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00:00:00You are everything that we could have wished for him previously.
00:00:03He told me that he loved me.
00:00:05Woo!
00:00:07Abigail and John's homestay touched hearts.
00:00:10I can't express how happy I am.
00:00:13But others were left broken.
00:00:15I struggled to see a future with Leo outside of the experiment.
00:00:18He's trying and you're not.
00:00:21Maybe she's not for you.
00:00:23Leisha, you really want to settle down.
00:00:26I need to have that gut feeling that you're the same.
00:00:30If I was in your position, I would leave.
00:00:33Leaving some.
00:00:34I'm not sure if I could leave home.
00:00:36With more questions than answers.
00:00:38If we can't come to an agreement, then we're both going to end up with broken hearts.
00:00:43And a shocking discovery.
00:00:45If you're married, do you think it's appropriate to be on a dating website?
00:00:51Was the nail in the coffin for Nelly and Stephen's marriage.
00:00:55I'm not on anything.
00:00:56Yes, you are.
00:00:58Why have you wasted your time in this experiment and told her I really want to see it work,
00:01:01when actually you had no intention?
00:01:02I'm going bullshit again.
00:01:06This marriage is over.
00:01:07I want nothing to do with Stephen anymore.
00:01:10Tonight.
00:01:11I've never felt like this before about anybody.
00:01:14It's the final commitment ceremony.
00:01:16I love you now.
00:01:17I loved you at the wedding day.
00:01:18And I'm just so excited for everything.
00:01:21While some couples are more certain than ever before.
00:01:24I cannot imagine the rest of my life with anyone else.
00:01:29Damage from homestays.
00:01:31I did feel the pressure a lot of like,
00:01:32Beth, are you going to move to home?
00:01:34Pushed others further apart.
00:01:36I'm not ready to say yes to that.
00:01:39We have had a lot of unnecessary drama.
00:01:41Do I need that?
00:01:43How is that possible in seven weeks?
00:01:45How do I not know you?
00:01:47And Stephen's secret scandal.
00:01:49I found out he was busy swiping on a dating app.
00:01:52I was.
00:01:53Send shockwaves through the group.
00:01:55That is Stephen's profile, which is verified.
00:01:59That is not me.
00:02:00It's your face.
00:02:01Of course I'm going to deny it,
00:02:02because I know what I'm saying is true.
00:02:03That is not me on Hinge.
00:02:12Good morning, darling.
00:02:13Hello, little one.
00:02:14Thank you very much.
00:02:15Do you want some healthy greens?
00:02:16Yes, thank you.
00:02:17Start the day off, right?
00:02:18Morning.
00:02:19Do you want to wear masks on?
00:02:21Well then, make me all pretty.
00:02:24After time away at homestays,
00:02:25the couples are settling back into the apartments.
00:02:29It's strangely weird being back.
00:02:31But we've definitely come back stronger.
00:02:32Yeah, definitely.
00:02:33I think the argument was hugely beneficial
00:02:36to our relationship overall.
00:02:38Yeah.
00:02:39It gave us the opportunity to learn more
00:02:40on how to deal with situations.
00:02:41I wouldn't change it.
00:02:42Love you more.
00:02:43Love you more.
00:02:44I love you.
00:02:45Mwah.
00:02:46Going into this commitment ceremony, I've got a lot of clarity.
00:02:56During this homestay, I've learnt that Stephen has been busy swiping women on a dating app.
00:03:03Sad, really.
00:03:05I've done a bit more digging, and Stephen is like,
00:03:08are you really telling me that that verified account isn't you?
00:03:12Honestly, if he owned it, this would be a completely different commitment ceremony.
00:03:16If you don't have the basic respect to even give me the truth,
00:03:19then I can't help you at this point.
00:03:22I'm done protecting you now.
00:03:24But if you want to play that game, I'm prepared.
00:03:27That's not a problem by me.
00:03:36The end of the homestay with Nelly, yeah, not how I anticipated it would go.
00:03:40I thought I was going to Manchester purely to have a chat with Nelly and I, and just hash
00:03:44a few things out.
00:03:45When a friend come in and told me I was on a dating app, it was shocking.
00:03:51When I'm still in this experiment, how stupid would I be to go on a dating app?
00:03:57I think there would be a fair bit of animosity from Nelly towards me.
00:04:00She probably wouldn't want to get answers, but my head's clear.
00:04:03So if they want to bring it up, then I've got the answers for it.
00:04:06We'll see once we get to the commitment ceremony.
00:04:14There you go, babe.
00:04:16After homestays, I'm like, wow, like, that was so good for us.
00:04:19The more kind of milestones, I guess, we go through, it just strengthens, like, our bond.
00:04:24Yeah.
00:04:25And it just makes me realise how, what an incredible relationship, like, we do have.
00:04:29Homestays has definitely given us a taste of what life could be like outside the experiment.
00:04:34Our family can see our genuine connection.
00:04:36So I'm really excited and I think we're going to have, like, an incredible life ahead of us.
00:04:41People can see the effect that this relationship is having on us,
00:04:45and we're both becoming better versions of ourselves because of each other.
00:04:49Yeah, it just makes me really excited for everything that's to come.
00:04:53So what do you feel like you're going to do today with the decision?
00:05:04I don't know.
00:05:05I'm, like, in two minds at the moment.
00:05:07OK.
00:05:08The thought of leaving today, yeah, it makes me sad because we've had a good homestay
00:05:13and it's been so good and I did see her in a different light.
00:05:16Now I'm thinking, could it work on the outside world?
00:05:18There's all these different positives but also some negatives in there, like, swooshing around.
00:05:23She doesn't trust me.
00:05:24Why?
00:05:25Because I've disrespected her, apparently, throughout this process.
00:05:28How?
00:05:29Obviously, there was the over-familiar thing with you.
00:05:31And then there was me saying Leisha was more my type.
00:05:34But I did say that because she asked me outright at a dinner party.
00:05:37I'm not going to lie.
00:05:38Like, I wouldn't mind if I've actually disrespected her or I've actually done something.
00:05:42Do you know what I mean?
00:05:43I just think it's so unfair not to be able to trust me.
00:05:46It's tough because you want to give it a chance but I feel like you've given it a chance for such a long time.
00:05:52Do you know what I mean?
00:05:53It's, like, a huge decision for me today, definitely.
00:05:56After the homestays, me and April, we were in separate apartments.
00:06:07I was really holding out hope that the homestays were going to be make rather than break.
00:06:12The feedback from my friends wasn't great.
00:06:14But my mum and my sister communicated to me that if you do like her still, you shouldn't give up right away.
00:06:21I have had a lot of feelings for April and I still do, to be honest.
00:06:26We've had ups and downs but I really hoped that we were going to fall in love.
00:06:31My head and my heart really aren't aligned so I've really got to make this decision wisely.
00:06:36It's got to be what's best for me moving forward.
00:06:46Going into homestays, the hope that was there was that I could see the real Leo
00:06:50and see if this person that did come out that he's been talking about all this time.
00:06:53But that didn't happen.
00:06:55Leo's friends confirmed what I thought, which is, I'm not getting the real Leo.
00:07:01We've got completely different personalities and we just haven't gelled.
00:07:05I came in this experiment wanting to find someone I could genuinely spend the rest of my life with.
00:07:09I was so hopeful at the beginning that it was going to work out and up until this point,
00:07:14I've definitely put Leo's feelings before mine.
00:07:17But today is the opportunity for me to make sure that I'm doing what's right for me.
00:07:21I want to lay everything out on the table.
00:07:23I'm going to be brutally honest.
