Inside MAFS Australia's Jonathan and Ellie's relationship

29 April 2024, 18:30

Ellie and Jono are still going strong today after leaving their MAFS journey together. Picture: Channel Nine

By Alice Dear

Married At First Sight's Jono and Ellie - previously married to Lauren and Ben - confirmed their relationship at the reunion dinner party and are still going strong today.

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Jonathan McCullough, 39, and Ellie Dix, 32, have confirmed that they're now in a relationship following their time on Married At First Sight Australia where they were married to different people.

The MAFS bride and groom were originally matched up with Lauren Dunn and Ben Walters on season 11 of the hit reality TV show, and while the groom denied there was anything behind the secret texts, the new couple confirmed their romance to the group by walking into the reunion hand-in-hand.

Scenes from the final episode saw a hurt Lauren attempt to hold-her-own while Ellie and Jono kissed across the table, but the backlash for the new couple following the airing of the reunion episode in Australia has since forced Lauren to defend the pair.

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It was first confirmed that Ellie and Jonathan were an item last month when they were pictured kissing and holding hands on the beach. At the time, both the bride and groom could be seen working on their relationships on MAFS, ruining the ending of the series for many viewers.

Jono was matched with Lauren during MAFS, while Ellie wed Ben - two relationships which didn't work out. Picture: Channel Nine

At the time these pictures came out, a source told the Daily Mail Australia how Jono and Ellie kept in contact after she split from Ben and left the experiment, something that comes to light in one of the commitment ceremonies.

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A source told the publication: "Lauren had no idea that Jono kept in contact with Ellie and found out during filming, and boy was she not happy. She was completely gobsmacked and felt humiliated by the end - but everyone else is happy for them."

Lauren was shocked when it came to light that Jono had been texting Ellie during the experiment. Picture: Channel Nine

As previously reported by So Dramatic!, the couple revealed their romance to the group by turning up to the reunion together.

"Jono and Ellie maintained contact after she left the show, but the romance only escalated once Jono ended things with Lauren at the Final Vows. Their real-life meeting a few days later revealed an undeniable chemistry," a source told the publication.

MAFS Australia’s Ellie lashes out at Lauren

At the same time, it was reported that Ben - Ellie's former husband - was taken aback by the revelation that she had started a new relationship with Jono.

A source close to the show said: "Ben had a gut feeling that something was up. He wasn't surprised, more hurt because he genuinely had feelings for her. If the experiment was rigid in its rules, it wouldn't be real life, it'd be a game show."

They went on: "We basically say, 'Here are the parameters, the parameters are really wide and they reflect the real world'. We're not the morality police, we let those things happen because they happen in real life."

Ellie and Ben called time on their romance after weeks of issues. Picture: Channel Nine

While Lauren was shocked by Jono and Ellie's relationship, she has since gone on to share her happiness that the two participants found love.

The 32-year-old spoke to Daily Mail Australia about them, saying: "I could not be happier for Jono. Me and him were forced to be together, we didn't choose each other, and we gave it our absolute all."

She went on to add: "I honestly I could not be happier that they found love, because Jono and I weren't in love."We didn't have that and they are great together. I couldn't [root for] them harder, to be honest."

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A post shared by Ellie (@elliedixoxo)

Are Jono and Ellie still together?

Jonathan and Ellie from MAFS Australia are still in a relationship.

After the debut of their relationship aired on MAFS, Jono and Ellie have been able to share updates from their budding romance, and the pair are still very much together.

Recently, the pair jetted off for their first holiday together as a couple for Ellie's birthday - a surprise planned Jono. Sharing pictures from their trip on Instagram, Ellie wrote: "Our first overseas holiday! Aaaand the best boyfriend award goes to Jono who surprised me with a trip to Vanuatu for my birthday 🥇🌴 Jono you are one in a billion and I’m so grateful to have met you ❤️ Already so excited for the next adventure with you."