The MAFS UK Journey of Leisha and Reiss
The 2025 season of Married at First Sight UK introduced viewers to one of its most talked-about couples, Leisha and Reiss, who entered the experiment later than others as intruder bride and groom. Scottish participant Leisha had specified to experts Mel Schilling, Charlene Douglas, and Paul C Brunson that she wanted a partner who was tall, athletic, and possessed striking blue eyes. They matched her with Essex native Reiss, who was known for his romantic gestures.
An Awkward Beginning and Dramatic Honeymoon
Their wedding day immediately presented challenges when Leisha's overexcited nature overwhelmed her new husband during their vows. She struggled to maintain eye contact with Reiss, later confessing to cameras: "I really fancy him. I can't even look at him. I'm really struggling to speak." Reiss expressed concerns about her being "quite loud" and "a little bit over the top."
The couple's honeymoon in Thailand took a dramatic turn when Leisha was rushed to hospital after being bitten on the face by a stray dog. Tensions emerged when Leisha felt frustrated having to ask Reiss to accompany her to the hospital. However, they eventually cleared the air, with Reiss admitting he liked the stage they were at and that Leisha had "a heart of gold."
Relationship Highs and Lows During the Experiment
Their challenges continued when Reiss revealed to other participants that their journey home from Thailand had been difficult, with Leisha becoming so drunk she was sick on herself and spent an hour chatting to another man. Despite these setbacks, both decided to stay together at their first commitment ceremony.
The couple appeared to grow stronger after the couples retreat, with Leisha telling experts her feelings for Reiss were "massive." During homestays week, their connection seemed to deepen, with Reiss telling his mother they'd been "getting on like a house on fire" while Leisha jokingly mentioned they already had "baby names on the go."
A significant moment came when Leisha declared her love for Reiss, who struggled to reciprocate at the same level. He explained: "I'm not like that, I find it very unnatural," though he did acknowledge having "strong feelings" for her.
The Final Vows and Unresolved Future
As the experiment concluded, the couple faced their Final Vows with their future hanging in the balance. During the final dinner party's Honesty Box segment, Leisha expressed that she struggled most with Reiss being "closed off-ish," urging him to "just be honest in the moment."
When Leisha asked Reiss how likely he thought it was they would still be together in a year, he responded cautiously: "I just think there's a lot riding on the next few months to see how we cope. I feel like if we can get on the same wavelength, if the arguments calm down and that kind of stuff, yeah I can see us together in a year's time."
The E4 broadcast ended on a complete cliffhanger regarding their decision at Final Vows, leaving viewers wondering whether this intruder couple would choose to stay together or go their separate ways after the experiment concluded.