00:07:25This is my time to get what I've been thinking and feeling off of my chest.
00:07:29Hey.
00:07:30All right?
00:07:31Yes.
00:07:32My anxieties are starting to creep in a little bit.
00:07:33My family loved Rhys.
00:07:34They really, really wanted to work.
00:07:35The only concern they had was when he told them that he's just not quite there yet.
00:07:49Rhys needs to be completely honest with himself and he needs to really decide whether I am his
00:07:54lifelong partner that he's always wanted.
00:07:56So I think we've always kind of known that, like, my feelings have been a little bit stronger
00:08:00than yours since the start, which is obviously not nice for me.
00:08:05It's never nice to hear that.
00:08:08I keep my emotions, like, quite closed off to begin with until I feel, like, comfortable.
00:08:13Or until I feel short and then I can start, like, letting the barriers down a bit.
00:08:20Do you think I am somebody that you'd want to spend the rest of your life with?
00:08:25You need to ask yourself that.
00:08:30Do you know that answer?
00:08:32Yeah, you do.
00:08:34And a man?
00:08:35Yeah, of course you are.
00:08:37Yeah.
00:08:38You did everything I've ever wanted in a man.
00:08:43Why are you getting upset?
00:08:44I'm just scared that, like, what we've got is just not going to be strong enough for, like, the outside.
00:08:57Like, I think I know the answers from me.
00:08:59Yeah.
00:09:00But obviously, I don't feel you know the answers from you yet.
00:09:05And obviously, I just get really scared.
00:09:07It's never nice to see Alicia upset.
00:09:08I know, like, she's getting a bit emotional because she's panicking what's going to happen on the outside.
00:09:19Also, I've got a lot to think about.
00:09:21It's important for me to make the right decision today because Alicia could end up being, like, the woman for the rest of my life.
00:09:26So I do need to reflect on everything. I need to make sure I'm making that right choice.
00:09:33I certainly know that my feelings are very, very strong for Rhys.
00:09:37And I really want the experts to ask Rhys where his feelings are.
00:09:42It is a very vulnerable moment for me.
00:09:44I'm pretty much giving somebody my heart and soul and they could easily crush it.
00:09:49But I want him to tell me directly, does he see a lifelong partner in me or not?
00:09:56I would love him.
00:10:21Welcome to your final commitment ceremony.
00:10:34It's been incredible to see all of your journeys unfold with your time with us.
00:10:39This is the last time that you get to bring your marriage to the couch
00:10:43and share with us where you're at at this pivotal stage in the experiment
00:10:48and make that final decision on whether to stay or leave.
00:10:53Before we begin, obviously you'll all notice that Grace and Ashley are not with us today.
00:10:59They've had a rocky couple of weeks and as a result,
00:11:03they felt they needed more time to reflect and they won't be joining us today.
00:11:07Now, a lot has happened since we last met.
00:11:10We know it's been a high-pressured emotional time for many of you.
00:11:15So let's start unpacking.
00:11:18First up on the couch, if we could have...
00:11:22David and Kia.
00:11:25All right, gents, how are we?
00:11:37Good.
00:11:38We're great.
00:11:38Ups and downs.
00:11:39Good overall.
00:11:40Yeah.
00:11:41Right.
00:11:42Homestays.
00:11:43Mm-hmm.
00:11:44Very beautiful moment.
00:11:45So Daveed and I went to a cat cafe.
00:11:51I don't much care for cats, but obviously they are important to Daveed as Daveed has a cat.
00:11:58But I also don't particularly like small spaces.
00:12:01So the cat cafe was a basement, which was a very small enclosed space with eight cats.
00:12:07So I became extremely overwhelmed and extremely uncomfortable and completely shut down.
00:12:15So left.
00:12:17We both tried to communicate.
00:12:19I then felt that Daveed said something that was condescending, so stormed off again.
00:12:23And then I spent the night separately.
00:12:26Wow.
00:12:26Yeah.
00:12:27For me, I was frustrated because I could tell something was wrong.
00:12:30I just didn't understand what it was.
00:12:32I didn't understand it was the space, the cats, the questions.
00:12:34And then when you decided to leave, you decided to leave by yourself.
00:12:37All right.
00:12:37So just so I'm clear, though.
00:12:38Sure.
00:12:39So Kia, where did you go that evening?
00:12:40So I went back to my apartment.
00:12:43Wow.
00:12:43So you went back home.
00:12:44Yeah.
00:12:44And don't do well with people walking away from me because I kind of feel bad.
00:12:50So Kia, I'm curious, do you retreat because you feel overwhelmed or do you fear being left?
00:13:00In the cat cafe situation, that was just I had to get out.
00:13:04It's better for me to take myself out of that situation than say something I can't take back
00:13:09or that I'm going to regret that in the heat of the moment is what I mean.
00:13:12But in actuality, I have there's no real meaning behind it whatsoever.
00:13:15OK, but it sounds like you're saying that you do admit this is an unhealthy behavior.
00:13:20100%.
00:13:21OK, 100%.
00:13:22But I heard you just mentioned that you've figured out a resolution around it.
00:13:25Yeah.
00:13:25Going forward in those situations, we're both going to make a gesture, whether it's a word, a signal,
00:13:31pull the other out of whatever the situation is, and then try and go back into the situation to resolve it properly.
00:13:36If we can't, we put a pin in it.
00:13:38Pin in it.
00:13:38Discuss it later.
00:13:39Yeah.
00:13:39Great.
00:13:40But I think the other piece of this is I think you should really think about what is driving me to retreat.
00:13:45You mentioned most of the time it's being overwhelmed, right?
00:13:49So if you mark that as a trigger, then you can figure out together how you will not be overwhelmed.
00:13:57You can begin to set conditions.
00:13:58I feel overwhelmed when I'm in a small space.
00:14:00Yeah.
00:14:00So we now know as a team we're not going to do this.
00:14:04Yeah.
00:14:05Well done.
00:14:05I'm curious about friends and family.
00:14:07Mm-hmm.
00:14:07So what was the feedback from your friends and family about your relationship?
00:14:13My friends could totally see that I've never had this before.
00:14:17Like, they say that the way we look at each other, I've never done that with anyone.
00:14:22And they can see a huge connection between both of us.
00:14:25And, yeah, they just loved him massively.
00:14:29It was great to see him be himself around my friends.
00:14:32Okay.
00:14:32So then, Kia, your friends and family, what were their thoughts on Daveed?
00:14:36My friends absolutely loved Daveed.
00:14:38They loved the calmer side and, like, just how at ease that I feel in myself now around him.
00:14:43How just genuine our connection was and how we were bouncing off of each other.
00:14:48And, yeah, yeah, absolutely loved him.
00:14:51Loved him to pieces.
00:14:53All right.
00:14:53So now we can go to a decision.
00:14:56I'm going to let you decide who goes first.
00:15:00I can't believe how much we've grown since we met.
00:15:04You make all of the best parts of me so much better, like, just by being yourself and, like, amplify them.
00:15:10And then find a way to love all of the parts I don't really like about myself.
00:15:16So for that reason, I have chosen to stay.
00:15:23I love you.
00:15:25It's so fun.
00:15:27All right.
00:15:27Here we go.
00:15:28So for this entire time, I've seen parts of me with you that I haven't seen in a very long time.
00:15:33And I haven't been this happy ever.
00:15:37And I would have never chosen to do this with anyone else.
00:15:40Because I can be me.
00:15:43And just see you and me growing together.
00:15:47And I'm never leaving you because you stuck with me now.
00:15:51So I decided to stay for that reason.
00:15:54Oh, there's a car.
