Married At First Sight UK fans were left in shock during Tuesday’s grand finale as Ella and JJ decided to break up during their vow renewal.
The E4 dating series came to an explosive close as four couples – Ella and JJ, Peggy and Georges, Adrienne and Matt, and Paul and Tasha – decided whether to stay together or break-up.
Viewers were left shocked when Ella and JJ mutually decided to go their separate ways in a very emotional vow renewal as they decided they were better off as friends.
The couple, who formed a connection and cheated on their partners together, both broke down in tears as they decided that they weren’t right for each other.
Taking to X – formerly known as Twitter, fans shared their shock over the decision, but praised the couple for their maturity during their break-up and gushed over Ella’s very emotional speech.
One wrote: ‘To be fair, I think JJ and Ella have handled these final vows really maturely. It’s amazing to see they’ll aim to stay as friends.’
Another said: ‘Ella knows her worth I’m so proud of her,’ while a third tweeted: ‘I am SHOCKED. was convinced JJ would leave and Ella would stay!!!’
A fourth commented: ‘OH RAH. Was not expecting that from Ella and JJ,’ and another said: ‘Gutted for Ella. All that heartbreak she’s been through. Twice.’
A fifth shared: ‘OK then, expected JJ’s no but not from Ella. Happy for Ella. Really am. She deserves EVERY happiness.’
And another added: ‘Well I did not expect to feel emotional over JJ and Ella. 2 most sensible ones on this tonight.’
During the vow renewal, Ella broke down in tears as she was the first to deliver her speech, where she admitted that she didn’t think they were right together.
Ella, who is transgender, gushed over how accepting JJ was of her transition and told how he had changed her life forever as she broke down in tears during the very emotional moment.
‘Being seen for Ella as Ella without any judgement is something I thought would never happen for me,’ she said.
‘I want it to be you, but it isn’t right now. I’ll never forget you and what you’ve done for me, you’ve changed my life forever.
‘You’ve done so much for the little boys and girls like I once was, I may not have found the one in you, but I’ve found myself and my worth. I’ll always have so much love for you.’
JJ appeared overwhelmed with emotion during Ella’s heartfelt tribute before he delivered his own speech, agreeing with her decision for them to break-up.
He gushed: ‘I think you’re amazing, I’ve learnt so much from you, but as things stand, I think becoming friends is the healthiest thing for both of us. You are truly an inspirational person.’
Speaking to camera, JJ added: ‘I feel quite sad that things didn’t work out as I wanted them to, but I don’t think we are right for each other romantically.’
While an emotional Ella said: ‘I didn’t expect that to be as hard as it was. I feel sad but deep down I know I’ve done the right thing.
‘JJ will also hold a special place in my heart. He’s made me see that I am good enough and I shouldn’t settle for someone just accepting me, I should aim high.’
Ella and JJ were both originally matched up with different spouses, but soon formed a connection and cheated on their partners together.
Their original partners Nathaniel Valentino and Bianca Petronzi both quit the series, while JJ and Ella later re-entered the E4 show as a new couple, making it to the final episode despite not having married.
Elsewhere on Tuesday’s episode, Peggy and Georges overcame their differences during the show and decided to stay together.
After a cliffhanger in Monday’s episode, Peggy told how she was trusting Georges to ‘prove everyone that doubted you wrong’ after her family shared their uncertainty over their relationship.
She said: ‘This is by far the biggest decision of my life. My family want the best for me, and family and respect to me are everything.
‘They want me to be happy and put myself first. As much as I wanted to trust you, trust for me is something that is earned.
‘I may not trust easily, but I trust myself. And I also trust that you’ll prove everyone that doubted you wrong. So my decision is to stay and continue our story together.’
Adrienne and Matt were also faced with the same huge decision and decided to stay together, after they faced a huge hurdle over their futures.
Adrienne recently told Matt that she didn’t want to have children, leaving her husband to decide whether he was willing to sacrifice having a family to be with her.
