MAFS first look sees experts thrilled as strained couple 'stronger than ever' at party

A preview of the next dinner party on Married at First Sight UK shows the relationship experts thrilled with one couple's apparent progress following tension in previous episodes.

The second dinner party of the latest series of the E4 show, which returned last month, is set to feature in Wednesday's episode. The Mirror has exclusively obtained a clip, which shows Emma Barnes, 31, and Caspar Todd, 34, arriving.

The couple's arrival is monitored by experts Paul C. Brunson, Mel Schilling and Charlene Douglas elsewhere. Paul teases ahead of the pair entering the venue: "Here we are, second dinner party - right off the back of expert's week. I wonder how that impacted couples."

Mel says: "Yes, first impressions have happened now. We're now moving into some of the norming, storming stages and we're gonna see connections develop. We're gonna see subgroups develop and tonight I think it'll be quite fascinating to watch."

Sales manager Emma and head gardener Caspar are then show arriving, with them seen arm-in-arm as they enter the dinner party's venue. They had been linked up when they arrived at the first dinner party, but Charlene noted at the time that Caspar looked "awkward" and the pair parted moments after arriving.

The latest instance however hints at a closer relationship between them following tension in the 'marriage' previously, including over Caspar sharing that he wasn't typically attracted to "curvier" people. They're both seen smiling as Emma excitedly says whilst Caspar kept hold of her arm: "Oh first. First at the dinner party."

Mel responded whilst watching the footage: "Well, here they are!" She added: "This is my couple - we sat down [in experts' week] and shared some time together this week. I really tried to get them to move away from all of these differences about each other that they've been focusing on, toward more of a 'what are the strengths here?'."

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Caspar was seen offering Emma a glass of champagne shortly after their arrival, with her responding: "Yes, that'd be nice!" He was seen trying to open the bottle to fulfil the offer. As the experts smiled with excitement, Paul said: "It appears that your magic has worked [Mel] cause this is the strongest we've ever seen these two."

Following a tense honeymoon earlier in the series, Caspar admitted at the previous dinner party that he didn't find Emma attractive and questioned why they were matched. Then at the commitment ceremony, when asked how they were doing, Emma said: "We're better than we were, but we're still ... not quite friends yet, are we?" Caspar agreed, saying: "No."

Caspar also made similarities between Emma and his twin sister, admitting: "I'm fully aware I've got to try and separate the two." He said there were "quite a few" challenges in the relationship but both chose to stay in the process. Emma was in tears though recalling the honeymoon, with her telling the coaches that Caspar had said he didn't find her attractive as he's not into "curvy girls".

At the start of experts' week, Caspar said he had a "very long way to go" to build a "proper relationship" with Emma. Mel visited them as one of the couples "most in need of help" though and questioned Caspar's previous comments.

He said: "I didn't set out in this experiment to hurt my wife". The groom however said he "didn't want to lie" and likes partners who are "slightly slimmer". Mel brought up similarities from their profiles and got them to think about the other's appealing qualities, getting them to take part in an activity.

Following Mel's visit, Emma said: "I'm feeling like there's a fresh start ahead." Caspar, ahead of the second dinner party, shared: "Today feels like a new day." He said that Mel's efforts were "really helpful" and he had learnt more about his wife, adding: "I think we're going in the right direction".

Married at First Sight UK airs Monday to Thursday at 9pm on E4.

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