00:15:58You know what I've truly appreciated about your journey is that you two have been, what I say, people of their word.
00:16:07You stood on your values.
00:16:09You stood on your beliefs.
00:16:11Continue to be of your word.
00:16:14Continue to be of your word.
00:16:16It means a lot.
00:16:17Guys, thank you.
00:16:17So happy for you.
00:16:19Thank you so much.
00:16:21Yay!
00:16:28Our next couple tonight.
00:16:34Leah and Leah.
00:16:35Oh.
00:16:42Hello, you gorgeous things.
00:16:45So tell me about your experience of Partner Swap Week.
00:16:49Where has it brought you to right now?
00:16:51So I was with Leisha and you with David.
00:16:55For me, on my side, I came back from that all, like, excited.
00:16:59And I just walked into the Spanish Inquisition, you know, I sat down and it was like, did you flirt with her?
00:17:04Did she flirt with you?
00:17:05Did you look at her?
00:17:06Just so many mad questions.
00:17:07And I was like, the excitement of coming to see Leah disappeared.
00:17:11And it was more, oh, God, I feel like that Leah that we saw before was kind of coming back a little bit.
00:17:18So this is the trust issue, isn't it, again?
00:17:20Yeah.
00:17:21We had another issue, similar sort of situation.
00:17:24We went for drinks after a dinner party with, like, a few of the other couples.
00:17:28And Leah was with two girls.
00:17:30And I saw her around one girl more.
00:17:35Leah didn't introduce us to each other.
00:17:37And so I got paranoid.
00:17:39And so in that moment, I felt like there was more to it.
00:17:42And she was around this girl.
00:17:44And then the rest of us left.
00:17:45And Leah didn't want to leave.
00:17:46And I'm thinking it's because she's with this girl.
00:17:48And my head just went a million miles an hour.
00:17:51Can I just jump to Leah for a sec?
00:17:52I'm just interested in that moment.
00:17:55Were you aware that Leah was feeling insecure?
00:17:57For me, I'm not really a type of person that would go out and I've never disrespected someone
00:18:02or, like, the loyalty.
00:18:04I've never cheated.
00:18:04So I don't think like that.
00:18:06Like, I just 100% trust her.
00:18:08So I didn't ever think she wouldn't with me.
00:18:10I guess what I'm hearing here is that you haven't yet established that level of trust.
00:18:16Yeah.
00:18:16Where it can be comfortable to flit off and do your social butterfly thing.
00:18:19Yeah, and that's what I've learned now.
00:18:21So what do you need from Leah in order to build that?
00:18:23Just maybe a bit more reassurance in certain moments.
00:18:26You know, we're not really 100% sure on where we're at.
00:18:30So it's like, you can't really expect too much because there isn't certainty between us anyway.
00:18:37I think, you know, maybe it is time for you to start having those really crucial conversations
00:18:43about what you need.
00:18:46So tell me about homestays.
00:18:49We've come up homestays or like rock and a hard place.
00:18:53Yeah.
00:18:54It's gone because we was at such a low point just before homestay.
00:18:59At the dinner party, we were like, question mark, we don't know if we're going to even do homestays.
00:19:04And then we had real open, honest conversations at homestays.
00:19:07Like, we actually had a really good time.
00:19:08We did.
00:19:09I did see a different side of her that I haven't seen.
00:19:11She was softer, like a little bit more gentle to be around.
00:19:14And I think until the homestays, I didn't realise.
00:19:17Lee didn't 100% trust me because I found out then.
00:19:19OK.
00:19:20And I think you got a bit of validation from, like, my auntie and my cousin.
00:19:23They were like, Leah likes to have fun.
00:19:25She goes out, she makes 20 friends and comes back and they're all at a house for a party.
00:19:28Stop deep in everything.
00:19:29Just go and have fun.
00:19:31And then we went to yours, didn't we?
00:19:33Yes.
00:19:34That was a lot.
00:19:36OK.
00:19:37Um, Nicole's my best friend and she's always brutally honest.
00:19:43You know, she's always going to tell me the truth.
00:19:45She was like, if it was me at this point in the experiment, I would have left.
00:19:49I think for us, those doubts were already there anyway, as well as the positives.
00:19:54Both are prominent in our minds.
00:19:56So I think, you know, having both magnified during homestay has just, I suppose, put us in a space where it's like, right, well, now it's the last hurdle.
00:20:05What, now we've got to make a decision.
00:20:07The challenge we have now is that it's practically the end of the experiment.
00:20:12Yeah.
00:20:15I mean, we could look at this in a very black and white way and say, well, you're not in love.
00:20:21You know, you're not having a full-blown romantic relationship.
00:20:25Therefore, end of days, move on.
00:20:29Yeah.
00:20:29But something's certainly stopping us from saying that.
00:20:31And I can see that it's stopping you guys from saying that as well.
00:20:34Because we know this is not just a friendship.
00:20:38I've known for ages there's something there more than friendship.
00:20:41Because each hurdle that we come to, it's like we have another realisation of each other.
00:20:46Like, after homestay, we've got to see each other again in a whole new light.
00:20:50We've learnt more about each other that we didn't know.
00:20:51Even eight weeks on, we're still learning about each other now.
00:20:54So, for me, I'm thinking, well, these are more reasons why we've been matched.
00:20:59Now we're like, oh, I don't know.
00:21:02I wish that homestay happened weeks ago.
00:21:05Yeah.
00:21:06That's what I feel like.
00:21:08Yeah.
00:21:08But I think for me as well, I need 100% trust from my partner.
00:21:13Especially if we're going to look at taking this to the outside world and we want to have a long-distance relationship.
00:21:19I think that is a huge thing for me.
00:21:22I'm also thinking about who I thought I was coming in here and who I've realised I am now.
00:21:28Can I give my all to somebody in the ways that they need with the stuff that I've still got to work on?
00:21:35What you're saying, Lee, is maybe I'm not ready.
00:21:41Maybe, Leah, you are the right partner for me, but this is not the right time.
00:21:48I think these are very fair and important questions to ask yourself.
00:21:52Yeah.
00:21:52Well, look, we're going to go to a decision.
00:21:58Okay.
00:21:58Leah, we'll start with you.
00:21:59What's your decision?
00:22:01For me, I guess what Paul's just reiterating there is sometimes I don't know if you are 100% ready for this.
00:22:10I don't know if maybe I'm the right person for you in that sense.
00:22:15So, yeah, I have found it really difficult today.
00:22:18But we've started this journey from absolutely nothing.
00:22:24And each time I feel like we've grown and grown and grown and grown, yeah, we've plateaued a couple of times.
00:22:29But there's a reason I'm still here and the reason you're still here.
00:22:33And I think each day I'm learning so much about myself and about you.
00:22:37So, yeah, for that reason, I have chose to stay to see where this goes.
00:22:43APPLAUSE
00:22:44Good stuff.
00:22:47Emily.
00:22:47My head's been really conflicted and all over the place.
00:22:52I've been back and forth about it and nothing about it is a reflection of you as a person.
00:22:59But while I'm still not very trusting and while I'm still maybe not over things in my past,
00:23:05is it right for me right now to put that on somebody else?
00:23:10And Nicole telling me that she would leave at this point of the experiment gave me a lot to think about.
00:23:15But how I'm feeling right now about me and you is a lot more positive than I felt a week ago.
00:23:25The connection feels better, especially after homestay.
00:23:27I think that was needed at that point.
00:23:30And I'm holding on to the moment that we're in right now.
00:23:32It wouldn't feel right in feeling how I feel to leave.
00:23:36So, for that reason, I chose to stay.
00:23:39OK.
00:23:40Wonderful.