In the vow renewal, Matt said: ‘I’ve always wanted children and knowing it might not be a part of my future, I have to imagine what life on the outside world would look like and whether I see me and you together. Hand on heart, I can’t see anyone else in my life but you.’
A thrilled Adrienne then also vowed to stay with Matt as she said: ‘I thought I would be happy to have some time apart, I was nervous I wouldn’t miss you.
‘However, it’s true what they say, absence makes the heart go fonder. I am ready for a life together outside the experiment.’
Paul and Tasha also had their vow renewal during the explosive final episode of the series, and the fan favourite couple also decided to stay together.
Paul admitted he had questioned his decision after speaking to his friend, who said he didn’t think he and Tasha would last long term, and Tasha questioned whether she was ‘too much’ for her husband.
However, Tasha chose Paul as she said: ‘The question I had to ask myself was, could I put my trust in you? Could I see a life for us together? You are one of the few people who have come into my life who I can count on.’
‘You bring out the best in me… Paul, I choose you now, tomorrow and forever,’ she added.
While Paul gushed: ‘I started to question us, to wonder if we really are a good match. However, you have taught me so much… I am so thankful for the life we have created together… Tasha, I love you, and I can’t wait to continue our journey together.’
It comes after Laura dumped Arthur during their vow renewal on Monday and was slammed by fans for her ‘unnecessarily cruel’ speech.
During their second wedding ceremony, viewers saw the finance manager, 34, read an ‘unnecessarily cruel’ speech to the tennis coach, 37, before walking away from their marriage.
At the ceremony, Laura said: ‘The more I grow as a person the more I grow a part from you.
Brutally, she added: ‘I’ve always been a fixer but I’ve realised this relationship can’t be fixed. You are perfect for someone but it won’t be me.’
Speaking to the camera afterwards, Laura admitted: ‘Arthur’s vows made it quite difficult for me but I am moving forward with a lot more confidence. I will miss Arthur, but the ring is off.’
Meanwhile, Arthur was left visibly shaken by Laura’s words as he teared up while discussing their vows with a producer.
‘That made me feel like c***. Ultimately, I would have tried to make things work on the outside and I am really gutted that she didn’t feel the same way,’ he said.
Speaking through tears to a producer off camera, Arthur added: ‘I don’t really know what else to say right now, sorry.’
The fates of the couples were finally revealed in Monday and Tuesday’s final episodes, but there is set to be more drama in Wednesday and Thursday’s reunion episodes.
A teaser clip, aired at the end of Tuesday’s episode, saw all the couples reunite for another dinner party, and tensions quickly rose around the table.
JJ’s ex-wife Bianca was left livid when she watched Ella throw her arms around JJ and gush over him, leaving Bianca – who JJ cheated on with Ella – visibly angry.
Elsewhere, drama looks set to kick off between Luke Worley and his wife Jay Howard as they appear to get involved in an emotional exchange at the dinner.
It comes after Luke confirmed that he and his wife Jay will be appearing on this week’s hotly-anticipated reunion.
Luke, 30, was ejected from the series after having a physical fight with co-star Jordan Gayle, 26, and has further angered Channel 4 bosses with his social media posts.
MailOnline then exclusively revealed that Luke had been axed from filming the six-month-on reunion special amid the fallout, while Jay, 31, was allowed to join the cast to film earlier this month.
Luke has now taken to Instagram to comment on the ban and confirmed that he will still appear in Wednesday and Thursday’s reunion episodes, despite being axed from another upcoming reunion.
He told how both he and Jay will be back on screens with the rest of the cast this week as the reunion specials were filmed before his axing from the later reunion.
In a video, he said: ‘That isn’t this reunion, this is another reunion I’ve been banned from. This reunion was filmed before and it goes out on Wednesday and Thursday this week, so me and Jay are back on your screens.’
‘You’re going to see what’s happened off-camera and a whole rundown of our relationship,’ he added.
James Parker is a UK-based entertainment aficionado who delves into the glitz and glamour of the entertainment industry. From Hollywood to the West End, he offers readers an insider’s perspective on the world of movies, music, and pop culture.
