viewers.

But she insisted alcohol was unfairly being blamed for both her outspoken personality and the problems in her relationship.

'I'm not an alcoholic,' she told Daily Mail. 'I've definitely watched myself and thought, 'Okay, you obviously get a drunk face.' No problem - I understand that.

'But people seem to think that if I have a couple of drinks, I wouldn't be as crass or make the same comments. Anyone who knows me knows I make crude, crass comments at eight o'clock in the morning.'

Bec said she generally drank once a week, or occasionally twice if she had another event to attend, and rejected suggestions alcohol caused the collapse of her marriage.

'People blame alcohol for my relationship not being great, but my relationship wasn't great because of the things that were happening within it,' she said.

'If I challenged Danny about something, it would turn into an argument. Viewers only saw one side of those arguments - and I'm guilty of things as well - but my relationship didn't go downhill because of alcohol.

'The moments that make the best television happen at dinner parties, when we might have had three glasses of wine. That's television. But no, I'm not an alcoholic.'

The controversy appears to have contributed to a broader reassessment of how freely alcohol is supplied during production.

Meet the class of 2027

The changes come as filming continues in Sydney with a colourful new group of brides and grooms.

Daily Mail previously revealed the 2027 experiment had been cast with 'chemistry, confidence and conflict' firmly in mind.

The leaked line-up includes businessman Steven Hiles, café owner and former Million Dollar Island contestant Tim Bates, Bondi larrikin James Smith and outspoken fitness fanatic Chris Colombo.

Former Bachelorette contestant Kayne Buik is also returning to reality television more than a decade after competing for Sam Frost's heart.

Other participants include Connor Rogers, Rabbih Harb, marketing professional James 'Jay' Alexander and brides Kristen Goedecke, Katherine 'Kat' Lennon, Kodie Wyatt, Leanne Antoinette, Sophie Vidal, Bella Kajewski, Sarina Monastirli, Sarah Jane Comben and Lily Holics.

The season will also feature the experiment's first female same-sex pairing since Amanda Micallef and Tash Herz appeared in 2020, with personal trainer Victoria Sellar matched with flight attendant Shona Marino.

The couples matched include Rob and Sophie, Victoria and Shona, Kayne and Kristen, Jay and Kat, Bella and Chris, Tim and Sarina, Connor and Leanne, Steven and Sarah Jane, and Lily and James Smith.

Kodie Wyatt and Wintah Cunnington are also paired.

Channel Nine has yet to officially announce the complete cast.

Married At First Sight returns to Channel Nine on February 1, 2027.