00:23:41APPLAUSE
00:23:41Well, some really honest, direct conversation between the two of you.
00:23:48It's time to just open it all up and lay it on the table.
00:23:53You can do this.
00:23:54No, but thank you very much.
00:23:55We do appreciate you all, three of you.
00:23:57Such a pleasure.
00:23:59Wish you all the best.
00:24:00Thank you, guys.
00:24:02APPLAUSE
00:24:03Next up on the couch, if we could have Reese and Leisha, come on up.
00:24:22Hello.
00:24:24Oh, my gosh.
00:24:28All right.
00:24:28So, we cannot wait to hear about homestays.
00:24:31Reese, had you been to Scotland before?
00:24:33First time.
00:24:33First time.
00:24:34Mm-hmm.
00:24:34Yeah.
00:24:35So then, friends and family?
00:24:37Yeah.
00:24:38What do they think of Reese?
00:24:39Oh, they love Reese.
00:24:40Like, how can you not love Reese?
00:24:42He's just easygoing.
00:24:43He's so nice.
00:24:44He's kind.
00:24:45Everybody going so well.
00:24:47The only one thing I would say with that, when Reese left, my sister did say to me, like,
00:24:53just be careful.
00:24:55I think she just was nervous that his feelings aren't as strong as mine.
00:25:01That's interesting.
00:25:01Reese, what's your take on that?
00:25:03To me, honest, I don't think that's not really a secret, is it?
00:25:07Not that I haven't got no emotions, but I feel like you're getting quicker to the end goal,
00:25:12which is love, right?
00:25:13Mm-hmm.
00:25:15So, you feel like Leisha is 100% into you and the relationship,
00:25:20and you're more like 80% into her and the relationship.
00:25:24Probably, yeah.
00:25:24Yeah.
00:25:27Leisha, how does it feel?
00:25:29To be in a relationship, you know that you're in it 100%.
00:25:37Your partner's just acknowledge he's 80% into it.
00:25:43I just want us to be in love with each other, so...
00:25:47I mean, it's not nice, is it?
00:25:48No, it's not nice.
00:26:03Leisha, how does it feel?
00:26:04Yeah.
00:26:05Hmm.
00:26:07To be in a relationship, you know that you're in it 100%.
00:26:11Your partner's just acknowledge he's 80% into it.
00:26:18I just want us to be in love with each other, so...
00:26:22I mean, it's not nice, is it?
00:26:23Oh, it's...
00:26:24It's just never nice to, like, heed it.
00:26:32And...
00:26:33And I can't fake it, can I?
00:26:42I can't be like, oh, yeah, I'm 100% in as well.
00:26:44I've got to be honest.
00:26:47Like, I want to get there.
00:26:48I feel like we're going in the right direction,
00:26:50but Leisha's a little bit more ahead of me.
00:26:52Just from here and the dinner party,
00:26:55one thing that is clear is there has been growth in this relationship.
00:26:58Oh, for sure.
00:26:59Yeah, right.
00:26:59Like, I didn't start off at 80%.
00:27:01But the question, though, is where are we going to go next?
00:27:05Because we are at the end of the experiment.
00:27:08This is your last time on the couch.
00:27:10And the hope is that when you're leaving the couch,
00:27:13that there's clarity on where the relationship could go.
00:27:18Leisha, where do you believe this relationship is going to go?
00:27:22To be honest with you,
00:27:24I don't feel like I get the clarity that I need.
00:27:27Oh.
00:28:01What scares me is that every single time we have even the minor argument,
00:28:05I can see Leisha...
00:28:05That's what scares me, too, though.
00:28:06...pushing away.
00:28:07And I think, that's real life.
00:28:09That's marriage.
00:28:11This is what you're going to experience in relationships.
00:28:14There will be times where your partner is feeling a bit emotional
00:28:16and they might just need a hug.
00:28:19They just might need that physical touch.
00:28:21I just need Leisha to know that, obviously, like,
00:28:23I do get irrational now and again.
00:28:25It isn't coming from a place that I'm trying to be annoying
00:28:28or I'm trying to, you know, make his life harder.
00:28:30I'm just in that moment.
00:28:32My emotions are everywhere.
00:28:33And I just need him to be like,
00:28:34I've got you.
00:28:35You're my girl.
00:28:36You know, what has been consistent in your relationship
00:28:42is that when emotions are high,
00:28:44you react to it differently, right?
00:28:47Whereas, Reese, what you like to do
00:28:49is you like to take a step back, right?
00:28:51Leisha, you like to take a step forward.
00:28:53Yeah.
00:28:54So you have to figure out, okay,
00:28:56in these moments, which you will have,
00:28:58what can each of you do
00:29:00to help better the situation?
00:29:03So, Reese, what's one lesson
00:29:05that you've picked up
00:29:05from this advice that you've received?
00:29:08If I could see, like, Leisha's stressed,
00:29:10like, a bit erratic,
00:29:11just, like, swallow my pride a little bit
00:29:13and just give her a hug
00:29:14and then we could just save
00:29:16all the other unnecessary drama
00:29:17that comes with it later on.
00:29:19There you go.
00:29:19Voila.
00:29:20You're the antidote to the unnecessary drama, right?
00:29:24Mm-hmm.
00:29:25Let's say that you take that on board
00:29:26and the unnecessary drama reduces.
00:29:29Mm-hmm.
00:29:30Where do you think that 80% goes to?
00:29:31100%?
00:29:32It'll carry on growing.
00:29:33Yeah.
00:29:33Does it go to 100%?
00:29:34Well, yeah, of course.
00:29:35Why not?
00:29:36It does?
00:29:37Yeah.
00:29:37And I heard you earlier say 100% is love.
00:29:39Yes.
00:29:40Yes?
00:29:40Yeah, yeah, yeah.
00:29:41So with these small behavioral changes,
00:29:45we can get to 100%?
00:29:46Yeah.
00:29:48Hope so.
00:29:49So then we'll go to the decisions.
00:29:51Okay.
00:29:52Leisha, if you could go first.
00:29:53Um, I've just loved being with Reese.
00:29:57I feel like I've been so lucky
00:29:59to have been matched for Reese as well.
00:30:01Like, you're just the perfect person for me.
00:30:04You are.
00:30:05You really are.
00:30:06And just hopefully grow as a couple.
00:30:10So I'm going to put Stati.
00:30:12Cute.
00:30:13Thank you for being an amazing person,
00:30:22amazing wife, amazing cook.
00:30:24You do put a smile on your face daily.
00:30:26We always have a giggle with each other.
00:30:27And I know we've got plenty more of them times to come.
00:30:30So for that reason,
00:30:31I'm going to put Stati.
00:30:34Aw.
00:30:39It's been beautiful to see the growth.
00:30:41It really has.
00:30:42Keep focusing on
00:30:44ensuring that each other,
00:30:46that you feel safe.
00:30:48This is the key for the two of you.
00:30:50If you do that,
00:30:51this relationship will be endless.
00:30:53Well done, guys.
00:31:05Next up to the couch.
00:31:10Abigail and John.
00:31:15Hi.
00:31:16Hello.
00:31:17Hey, looking lovely.
00:31:19Good to see the two of you.
00:31:22How are you both doing?
00:31:24Yeah, we're really good.
00:31:26John, can you talk us through Partner Swap Week?
00:31:29I had Partner Swap Week
00:31:30with that amazing man over there,
00:31:32Kia.
00:31:32and we spoke about living in the moments.
00:31:36You know, we've been on this sofa before
00:31:38and spoke so much about,
00:31:39oh, what happens in the future?
