MAFS' biggest gamble yet: Love Island 'bad boy' Zac Nunns joins 2027 series as bombshell intruder

Married At First Sight's 2027 season is shaping up to be unlike anything viewers have seen before, and producers have just made their biggest gamble yet. 

Daily Mail can reveal Love Island Australia star Zac Nunns joined the experiment as an intruder this week, marrying TikTok influencer Vanilla Milla in front of the original cast on Monday.

Milla boasts more than 16,500 followers on TikTok and just under 10,000 followers on Instagram.

Zac's best friend and Love Island co-star Trent Woolman served as his best man.

The pair became close inside the Love Island villa and remained friends after filming, later launching a podcast together.

And, of course, there was drama.

Insiders tell me Zac is already beefing with members of the original cast after tensions erupted at the wedding.

One couple reportedly decided to walk out of the celebration because they got into an argument of their own, and it almost threatened to derail the wedding.

'Zac is exactly the sort of personality producers know they can build stories around,' a production insider tells me.

'He's outspoken, comfortable in front of the cameras and never afraid to involve himself in what's happening with the other couples. On a program like MAFS, that's incredibly valuable.'

While some participants appear suspicious of Zac's intentions, producers reportedly believe his previous reality TV experience makes him a reliable addition to the cast.

'Producers already know what Zac delivers under pressure,' the insider says.

'He won't fade into the background or give them nothing in his interviews. He'll talk, react and inevitably become involved in the wider group dynamic.'

Expect Zac to have plenty to say at the dinner parties and don't expect him to wait until somebody asks for his opinion.

Insiders say he is not afraid to shake off, or perhaps lean into, the 'bad boy' label he picked up on Love Island.

'He also arrives with an existing audience,' the source explains.

'Viewers formed strong opinions about him on Love Island, so there's an immediate curiosity factor. Has he matured? Is he genuinely ready for marriage? Or will the same behaviour resurface?'

Zac reached the Love Island Australia finale with British reality star Lucinda Strafford, but their relationship ended several months after filming.

His history gives producers a ready-made second chance at love storyline, even if some members of the MAFS cast remain unconvinced.

'The redemption storyline practically writes itself,' the insider says.

'His relationship with Lucinda didn't work out, and now he can say he's older, has learned from that experience and is ready to find something permanent.'

From production's perspective, casting Zac comes with less risk than signing up a reality TV newcomer. 

'He understands how reality television works, he's comfortable with the filming process, and producers know he can carry a storyline,' the source adds.

'It's also an easy fit because Love Island and MAFS are both part of Nine's reality TV stable. Zac is already familiar to the network and brings recognition, social engagement and plenty of promotional potential.'

Whether his marriage to Milla becomes a genuine romance or another spectacular MAFS disaster remains to be seen.

'Whether he emerges as a reformed romantic, a troublemaker or the season's villain will depend on the match and how events unfold,' the insider says.

'But whichever direction it goes, producers would be confident he'll make television.'

MAFS groom BANNED from intruder wedding 

While Trent had a front-row seat as Zac's best man, another of the groom's close friends was noticeably absent.

Former MAFS groom Chris Nield - who was paired with model Brook Crompton on the 2026 series - was reportedly BANNED from attending Monday's wedding, despite being a close mate of the Love Island star.

Production insiders tell me the decision had nothing to do with any fallout between Chris and Zac.

Instead, producers wanted to prevent the current participants from mixing with former cast members while filming was underway.

'They didn't want the cast interacting with anyone from a previous season,' a source says.

'Chris is close with Zac, but production was very clear that former participants weren't to attend while the current cast was there.'

Chris may have missed the wedding, but given Zac has already clashed with the original participants, there should be plenty for the pair to discuss when filming wraps.

John Aiken warns viewers to expect 'extreme' opinions 

It comes after MAFS expert John Aiken warned that the upcoming season will be the show's most 'extreme' yet and heavily influenced by TikTok.

Those who consider themselves 'terminally online', as the popular saying goes, will find plenty to enjoy when Married At First Sight returns in 2027.

The relationship expert and series veteran told Yahoo Lifestyle that the new season would tap into the dating debates dominating social media.

'We've certainly got some pretty extreme views that I think you'll see, heavily influenced by TikTok. Look out for that,' John said.

When asked whether the new participants hold views even more extreme than sexist former groom Tyson Gordon, who caused outrage with his rants about 'traditional' values, John said viewers could expect more of the same and potentially worse.

'They're always tapping into these zeitgeists that are out there in the dating world,' he explained.

'I think every year we get a different flavour.'

Groom disappears halfway through filming

The new season has already been embroiled in controversy after one groom suddenly left the experiment midway through filming.

Daily Mail earlier revealed the participant abruptly exited following an alleged off-camera incident, leaving his bride high and dry.

The departure stunned the remaining participants, who were informed that the groom would not be returning to filming.

'He was there one day and gone the next,' a production insider said.

'There was no big farewell and no opportunity to write 'leave' at the next commitment ceremony. Once the decision had been made, that was it.'

The exact circumstances surrounding the groom's removal have not been disclosed.

There is no suggestion his exit was prompted by alcohol or a positive drug test.

Nine tightens its rules

Channel Nine and production company Endemol Shine Australia have introduced strict new rules designed to prevent off-camera behaviour from getting out of control.

Daily Mail recently revealed that participants are now limited to one alcoholic drink at the show's famously explosive dinner parties.

Some couples have also been banned from keeping alcohol inside their Sydney apartments after arguments allegedly continued when the cameras stopped rolling.

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

Other participants have been told they are not allowed to drink at all.

The alcohol crackdown follows strict drug-testing measures introduced for the previous season after contestants broke curfew during a rogue weekend.