Packed Married At First Sight 2025: Runaway groom Eliot Donovan set to make shocking return… after his bride was paired off with another man

A runaway groom from Married At First Sight makes a stunning return to the 2025 series, just weeks after his dramatic departure.

Daily Mail Australia can reveal that Eliot Donovan, who became infamous for walking out just hours after his wedding to Lauren Hall, is making a sensational comeback that has left both his estranged bride and fellow contestants in dismay.

The shocking development comes after his former bride, Lauren, was linked to a new partner, professional golfer Clint Rice.

According to insiders, the cast and crew could not believe their eyes when Eliot suddenly reappeared on set, arriving late for the dinner.

“It was the ultimate plot twist,” a source close to the series said.

‘Lauren and Clint had just gotten used to each other when Eliot showed up out of nowhere. The look on Lauren’s face was priceless – she was completely stunned. And Clint? He wasn’t impressed at all.’

‘Lauren’s new groom Clint has let him have his way.’

Eliot’s sudden departure made headlines when he left just hours after his wedding to Lauren, citing a lack of connection.

In a twist no one saw coming, Married At First Sight groom Eliot Donovan will make a stunning return to the series in 2025, just weeks after his dramatic departure

Daily Mail Australia can reveal that Eliot, who infamously walked out on Lauren Hall just hours after his wedding (pictured), is making a sensational comeback that has left both his estranged bride and fellow contestants in disarray

However, his return seems to indicate that he still has some unfinished business, not only with Lauren, but with the other contestants as well.

According to an insider, Eliot’s return isn’t just about patching up the rift with Lauren.

“Eliot feels he has been misunderstood,” the source said.

But that’s not all: his former bride Lauren has also returned to the series, now with a new partner, professional golfer Clint Rice (Lauren and Clint pictured)

“He’s back to clear his name, but he’s not apologizing for his behavior. He and Lauren were a complete mismatch, and he hasn’t changed his mind about wanting to move on from their romance.”

Lauren, left heartbroken by Eliot’s sudden departure, struggles with her new relationship with professional golfer Clint, a charismatic and successful golfer known for his calm demeanor under pressure.

“Lauren and Clint were really starting to hit it off,” the insider continued.

“Clint has been a rock for her and she’s enjoying the fresh start. Eliot’s return has definitely thrown a spanner in the works.”

Insiders have revealed that the cast and crew were left in disbelief when Eliot suddenly reappeared on set, arriving late for the dinner party

Eliot’s reappearance caused tensions within the cast.

“There’s a lot of fear right now,” the source added. “Everyone has no idea what the hell is going on.”

“Eliot’s comeback has everyone on edge, especially Lauren.”

According to the insider, many of the grooms didn’t get along with Eliot when they met him at the bachelor party.

“It was like the ultimate plot twist,” a source close to the show said. “Lauren and Clint had just gotten used to each other when Eliot showed up out of nowhere.”

Lauren, left heartbroken by Eliot’s sudden departure, has been keeping her new relationship with professional golfer Clint, a charismatic and successful golfer known for his cool under pressure, in check.

“It will be interesting to see how this turns out.”

Producers are reportedly thrilled with the unexpected drama, describing Eliot’s return as a “game-changer” for the season.

“This is the kind of twist that makes MAFS a must-see TV show,” said another insider.

‘The love triangle between Eliot, Lauren and Clint keeps viewers glued to their screens.’

This comes after Daily Mail Australia revealed that Eliot had packed his bags and booked a return ticket home before the ink on their marriage certificate was even dry.

According to insiders, Donovan struggled with the pressure of the show and felt overwhelmed by the fast pace of the experiment.

“Eliot just wasn’t ready for the intensity of it all,” a source close to the groom revealed.

‘He thought so too, but once they were on their honeymoon it all became too much and he decided to run away.’

Photos captured by Daily Mail Australia on August 6 showed the MAFS crew desperately trying to protect Lauren as she arrived alone at the first dinner party.

The first commitment ceremony also came as a shocking mass exodus, with three couples calling it quits within the first two weeks of filming, in an “unprecedented” turn of events.

“We’re already down six people, and it’s only been two weeks. The pressure on the remaining cast is immense, and it’s creating a lot of tension,” an insider shared.

Along with newcomers Clint and Lauren, couple Teejay Halkias and Bethy Kelly are also adding some extra excitement. They tied the knot on Tuesday.

Amid the casting chaos, Daily Mail Australia recently revealed that the new batch of intruders were brought in under one strict condition: they must cause some drama.

After three couples dropped out of filming, Daily Mail Australia revealed a new batch of intruders have been brought in to add to the drama (pictured: intruder couple Teejay Halkias and Bethy Kelly)

An insider revealed that they were all carefully chosen for their potential to cause a stir among the existing couples, after six candidates abruptly dropped out.

“They were told from the beginning that they had to create tension and keep the drama going,” they said.

Last season, two of the three intruder couples didn’t last. They continued working on the experiment for a few days before sensationally quitting.