00:31:40Or, you know, yeah, great,
00:31:42we want kids and stuff.
00:31:43And I had this realisation like,
00:31:45wow, what the hell have I been waiting for?
00:31:47I need to go back and tell my wife that I love her.
00:31:49So I came back from Partner Swap Week
00:31:52and told Abby that I loved her.
00:31:58And it felt exactly like it should.
00:32:00It was amazing.
00:32:01And then you did say it back, didn't you?
00:32:03Yeah.
00:32:03When John said that he loved me,
00:32:05I was like, oh, my God, like, yes.
00:32:07Like, I literally, I love you back.
00:32:08And there's been many a times
00:32:09where I think I've wanted to say it,
00:32:11but I've kind of maybe stopped myself
00:32:12because I've just maybe been scared to.
00:32:17I remember saying, like, before this experiment,
00:32:19I had such an anxious attachment style
00:32:21and I've just never had that security
00:32:24from a partner before
00:32:25that makes me feel so good about myself
00:32:28and, like, so secure in our relationship
00:32:29and just so happy.
00:32:31It kind of feels like it's gone from strength to strength.
00:32:33That has really helped to sort of solidify the two of you.
00:32:36Yeah, definitely.
00:32:39Let's talk about homestays.
00:32:40John, can you talk us through
00:32:41the homestay experience for you?
00:32:44So, just so excited to see Abby's mum and dad
00:32:47to say, like, look, do you know what?
00:32:48Everything that I said I was going to do,
00:32:50look at us, this is what we've done.
00:32:51And it was a beautiful, beautiful moment.
00:32:53And then Abby's mum mentioned,
00:32:55well, you can take yourself.
00:32:57Yeah, this makes me feel emotional because...
00:32:59Oh, do you want me to do this?
00:33:01Yeah, no, no, no.
00:33:03Me and my mum are very close
00:33:04and we've been through a lot of tough times together
00:33:07and, you know, my mum sat there whilst I've been in tears
00:33:10after, like, just being hurt by previous partners.
00:33:13They've obviously never approved previous partners
00:33:16that I've brought home and with good reason.
00:33:19My mum said to me, like, when she's obviously saw me and John,
00:33:22you seem like, you know, a grown woman, basically,
00:33:25a more confident version of yourself
00:33:27and we can just see how happy you are.
00:33:30And, like, that's massive because I've never had, like,
00:33:33my mum say that, you know, about me,
00:33:36like, with regards to, like, a partner.
00:33:38It just, yeah, it just means, like, so much to me.
00:33:41I think what's really powerful about what both of you are saying here
00:33:45is that prior to meeting each other,
00:33:48that a single journey isn't easy.
00:33:51You know, there's pros and cons of the single world
00:33:53and you've both very eloquently spoken about
00:33:56some of the challenges of being single, of being alone
00:33:58and now it's your turn to enjoy being in a relationship.
00:34:03I was a poorer version of myself before Abby came along, you know?
00:34:07Like, I just feel like I'm 10th at all with being with you.
00:34:18Should we go to decisions?
00:34:20Do we need to go to decisions?
00:34:22Okay.
00:34:22Reveal.
00:34:24So let's start with yourself, Abigail.
00:34:25I've never been in a relationship where I felt so secure,
00:34:31so safe and so happy.
00:34:33I came into this experiment wanting to find my favourite person.
00:34:35I have found that and I'm so excited about our future.
00:34:39So that's why I have decided to stay.
00:34:45Always.
00:34:47I'm supposed to clap.
00:34:49I don't know whether I'm supposed to clap.
00:34:50I can clap.
00:34:51I think you want to.
00:34:53You can clap.
00:34:54It's okay.
00:34:54I need to clap now.
00:34:57John, what's your decision?
00:34:58Yeah, I'm having the best time.
00:35:01Like, I'm so pleased that it was you at the top of the aisle.
00:35:04Like, everybody sees the energy that we have for each other.
00:35:07I love you now.
00:35:08I loved you.
00:35:08At the wedding day, I was just a bit too scared to say those kind of things too early.
00:35:12And also, I love myself.
00:35:14And that's what you're doing for me.
00:35:16And I'm just so excited for everything that we've got coming.
00:35:20So, we're there.
00:35:21We're there.
00:35:22Hopefully you say stay.
00:35:23So, as a result, I'm staying.
00:35:29I'm not a kisser now.
00:35:31I'm not a kisser now.
00:35:35Excellent.
00:35:36Abigail and John, go and enjoy your life together.
00:35:39Aw, thank you.
00:35:40Aw, thank you.
00:35:43All right.
00:35:48Next up on the couch.
00:35:49If we could have April and Leo.
00:36:03All right, April, good to see you.
00:36:05Good to see you.
00:36:05Good to see you.
00:36:06I'm happy to be here.
00:36:08All right, this is good.
00:36:09This is good.
00:36:09I see there's no smile on April's face.
00:36:13No.
00:36:14No.
00:36:14No.
00:36:15Clearly, there's some serious issues happening between the two of you, right?
00:36:22It seems as if what's happened is the relationship has actually devolved.
00:36:30So, let's go back and see what we've missed.
00:36:34Can we go back to partner swap week?
00:36:36Okay.
00:36:37So, Leo, you were paired off with Rebecca.
00:36:41Correct.
00:36:42In April, you were paired off with Stephen.
00:36:44Mm-hmm.
00:36:45Okay.
00:36:45Leo, what did you learn from your time with Rebecca about your relationship?
00:36:52Rebecca gave me a lot of affirmations about what a great guy I am and how much I've put
00:36:58into this relationship as well that I've not necessarily heard from April.
00:37:04It's always been about me changing myself, me improving on this to match what she wants.
00:37:09And Rebecca just showed me I shouldn't be changing myself this much.
00:37:13If it's not meant to be, it's not meant to be.
00:37:16And that I'm fine the way I am.
00:37:18Can I just clarify, I've never asked him to change.
00:37:20I've said, I want him to be himself.
00:37:22You're almost wording it now as if I haven't given you affirmations.
00:37:26I haven't been telling you how great of a guy you are.
00:37:28That's not true.
00:37:30You were just acting like I've just been this horrendous partner.
00:37:34No, I haven't.
00:37:34That's how it came across then to me.
00:37:37I don't want him to change.
00:37:39If people pleaser is who he is, then that's fine.
00:37:41It's just something that doesn't work for me.
00:37:43All right, fair enough.
00:37:45So now, April, what did you learn about your relationship with Leo through Stephen?
00:37:52It just sort of highlighted that I don't necessarily have the same humor with Leo and our personalities
00:37:57just aren't gelling.
00:37:58Like, it did just sort of flag that up for me because it was just so easy with Stephen
00:38:02to have a conversation and just, like, have that banner, have that back and forth, and
00:38:05I just don't feel like I got that with Leo.
00:38:07Okay.
00:38:08So when you came together before homestays, where did you feel like the relationship was
00:38:14given this new insight that you had?
00:38:16Me and April really just said, it's going to be make or break now.
00:38:21The homestays are going to highlight the emotional connection or it's just not going to be there.
00:38:27But we were both willing to give it one last shot.
00:38:30I said, you know, I still want to go into homestays and just see if I can see the real
00:38:34Leo, if this personality he said at the beginning that he's an extrovert, he's allowed us one
00:38:37of his friends and everything like that, and, like, maybe that was just because he's uncomfortable
00:38:40and, like, it is an unusual environment that we're in.
00:38:42This experiment is intense.
00:38:43And I was like, maybe at homestays I will see a different side.
00:38:48Homestay, we need some hope.
00:38:50Yeah.
00:38:51We went to Leo's first.
