MAFS UK's transgender bride kept her past hidden until after wedding

EXCLUSIVE: Married At First Sight UK under fire as it emerges producers paired a transgender woman with a male groom – but didn’t tell him about her past until AFTER ceremony

It’s the Channel 4 programme where singletons don’t meet their spouse-to-be until they are at the altar.

But the broadcaster’s popular reality show Married At First Sight UK could face heavy criticism after producers paired a transgender woman with a male groom – but didn’t tell him about her past before they got married.

In what will be a television first, viewers will next week see Ella Morgan, 29, who was assigned male at birth and transitioned into a woman when she was 20, wed a male contestant.

While bosses of Channel 4’s streaming platform E4, where the programme is aired insist that ‘a high duty of care was put into their match,’ sources close to the man say he was left ‘in shock.’

A show insider told MailOnline the groom was hugely surprised by the revelation and feared it would overshadow his time in the experiment.

Married At First Sight UK could face heavy criticism after producers paired a transgender woman with a male groom – but didn’t tell him about her past before they got married

In what will be a television first, viewers will next week see Ella Morgan (pictured), who was assigned male at birth and transitioned into a woman when she was 20, wed a male contestant 

While bosses of Channel 4’s streaming platform E4, where the programme is aired insist that ‘a high duty of care was put into their match,’ sources close to the man say he was left ‘in shock’

They said: ‘The groom was genuinely taken aback by Ella’s admission.

‘When signing up for the show, he didn’t expect to be involved in such a big storyline.

‘He just wanted a straightforward process, and to find love with his perfect match, rather than become embroiled in a relationship that was difficult to navigate.’

However, in an interview with MailOnline, Ella has told of her relief at appearing on Married At First Sight UK because she says she no longer has to hide.

Speaking openly about her past, she says since transitioning she has struggled to find love because she refuses to be someone’s ‘fetish’ or ‘dirty secret.’

She said: ‘I’m really proud of it because going into this I was scared to say that I’m trans but now I can hold my head up high.

‘I have changed a lot of people’s minds and I have also found me. I am proud to say I’m trans and so what it’s just a label. I’m still just like any other girl.’

Ella is thankful to E4 for recruiting her in the lineup, insisting that Love Island bosses would never give her the same opportunity.

She added: ‘I am blessed that E4 gave me this opportunity to be a voice because it is a long time coming.

A show insider told MailOnline the groom was hugely surprised by the revelation and feared it would overshadow his time in the experiment 

In an interview with MailOnline, Ella has told of her relief at appearing on Married At First Sight UK because she says she no longer has to hide

Ella is thankful to E4 for recruiting her in the lineup, insisting that Love Island bosses would never give her the same opportunity 

‘Love Island would never let someone like me be on that show because it is so mainstream, and it is always that typical type of boy and girl and I’m so glad E4 asked me. I never thought in a million years that I would get asked.’

The chance to meet her life partner means so much to Ella after struggling for over a decade in the dating scene and feeling uncomfortable to pursue her natural type.

She said: ‘Guys do not accept me, and I don’t want to be someone’s fetish. I’ve had a lot of guys interested but as soon as they find out about me or as soon as it gets to a serious stage, they cut it off because they’re embarrassed by me, and they don’t want to tell their family and friends.

‘I don’t want to be someone’s dirty secret, but I feel like people aren’t educated these days.

‘They need the education, but I don’t want to harp on about it to everyone, I would rather them watch the show and see that I’m as normal as the other girls and relatable and hopefully people from that will feel that they can talk openly and date trans girls whether they are pre or post op.’

Ella, who is originally from Bristol, told MailOnline that she hopes E4 viewers will see her as ‘relatable’ and she can be an example for other trans girls looking to find love and happiness

Relationship expert Paul C. Brunson says the reality series is a ‘vehicle for discussion’ and he looks forward to seeing how the audience reacts to Ella’s story 

Relationship expert Paul C. Brunson, who works across Married At First Sight and Celebs Go Dating, insists the channel did everything in their power to ensure all the couples in the process received the utmost care from their welfare teams.

He says the most interesting part of Ella’s participation in the show this year will be the reaction from the viewers.

Paul added: ‘The whole idea is to put a high care of duty into everyone’s match. For me what is so interesting about Ella being a part of this process is how the audience reacts.

‘Already we are starting to see debates and conversations happening about her being on and then it will just continue, which is the beauty of the show.

‘It isn’t just a journey of love, but it is a vehicle for discussion and it’s those discussions that ultimately make us better people. It is great for her to be a part of the project.’

• Married At First Sight UK begins on Monday at 9pm on E4 

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