MAFS expert John Aiken reveals his latest career move
Married at First Sight expert John Aiken has revealed his latest career move, leaving Aussie shores to head across the ditch to New Zealand.
His newest project, Lessons On Living, sees Aiken explore the work and theories of Nigel Latta, a well-known clinical psychologist and media personality in New Zealand.
John Aiken is leaving Aussie shores or a short stint on NZ TV. Getty Images for TV Week
The news was announced via social media by Sky Television NZ, the channel on which the new three-part series will air.
“Nigel Latta was one of Aotearoa’s most trusted voices. His final book, Lessons on Living, is the culmination of his life’s work,” Aiken could be heard narrating in the show’s trailer.
“For the past decade, I’ve been the resident expert on Married at First Sight. Now, I’m here to carry on the conversation that he started.
“A three-part series exploring simple tools to help you get through life’s toughest moments.”
In the trailer, Aiken described the show as a platform to explore “what actually works when life gets messy” using proven psychology and real-life methods.
“Inspiring New Zealanders, just like us, on the psychologist’s couch. And the lessons on living they’ve learned along the way,” he said.
While Aiken was born in Sydney, he moved to New Zealand in his early teens, spending more than two decades there before returning to Australia.
Now, Aiken is heading back to the place he spent his formative years to explore Nigel Latta’s theories with every day New Zealanders.
On the show, Aiken will sit down with regular people to test Latta’s three core principles from his final book Lessons On Living: Finding Your Way Through Life’s Ups and Downs.
Those theories are, drive the bus, taking charge of your own life rather than being a passenger; focus on what you can control, directing your time and energy into the things you can influence; and teamwork, recognising that the most meaningful work is done alongside others.
John Aiken and Alessandra Rampolla will be joined by new expert Marryam Chehelnabi on Married At First Sight in 2027. Nine
Thankfully for Aussie fans, Aiken’s move across the ditch isn’t permanent, and he will indeed be returning to our screens for MAFS 2027.
He’ll be joined on the show by clinical sexologist Alessandra Rampolla, who has appeared as an expert on the show for the past six seasons, and clinical psychotherapist Marryam Chehelnabi, who will be making her MAFS debut taking the place of the late Mel Schilling.