00:38:53Mm-hmm.
00:38:53Okay.
00:38:54Was any hope delivered on Leo at your homestay?
00:38:59When I went and met my friends with April, they were very honest with me, and they basically
00:39:06sort of said, like, that they don't see any compatibility between the two of us.
00:39:11And for me, it really hit hard because, obviously, it's coming from my friends.
00:39:20I'm curious, what in particular do they think was incompatible between the two of you?
00:39:24What they mentioned in particular was that she wasn't really into me.
00:39:28And it was really hard for me to take because, obviously, I wanted this week to work out between
00:39:35us.
00:39:36I really like April.
00:39:38She's an amazing woman.
00:39:40And I still had a lot of hope in this relationship and hearing it from your nearest and dearest that
00:39:45it's not working.
00:39:47And it wasn't something that I wanted to hear at the time.
00:39:51Okay.
00:39:52It's just frustrating.
00:39:53I just feel like all I wanted when I came here was to have somebody that was themselves,
00:39:59that was completely honest, and I just don't feel like I've got that.
00:40:04I have them myself, and I have tried my hardest in this relationship to try and make it work.
00:40:08Your friends confirmed that.
00:40:09Your friends said you're not even speaking the way you normally speak.
00:40:13It was like a light bulb, and I was like, oh, my God, yeah, he's just cared about how he looks.
00:40:16You've been putting on the facade and not being the real you throughout the whole experiment.
00:40:23I was like, I don't know you.
00:40:25How is that possible?
00:40:26In seven weeks, how do I not know you?
00:40:42It's just frustrating.
00:40:42And I just feel like all I wanted when I came here was to have somebody that was themselves,
00:40:49that was completely honest, and I just don't feel like I've got that.
00:40:53I have been myself, and I have tried my hardest in this relationship to try and make it work.
00:40:58And your friends confirmed that.
00:40:59Your friends said you're not even speaking the way you normally speak.
00:41:01It was like a light bulb, and I was like, oh, my God, yeah, he's just cared about how he looks.
00:41:08You've been putting on the facade and not being the real you throughout the whole experiment.
00:41:13I was like, I don't know you.
00:41:15How is that possible?
00:41:16In seven weeks, how do I not know you?
00:41:18All right.
00:41:25So then, what happens the next day?
00:41:30The next day, we decided to have a break.
00:41:33Hang on a minute.
00:41:35Rewind.
00:41:35We got home, and it just blew up.
00:41:38I said to Leo, we're talking in the morning.
00:41:39He didn't want that.
00:41:40And then left, left his phone at home, so no one could contact him, and then didn't come back until seven in the morning.
00:41:46Wow.
00:41:46You left your own home.
00:41:50I just needed space.
00:41:52Obviously, hearing that from my friends, it really hit me hard.
00:41:55It was the last thing that I sort of needed, and it was fight or flight.
00:42:00And you left.
00:42:01Never heard of this.
00:42:03Someone leaving their own homestay.
00:42:06Okay.
00:42:07So did you then go to yours?
00:42:10April.
00:42:11Yeah, we met my mom and my sister, and I wasn't, like, as bubbly or happy or anything like that as I normally am, or they know what I'm like in a relationship when I really, like, really like the person and everything like that, and, yeah, it's just not, they just weren't seeing it.
00:42:23Okay.
00:42:24It seems like homestays provided some answers to your questions, but not in a positive way.
00:42:30Looking back from a personal point of view, where do you believe that your behavior has contributed to the downslide of your relationship?
00:42:38I've been in my shell quite a lot.
00:42:39I initially didn't show April potentially who I really am, and that put doubts in her head.
00:42:48I think me overcompensating to try and please April to make this relationship work as well, it's not a normal characteristic that I would normally have.
00:42:56April, what behavior do you think you've contributed to the downslide of this relationship?
00:43:03Over time, where the emotional connection just hasn't grown, like, it was so strong at the beginning, and it's just almost just gone down.
00:43:10I think when I started to see, like, potential incompatibility or, like, issues, I almost get, like, colder because I'm now like, okay, this isn't working, this isn't working, this is not going to end well.
00:43:24And I would be a lot more affectionate, I would be a lot more caring, you know what I mean?
00:43:27And, like, if I just forced affection or forced things, then that would have been me forcing it.
00:43:32And I didn't want to do that.
00:43:34That's fair.
00:43:35Yeah.
00:43:35So you're admitting to being cold and not as affectionate as you could be?
00:43:40Yeah.
00:43:41And, Leo, you're admitting to being a people pleaser in the relationship.
00:43:46Okay.
00:43:47So then final question for me.
00:43:49Do you believe that if you have corrected those two, then you would have a stronger relationship?
00:43:55I think, yeah, we probably would have done.
00:44:00It might have ended the same way, but we would have been a lot stronger right now.
00:44:05Okay.
00:44:06What do you think, April?
00:44:08No, because then that would have been false.
00:44:11Like, my behavior changed because the relationship wasn't working.
00:44:15Okay.
00:44:17Let's go to a decision.
00:44:20April, would you like to give your decision first?
00:44:22Genuinely, Leo, you have been so lovely, and I'm so thankful that I've been paired with
00:44:29someone that was so kind and caring.
00:44:33But I am going to leave.
00:44:39All right.
00:44:41Well, thank you.
00:44:43All right.
00:44:43Leo, would you like to give your decision?
00:44:45We obviously came here to find love, and we've been through this experiment together.
00:44:50And I've learned so much about myself during this time as well, and you're amazing.
00:44:57Well, as sad as it is, all good things have to come to an end, so leave.
00:45:05Okay.
00:45:06All right.
00:45:08You know, we always want our couples to be happy as a couple, but more importantly,
00:45:17individually.
00:45:18As long as you're leaving here with lessons that you can take to become stronger outside
00:45:25of the experiment, and that's really all we can ask.
00:45:28So, thank you, and your time now is done.
00:45:34Thank you very much.
00:45:35Good luck.
00:45:40This is not the journey I wanted.
00:45:44This is not the ending I wanted.
00:45:46I put my all into it.
00:45:47I've tried my best, and it didn't work out, but, yeah, I am proud.
00:45:52Even though me and Leo weren't compatible, you know, he is a really good person, and he
00:45:56has been lovely.
00:45:58So, I wish him the best, generally.
00:45:59Really gutted that it didn't work out to me in April.
00:46:03Ever since we met, she was perfect for me.
00:46:06I couldn't have asked for anything more in a partner, and I'm just...
00:46:11I'm gutted that we didn't have that fairytale ending.
00:46:16Next up to the couch...
00:46:23Rebecca and Bailey.
00:46:28Hello.
00:46:28Good to see the two of you.
00:46:33Good to see you all.
00:46:34So, how have you both been?
00:46:36Really well.
00:46:37Yeah, really good.
00:46:37Really good, thank you.
00:46:39Okay.
00:46:40Let's talk about the homestays.
00:46:43Obviously, we live miles and miles apart, and initially, when we started the homestays,
00:46:48and I turned up in Hove, where Bailey lives, where we live is completely different.
00:46:53And initially, I just thought, I think our lives are so far apart,
00:46:57in terms of what we do day-to-day, and then by the end of the homestays, I realised that,
00:47:02actually, what we do, and what we're interested in, is so similar.
00:47:06We just live in different locations.
00:47:08That's our only issue.
00:47:09Okay.
00:47:10So where are you at in terms of who will move where?
00:47:13We kind of know what we're going to do after this, and I'm very much happy to make effort.
00:47:18Becky's as well.
00:47:19I work remotely.
00:47:20So the interim is kind of fine.
