Married At First Sight UK star Jonathan Wileman has shared his hidden health struggle that didn't appear on the hit show. Johnathan, who was introduced as a joiner on the show, has shared how he was approached to take part in the E4 marriage experiment after returning to the UK Switzerland
He said he had hoped to find love after a difficult few years after he lost his job as a joiner upon discovering he had Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS). Jonathan was a latecomer to the 2022 edition of the reality show and viewers saw him marry a complete stranger in Sophie Brown.
Despite coming into the experiment later than most of the other couples, the pair made it to the final vows where they decided to stay together, despite Jonathan telling his wife that he was 'not attracted' to her, after sharing that there was 'something missing'.
However, later, during the MAFS UK reunion, it was revealed that Sophie and Jonathan didn't last outside of the E4 marriage experiment. "We had our ups and downs, but we are very different people," Sophie said while Jonathan told co-star Lara: "I knew I couldn't give Sophie what she wanted."
And Jonathan has now opened up about his earlier diagnosis which he says was 'cut' from the show. Johnathan told the Mirror: "I got diagnosed with HAVS in Christmas 2018." Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome is caused by the use of hand power tools and causes changes in the sensation of the fingers.
After losing his job, girlfriend and flat, Johnathan said he ended up depressed and "not knowing where to go". He said: "Luckily, I've got a very, very nice family in Switzerland – it was my best friend's parents – who said: 'Come over here, we'll look after you and make sure you've got a roof over your head and you're fed'."
Johnathan, 32, claims that he opened up to the cameras during filming about his struggle with HAVS and how it impacted his life and career – but it wasn't included in the final edit. He explained to the Mirror how his diagnosis and experience in Switzerland spurred his desire to travel the world – which he expressed to Sophie Brown during their marriage on the show.
"So that's when my whole travelling situation started and the feelings of, 'I don't have a career, I don't have any dreams,' because I was back at square one," he said. "That's why I took upon myself to go travelling and try and enjoy just what I had rather than sit at home moping."
A Channel 4 spokesperson said in response to the Mirror: "Married at First Sight UK films vast numbers of hours of the contributors’ lives and no guarantees are ever given as to what will or won’t be included in the final episodes, but the programmes are carefully put together to ensure they are an accurate depiction of the events that took place.
"Johnathan was happy to be described as a joiner by profession, throughout." However, Johnathan said he felt was he was "made out to be this guy who doesn't have any dreams and wants to be a stay at home dad". He added: "The reason why I wanted to be a stay at home dad is because everything that I worked on has been taken away."
READ NEXT:
- Holly Willoughby issues four-word response to ITV This Morning co-star after personal news
- ITV Good Morning Britain viewers distracted as brother and mum of I'm A Celebrity's Owen Warner make appearance
- ITV I'm A Celebrity slammed for 'insensitive' challenge question as they doubt answer was wrong
- Boy George shares exactly how he celebrated ITV I'm A Celebrity exit as he responds to 'negativity'
- BBC Strictly Come Dancing's Kym Marsh forced out of weekend's show with automatic pass to week 11
