Fans had high hopes for Thomas Hartley and Adrian Sanderson after they navigated a rocky time on Married At First Sight UK. Despite failing to hit it off at first, they became one of the of the matchmaking show's most popular couples after forming a close relationship following a row-filled honeymoon in Mexico.
During an emotional dinner party, before making it to the final vows, they decided to part ways. In tearful scenes Thomas called Adrian, who lives in Manchester, his "rock" and vowed that he would still be in his life as a friend after being brought together for the E4 show, which sees singles marry strangers after being matched by experts.
"You mean the world to me. But just because we love each other doesn’t mean we’re supposed to be together," Thomas said, as Adrian burst into tears. Fans' hopes were then dashed after Thomas was asked if Adrian had been in touch following the show reunion. Thomas, who took to Instagram Stories for a Q&A, simply replied: "No."
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Another fan questioned: "Are you and Adrian still friends? You don't follow each other." And Thomas wrote: "Erm." While pulling an awkward look, Thomas added: "I'll always have love for him, we just don't communicate well."
Today (Tuesday April 4) Thomas, from Liverpool, took to Instagram to share a smiling picture of the pair on their wedding day and another of them posing together as he wished Adrian a "Happy Anniversary." And he typed: "On this day in 2022 I got married!"
Sending Adrian his best wishes he explained: "It doesn’t always work out the way you picture it, but I wish Adrian all the best and I hope he goes on and reaches all of his dreams and goals in the future!"
Over on his page, Adrian marked the anniversary with a heartfelt message to Thomas and a selection of pictures from their time together on the popular show. Serendipityteaching asked Thomas: "Have you seen Adrian’s post?" and he replied: "No."
White_hotel told him: "There was obviously so much real feeling between yous, I would lay money you’re crying right now xxx" but Thomas replied: "I’m not doll! I’m just healed and living my life."
Thomas then went on to add that Adrian and Lara Eyre, whose marriage to Richie Dews ended during the series, are they only other participants he would have time for. He added: "He’s the only person aside from @thelaraeyre that I will ever remotely bother with again."
Adrian jokingly used the nicknames Thomas used for him on the show as he typed emotional words to Thomas. "Today marks 1 year since I was married to an absolute lunatic of a man (his words)," he said.
"I have to say I’m quite teary writing this. We had a bumpy ride and the only thing I would ever change is the final outcome.
"I miss him and his energy all the time, I miss him boosting me, singing with me, telling him off for the fake tan of the bedsheets and I actually enjoyed being the calm in his storm."
Praising Thomas he wrote: ""I think you’d maybe find it a little surprising to say I don’t think any man was ever more kind to me in a lot of ways. That’s not to say there was a lot of rough with the smooth, but the one thing he did do was build me up and stop me from tearing myself down and it meant the world."
He continued: "Yes there was tough times and they’re not disregarded, but I hope you all got to see there was a lot of love there for each other and I’ll always cherish that. It has been one of the toughest and craziest years of my life with more ups and downs than you could count and I’m still extremely grateful that we got to go through it together."
And he added: " Even though we don’t communicate anymore, I want every happiness for him, every flirt, fancy, emotion, experience and enormous love he can find, and I have no doubt on this earth that he truly wants and wishes the same for me."
Signing off he said: "So from Good Cop to Bad Cop, ‘H’ from Steps & Claire Balding…Happy Anniversary. Thanks for the ride, it was never boring. Love Adrian. Xx"
The post prompted Married At First Sight's intimacy coach Charlene Douglas to say: "Hope you both can connect to clear the air. Two amazing people." And Adrian replied: "Thanks Charlene." Thomas also reached out when he saw the post by replying: "Happy anniversary."
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