00:47:23We haven't really answered the forever question yet, and if, like, things progress as we want them to,
00:47:29we don't really have an answer for that yet, which is, I guess, it is tough.
00:47:37It's tough, because we don't know what that looks like, because we said, well, would we meet in the middle?
00:47:42But then, like, that's taking Bailey away from Bluebell, and I've said all along, like,
00:47:46I would never put pressure on him to move away.
00:47:49Does that then mean, Rebecca, that you have to do the moving?
00:47:57Yeah, I did feel the pressure a lot of, like,
00:47:59Bec, are you going to move to home?
00:48:02I'm not ready to say yes to that.
00:48:11Yeah, it's like I'm caught between a rock and a hard place.
00:48:13I don't want to lump all the pressure on Bec, but then I don't really know what else to do.
00:48:17I think it's tough.
00:48:18We don't know where our forever home is.
00:48:21We can't give any definite decisions on what forever looks like for us.
00:48:25Say, within five years, if I had a child,
00:48:28you typically just want to be around your family and your network,
00:48:31and I've got a very, very close-knit group of people around me,
00:48:36and if that was taken away and then I embarked on big life things,
00:48:39like having a baby, how would that work?
00:48:42Because I wouldn't know anybody in Hove other than that.
00:48:44I think the two of you are talking about some very real issues
00:48:49that a lot of couples have to discuss and have to agree to.
00:48:53Ultimately, it will mean one of you having to move.
00:48:58I can hear how difficult this decision is for you.
00:49:01OK, let's go to the decision.
00:49:09Rebecca, if we can start with you, please.
00:49:11I think when I saw you at the wedding day and we didn't connect at all,
00:49:15I honestly believe that we would have a nice honeymoon
00:49:18and then when we saw you for the first time, I would write leave.
00:49:21That's what I just thought.
00:49:23It's not going to work.
00:49:29We just managed to have some one-on-one time
00:49:32and everything changed, and every day since then,
00:49:35I've just got to know you more and more
00:49:36and fell in love with you more and more,
00:49:37and I can't imagine my life without you.
00:49:42So...
00:49:42Well, you're done after, so...
00:49:43I'm 100% choosing to stay.
00:49:46I haven't had one single doubt in my mind
00:49:55about anything, about any decision.
00:49:57I just always knew I wanted to be near you
00:49:59and wanted to carry on and see a life with you outside,
00:50:02even from the honeymoon.
00:50:03I can see that, so...
00:50:05Yeah.
00:50:05I'm going to cry.
00:50:07You cry if you want to.
00:50:08Why do I cry so much?
00:50:09Because you love me so much.
00:50:11It's OK.
00:50:12But, yeah.
00:50:13I came in and asked for a best friend,
00:50:14and, yeah, I've literally got that, haven't you?
00:50:16So, I am ready for the outside world,
00:50:19and, yeah, I can't wait to do it with you.
00:50:20So, obviously, I'll be staying.
00:50:23Well done.
00:50:25Well done.
00:50:26Can't talk anymore.
00:50:27Very well done.
00:50:29Guys, I am so excited to see where this relationship goes.
00:50:33It's been such a pleasure watching your journey.
00:50:36It really has.
00:50:37And I think...
00:50:38I just can't wait to see little babies come along.
00:50:41I just...
00:50:41I feel like it's coming to see...
00:50:42Can you say little baileys?
00:50:43Little babies and little babies, yeah.
00:50:46Thank you so much, guys.
00:50:47Thank you all so much.
00:50:48Honestly, yeah, I really appreciate it.
00:50:50Cheers.
00:50:50Good work.
00:50:51Cheers.
00:50:51See you later.
00:50:52See you later.
00:50:54Thank you, guys.
00:51:02Our last couple on the couch tonight...
00:51:08Nellie and Stephen.
00:51:09APPLAUSE
00:51:10Hey, guys.
00:51:15Hi.
00:51:15Hey, guys.
00:51:20Well, let's get straight into it.
00:51:22What's going on for the two of you?
00:51:24Nellie, why don't you kick it off?
00:51:26So I went to Bailey's for partner swap, and I felt, like, seen, I felt cared for.
00:51:33I felt he was present, like he wanted to be around me.
00:51:36We started talking about Stephen and I's relationship, and actually Bailey asked me, like, Nellie, are you happy?
00:51:41And I just cried, because I'm not.
00:51:43I wasn't.
00:51:45I haven't been.
00:51:46And I've probably downplayed how I've been feeling.
00:51:50Have you?
00:51:51Yeah, I think so.
00:51:52And so I guess when I came back, I sort of said to Stephen, this is what I've learned.
00:51:57This is what I would want in a relationship.
00:51:59And I said, I've just not been feeling that way.
00:52:01And when Stephen had his swap with April, I had one boundary, which was, you've not cooked me a meal, so don't cook for April.
00:52:09He did tell me that he made breakfast, but again, it was downplayed.
00:52:12And I didn't actually realize until recently that it was a whole proper cooked breakfast in bed.
00:52:18I've never had that.
00:52:20I just felt really, really stupid, quite embarrassed.
00:52:23And I think knowing that you've done that for someone else after two days, it makes you feel about this big.
00:52:28Yeah.
00:52:29Let's pause there, because I'm interested in what that experience of the partner swap with April was like for you.
00:52:36We were sitting there talking about places we like to travel and places we've been or what's next on our list.
00:52:41And it was so naturally flowing like that.
00:52:43I thought, why haven't we done this?
00:52:44I try.
00:52:45I've tried so hard to do all this.
00:52:47And it just gets shut down.
00:52:48I don't get anything back.
00:52:50Like, I've tried week in, week out.
00:52:51Take a lot of accountability there.
00:52:52I should have been asking questions.
00:52:53I should have done a lot more.
00:52:54But it's just hard because we've had several conversations where you've said about pressures of the experiment.
00:52:59And that actually, outside of this, it could be a potential.
00:53:02And that, you know, you'd be even willing to come to Manchester for a weekend.
00:53:05The conversation we had week before was like, look, maybe away from this, maybe something could work.
00:53:10Stephen, are you attracted to Nelly?
00:53:13Yes, absolutely.
00:53:15From the moment I met her, from the moment I turned around and saw her, I was like, fuck me.
00:53:18She's standing.
00:53:18Right now, today?
00:53:21Right now?
00:53:21I would say no.
00:53:29An attraction is there or it's not.
00:53:31I like the girl.
00:53:32Of course, the light's there.
00:53:33But I think for me, I just can't see something progressing romantically any further.
00:53:38Yet you just said that maybe it could outside the experiment.
00:53:40Yeah, two weeks ago.
00:53:41Can you see that there's mixed messages here?
00:53:43There's mixed messages.
00:53:44But I'm being real.
00:53:45Like, I genuinely believe if we were away from the experiment, we could have made something work.
00:53:50So when did the light stop?
00:53:52Partner swap happened.
00:53:53It thought, I'm not giving you what you need and what you deserve from someone.
00:53:56For me, it's like, hey, well, let's stop the relationship and just try and be a friend.
00:54:01Because I was like, I respect you enough as a friend and value much as a friend.
00:54:05And you can give me that look.
00:54:06I'm telling you that.
00:54:07We're going to go with that look.
00:54:08Tell me about that look.
00:54:10It's really hard for me to sit there and listen to that I'm respected as a friend
00:54:17because we came to Homestays and Stephen decided not to come with me to Manchester.
00:54:23I did want him to come.
00:54:24I saw my family, saw my friends, and then Stephen came up a couple of days later.
00:54:28But I found out on that day that actually, whilst he wasn't with me, he was busy swiping on a dating app.
