Married At First Sight (MAFS) fans have been left bamboozled over Dave Hand‘s ‘yuge switch up on Jamie Marinos. As Tyra Banks once said: WE WERE ROOTING FOR YOU. WE WERE ALL ROOTING FOR YOU.
This article contains Married At First Sight spoilers. It’s up to you if you wanna stay or leave.
Once dubbed one of MAFS 2025’s strongest couples, the cracks between Dave Hand and Jamie Marinos (and my delulu heart) are beginning to show.
To get you up to speed with the tea, Dave and Jamie’s problems began when the fan-favourite bride admitted her love for her MAFS hubby. When pressed why he didn’t say it back, it appeared that Dave wasn’t feeling the same way.
In came Feedback Week which had a cheeky couple swap. Dave was paired with Veronica Cloherty, who is ‘married’ to Eliot Donovan. Whilst there wasn’t any evidence of cheating, fans began to notice some chemistry between Veronica and Dave, fuelling speculation amongst viewers that there was some kind of infidelity.
When the couple swap ended, Jamie questioned Dave’s attraction towards her. However, the conversation turned into a full-blown argument, with Jamie questioning her time and effort in the experiment.
Unfortunately for the golden pair, the uncertainty has seeped into Dinner Party night, blowing up into an explosive shindig.
Before heading to the Dinner Party, Jamie attempted to talk out her concerns with Dave. However, Dave was noticeably not keen on chatting with his on-screen bride. And just like their chat the day before, Jamie and Dave went nowhere. At the end, Jamie kicked Dave out in tears.
In a voxie, producers asked Dave how he feels about Jamie, to which he replied, “I don’t hate her guts”.
He then eventually, dished that he doesn’t hate her, but he does “care about her”, but he’s “not progressing in any other feelings”.
Unfortunately, Jamie is the first one to arrive at the Cocktail Party and she’s alone. Thankfully, her bestie Awhina Rutene (and her… ugh, mansies, Adrian Araouzou) arrive to comfort her.
Slowly, the couples began to arrive, and Jamie dished on Dave’s behaviour, which surprised the rest of the group.
After all, Jamie and Dave were one of the strongest couples on the show.
When Dave finally arrived, he attempted to say hello to Jamie, who rightfully (IMO) ignored him. When the boiz attempted to get his side of the story, Dave assured them that everything is alright between them, but he eventually confessed that he didn’t feel the same way as his wifey.
“Things that she wants but I can’t give it to her,” he dished.
He then said, “I don’t hate the girl,” which surprised the experts who were watching on in their little viewing room.
Later on in the Dinner Party, Dave was put under the microscope when Ryan asked what happened to the pair and why there was a big switch up in Dave’s behaviour.
“From partner swap, I raised an issue with Adrian. I wanted feedback on the fact that Dave doesn’t initiate intimacy,” Jamie began.
“And he’s not showing up for me romantically. It causes concern as to how I don’t know, don’t desire me in that way. So when I raised this conversation with Dave, I questioned his overall feelings for me and then you came to the conclusion that the feelings are on a different spot, which we’re aware they are in a different spot and that’s what impacting to show up in intimacy or showing up romantically.
“And then you came to the apartment today and you decided to tell me you realised, yeah, you feelings haven’t progressed.
“There was no emotion. You just blanked me.”
Dave went on to describe the pre-dinner party as “awkward”, before he told Jamie in front of the group, “You can finish talking and then I’ll tell you where I am at.”
Jamie continued to vent her emotions to Dave (as the group watched), telling her husband that he “broke her heart” and that he “didn’t care” that he did.
In response, Dave said, “That’s why I didn’t cuddle you.”
Immediately, his response raised alarm bells in the experts, who said that they could tell Dave had “walls up” and that he was “detached”.
Dave went on to express that his feelings weren’t progressing, to which Jamie questioned why he was only telling her this now, after weeks of being fake married.
Eventually, the whole group began to clock Dave’s personality change, with Jeff Gobbels noting that they were strong each week.
After a brief back and forth, Jamie burst into tears. Eventually Adrian — who was paired with Jamie for partner swap BTW — called Dave out for not being transparent in the Commitment Ceremonies about his feelings for Jamie.
In a voxie, Jamie’s bestie Awhina also expressed her confusion about Dave’s sudden change.
“Who is that man? That’s not the Dave I’ve met. It’s just no emotion. To find out today his feelings haven’t progressed and the way he delivered it without compassion… that’s someone who doesn’t care,” Awhina shared.
Dave went on to explain that he “had fun” and that Jamie was “wonderful”, to which MAFS expert John Aiken clocked as a bloke sounding like he wants to leave a relationship but doesn’t know how to.
Ryan Donelly then shared his own voxie that he’s “never seen this side” to Dave.
“I saw that as out of character, he’s been arching a little bit all night.”
Towards the end of the brutal chat, Adrian and Eliot attempt to stir the pot by dragging Veronica into the equation, noting that it could be possible that Dave is more attracted to Veronica, which resulted in a sudden switch-up on Jamie.
#MAFSAustralia #MAFS #mafsau pic.twitter.com/yherVoVQCI
— April (@april_atteridge) March 12, 2025
However, both parties denied any wrongdoings.
AIYIYIYI. I guess the MAFS partner swap, really meant person swap for Jamie and Dave.
Here’s what MAFS fans had to say about Dave’s big switch-up.
WHY IS EVERY MAN ON THIS SHOW A FUCKING LOOOOSSERR #mafsau
— gumbo (@Goobatron5000) March 12, 2025
dave is so over this show #MAFSAU
— steven (@nesjws) March 12, 2025
Could he be any more checked out 😭😩#mafs #mafsau pic.twitter.com/7s4k3WFrdK
— Adrian’s missing promo (@beggywilliamz) March 12, 2025
dave is soooo cold it’s insane #MAFSAU
— maddy (@curiousmadddy) March 12, 2025
The switch Dave is expressing is really odd… #MAFSAustralia #MAFSAU #MAFS
— Sammi (@sammi_readss) March 12, 2025
Dave pulled for a managerial scam here. Started a project, got everyone excited and then clocked out leaving people to fend for themselves.#MAFS #MAFSAU
— Married At First Sight Experts (@mafsexperts) March 12, 2025
Not defending his behaviour but Dave is clearly an avoidant when the conversation is uncomfortable. He’s quite the spokesperson for other people’s behaviour but not for himself #MAFSAU #mafs
— Liza (@LefthandLiza) March 12, 2025
Adrian the professional shit stirrer putting on a clinic.#MAFS #MAFSAU pic.twitter.com/imZ8rImVFm
— Married At First Sight Experts (@mafsexperts) March 12, 2025
Ugh, if shit falls through between Jamie and Dave, we need her on The Bachelorette.
Married At First Sight returns Sunday on Channel Nine and 9Now.