00:54:34I was.
00:54:40Which I have receipts for.
00:54:42Just a moment, just so I'm clear.
00:54:44That is Stephen's profile, which is verified.
00:54:46It's really hard for me to sit there and listen to that I'm respected as a friend because we came
00:55:09to homestays and Stephen decided not to come with me to Manchester I did want him to come I saw my
00:55:14family saw my friends and then Stephen came up a couple of days later but I found out on that day
00:55:19that actually he whilst he wasn't with me he was busy swiping on a dating app
00:55:30which I have receipts for that just a moment just so I'm that is Steven's profile which is verified
00:55:44yeah whilst you were within the experiment no married to Nellie yeah you were on a dating
00:55:52profile and I wasn't because I got my phone out during her friends coming over and I showed them
00:55:58me putting my number in and it coming up saying my account has been removed if you were just open
00:56:03honest like it would I wouldn't be doing this that isn't my profile how is it verified I don't know
00:56:10why don't you have to verify those with your face with your face yeah that is not me on hinge it's
00:56:16your face so you think someone's catfishing you absolutely then you need to go to the police
00:56:22station because they've got all your details guys let's try to see through the details here because
00:56:30we could drown in them the gist of what you're talking about here Nellie is that during your
00:56:34marriage you believe Stephen was on dating apps he was and you've shown evidence that would suggest
00:56:42that that's the case so Stephen are you sitting here now point blank denying that you've had anything
00:56:48to do with any dating profiles whilst you've been married to Nellie absolutely
00:56:53it so are you claiming that you've been hacked or just help us understand your thinking here
00:57:01personally I've only got one phone so like when I'm putting in my number I haven't got a how's it
00:57:04verified though you have to verify I don't know why it's verified did you did you give them your
00:57:08face to verify I don't understand well you have to understand like I don't know how there's a
00:57:12verified profile of me well Nellie's just explained how how that happens yeah you can
00:57:16she explained but it still doesn't mean that I haven't got to hinge on my phone so someone's
00:57:20walking around with your face then Stephen can you see that this seems quite far-fetched and
00:57:25quite hard to understand that you're sitting here and denying this of course I'm going to
00:57:29like I know it because I know what I'm saying is true okay this shit happens all the time like
00:57:34not a verified account Stephen man Steve it's not be honest if I had the answers right come on I'll
00:57:40tell you it's not me I'm saying it's not me it's your fate clearly that's my fate clearly that's my
00:57:46face you can have that date nap without it being verified when it's verified you've got to do a
00:57:52talking video and then a video of you moving your face around like I've had the same app since when
00:57:58since the whole time that is what dating apps now require the evidence is compelling Stephen I think
00:58:04that's probably why everyone is saying that but I can imagine this is quite stressful for you and I'm
00:58:10gonna say something not an awful person but that's exactly how I'm being portrayed dude whenever I bring
00:58:14stuff up it gets rejected my intention was to be grateful of you everything I want you to be honest
00:58:19and if you came in and said to me or even sent me a text that week saying now as you know what I hold
00:58:23my hands up I'm really sorry this whole thing wouldn't have happened but I'm not gonna sit here any
00:58:28longer and not be true and not say what how I feel
00:58:32whatever I say at this rate is can I ask a question on that at what point in your life Stephen do you
00:58:43believe that you learned that defensiveness was a better response than vulnerability
00:58:49what I have observed from you is that your bad behavior has come because your reaction to challenge
00:59:03is defensiveness how I'm being portrayed from weeks on end sitting here being grilled of X Y Z
00:59:11see that there's been any behavior that you've demonstrated that you need to take accountability
00:59:16for if I was in that situation and someone had shown me Nelly's on this yeah it would have hurt I
00:59:21would have been like what I would have had my back up all I'm saying is I'm still being portrayed to be
00:59:25this awful person what's causing that talking about your behavior there's no big bad boogeyman here
00:59:32projecting something onto you you are behaving in a certain way and we are responding to it
00:59:37trust me I didn't want this to happen this is not how I wanted this last couch with you ever I had
00:59:44feelings for you my feelings were real I don't I never wanted this we're clearly not going to
00:59:48resolve this this profile situation today well I think it is what it is and Steven this is very
00:59:55important for you to to know defensiveness is self-protection protecting ego protecting all types of
01:00:02things and I think that if you could walk away from this experiment knowing you know what
01:00:06I'm a good guy but when I respond to conflict if I can just pause and say how could I respond with
01:00:16vulnerability then guess what your life is going to become infinitely better yeah and I just appreciate
01:00:22that so that's one thing I'm trying to be more vulnerable yes I've been very defensive I found
01:00:28myself getting more and more irritable I say during this experiment but I'm trying to be more
01:00:33vulnerable so I don't think I've cried as much on this experiment I have in like the last sort of 10
01:00:3814 years yeah yeah all right guys well we are going to move on to a decision so let's start with you
01:00:47first though Steven I know you and I have had loads of ups and downs and it's been a really it's been a
01:00:52rough ride the highs have been great the lows have been really really low but the reason I stayed for
01:00:58so long and I pushed so hard is because I genuinely think that marriage does take hard work and I never
01:01:03wanted to leave here with any regrets what I have learned is I know my worth I know what I deserve I
01:01:09know that the right man for me is never going to leave me feeling confused or uncertain what you've
01:01:15taught me as well and this is one thing that I will always take away is that I will stop prioritizing
01:01:20people to the detriment of myself because I've done that in every relationship I'm not doing it
01:01:28anymore yeah it's just sad but um but yeah based on that guys I have decided to do what's best for me
01:01:36and leave thank you and to you Steven I'm guided that look I've not been able to give you what what
01:01:45you deserve what you want it has been challenging but you know what you as a person being introduced
01:01:51to you is a very big moment in my life in terms of impact because you've allowed me to be
01:02:00like this now like you've brought this side out of me which I've turned off for so long
01:02:07so so long so in terms of impact and what you've done for me it's massive massive I don't I couldn't
01:02:16even put into words how massive that is but but for me to to grow as a person just to spend time with
01:02:22my kids as well who miss massively yeah I think it's right for me to leave as well
01:02:29okay thank you guys thank you guys thank you guys thank you good luck thank you good luck
01:02:38oh man I think at the beginning I don't think I expected the marriage to end this way for sure
01:02:49I think I was very hopeful in the beginning when you see the wedding day and the honeymoon
01:02:52even moved into the apartments like the first week I thought do you know what this could work
01:02:57to end it this way definitely didn't cross my mind to be accused of being on a dating app and
01:03:02having to friend someone off is never a way you want to end the marriage but yeah here we are I guess
01:03:09Stephen has 1000% been caught out honestly I don't know why he won't why he won't admit it
01:03:18if you asked me on my wedding day how you thought it would end honestly I just never thought our
01:03:25journey would be like this I do deserve better and he knows that too I just know that the right man will
01:03:32come along and he'll make me feel so adored so cherished I will never have to question anything
01:03:36next time the couples head off on their final dates this is stunning for some it's a fairy tale
01:03:53come to life the connection we had instantly is the same connection that we have now
01:03:57but for others the magic fades as reality sets in it's just a distance it's everything I've never
01:04:06ever thought about this problem I can't be without you and a roller coaster of emotions I hate it
01:04:15we're just not on the same page sends Leisha and Reese's marriage completely off the rails I was trying
01:04:21to be nice to you if you're in a fucking mood I don't know if I'm the one for Leisha am I enough is that
01:04:26it for us I don't know what else you need from me just keep pushing away I don't really don't do it
01:04:51you
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