Married At First Sight expert John Aiken praises Dr Trisha Stratford for being the 'voice of reason' on the show in emotional interview following her death aged 72

Grieving Married At First Sight expert John Aiken has spoken publicly for the first time following the shock death of his former co-star Dr Trisha Stratford at age 72.

John, 53, appeared on the Channel Nine reality show for seven seasons with Trisha, and was the first to announce her tragic passing on Monday via a gut-wrenching Instagram post.

On Tuesday morning he appeared on the Today show to share his fondest memories of working with the neuro-psychotherapist, telling co-hosts Karl Stefanovic and Sarah Abo that Trisha was an ‘amazing woman’ and a ‘voice of reason’ on-set.

‘Nothing could really rattle her. She was always the smartest person in the room when I was around her. The MAFS participants would throw things at her [and] she was fine,’ a visibly emotional John said.

‘You’d flirt with her on the set, you know, and she’d just shrug it off,’ he chuckled.

Grieving Married At First Sight expert John Aiken (left) has spoken publicly for the first time following the shock death of his former co-star Dr Trisha Stratford (right) at age 72

John praised Trisha for being ‘incredibly intelligent’ yet ‘warm and engaging’, adding: ‘We all loved her. She was really that person at the cornerstone of the show that was all about the science. She loved the brain.’

He went on to list Trisha’s impressive achievements, including being a single mother while maintaining an impressive career.

Trisha was the first ever sports journalist in New Zealand, and later became a war correspondent before retraining to become a clinical neuro-psychotherapist.

On Tuesday morning he appeared on the Today show to share his fondest memories of working with the neuro-psychotherapist, telling co-hosts Karl Stefanovic and Sarah Abo that Trisha was an ‘amazing woman’ and a ‘voice of reason’ on-set

‘She was amazing and really, it just shows you, you can do so many things in your life,’ John said.

He also fondly remembered Trisha’s love for sport, and revealed the pair would often watch tennis and cricket games together.

John, who joined the cast of MAFS in 2015 alongside Trisha, also revealed how she would ‘keep him in check’ during filming over the years.

‘Nothing could really rattle her. She was always the smartest person in the room when I was around her. The MAFS participants would throw things at her [and] she was fine,’ a visibly emotional John said

‘Sometimes I’d be yelling at the participants and she’d say, ‘John don’t get too preachy, bring it down a notch.”

‘So she was always that calm voice of reason and we kind of all looked up to her,’ he added.

When asked about the cause of death, John said he wanted to respect the wishes of Trisha and her family by keeping this information private.

When asked about the cause of death, John said he wanted to respect the wishes of Trisha and her family by keeping this information private

‘Although she was on Australasia’s number one show, and also went around the world, she was also quite a private person and she had a lot of integrity,’ he said.

John confirmed that he will be at Trisha’s funeral next week to represent Channel Nine and MAFS’ production company Endemol Shine.

John, who currently stars as a relationship coach on MAFS, took to social media to break the news of Trisha’s death on Monday, writing: ‘I’m heartbroken and devastated that my friend and dear colleague Trisha has passed away.’

‘Although she was on Australasia’s number one show, and also went around the world, she was also quite a private person and she had a lot of integrity,’ he said

‘We shared an amazing seven seasons of MAFS together. She loved everything New Zealand, relationships, the All Blacks, the Black Caps, French wine and travelling the world. I’ll miss you Tish.

‘Thank you for all the memories.’

Nine also said in a statement: ‘We are deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Dr Trisha Stratford.’

‘Our sincerest condolences and heartfelt sympathies go out to her family and those closest during this difficult time.’

John (left, with Trisha) who currently stars as a relationship coach on MAFS, took to social media to break the news on Monday, posting ‘I’m heartbroken and devastated that my friend and dear colleague Trisha has passed away’

Several former MAFS participants have since taken to Instagram to express grief at the loss of their former confidante.

Elizabeth Sobinoff, who appeared on the show in season six and seven, commented: ‘She was so genuine and so kind to me. She was so bright and a safe space.’

Season five star Sarah Roza also commented: ‘Ohhh my gosh, this is such awful and unexpected news! Rest in peace Trisha. You were ALWAYS just so lovely to me.’

Trisha, who hailed from New Zealand, joined the Nine show in its first season in 2015, starring alongside relationship gurus John Aiken and Sabina Read. Sabina was later replaced by current expert Mel Schilling.

Trisha was part of MAFS since its inception, before announcing her departure from the Channel Nine franchise in 2020

During her time on the show, Trisha was known for her ‘pheromones test’ and for asking participants whether they had been ‘intimate’ with each other.

Trisha announced her decision to leave the franchise in 2020.

‘After seven seasons of Married At First Sight I have decided to step back from the television series to focus on my writing, research and neuropsychotherapy,’ she said in a statement at the time.

Trisha is pictured on the show with former fellow relationship experts Mel Schilling (left) and John Aiken (right)

‘I’ve been involved right from the beginning in the challenge of bringing this social experiment to television.

‘The program provides a platform for an ongoing conversation on relationships and I wish the program continued success and hope future participants find everlasting love.’

In response to her resignation from the role, a statement from the MAFS team read: ‘All our thanks to Trisha for the extraordinary contribution she has made to the success of #MAFS!’

At the time, a production insider told Daily Mail Australia that Trisha had been notably missing during the second and third stages of castings of season eight.

‘After seven seasons of Married At First Sight I have decided to step back from the television series to focus on my writing, research and neuropsychotherapy,’ she said in a statement at the time

Instead, participants were introduced to Trisha’s replacement, Puerto Rican sex therapist Alessandra Rampolla.

In March 2021, former participant Jessika Power, who starred in season six, told the Unpopular podcast that Trisha was often unwell during filming.

‘She was really sick when we were filming,’ Jessika claimed.

In March 2021, former participant Jessika Power, who starred in season six, told the Unpopular podcast that Trisha was often unwell during filming

In early 2021, Trisha also came forward to launch a scathing attack on the controversial reality series, claiming that it left her feeling ‘sick’. (Pictured are former season six contestants L-R Tracey Jewel, Jessika Power and Ines Basic)

‘There would be times when we would have to stop filming and she just had to take a moment or have some, I don’t know, Panadol or something. She was pretty sick, she didn’t really say much,’ she added. 

In early 2021, Trisha also came forward to launch a scathing attack on the controversial reality series, claiming that it left her feeling ‘sick’.

‘By the end, I couldn’t compromise my professional and personal standards because there were participants on the show who I felt shouldn’t have been there,’ she told Woman’s Day New Zealand.

‘By the end, I couldn’t compromise my professional and personal standards because there were participants on the show who I felt shouldn’t have been there,’ she told Woman’s Day New Zealand

‘If someone gets through the critical selection process, when we say we don’t want them on the show because they’re quite fragile, they’re not going to do well after the show,’ she said.

Trisha went on to say what the contestants go through is ‘a tough gig psychologically’ and she compared it to experiencing ‘conflict in war zones’.

She added that the show changed from the ‘observational documentary’ she felt she had agreed to be part of.

Trisha went on to say what the contestants go through is ‘a tough gig psychologically’ and she compared it to experiencing ‘conflict in war zones’

‘It got supersized, a bit like MasterChef, into what we know as MAFS now. The participants we got in season six and seven were so outrageous and outside the norm that it wasn’t what I signed up for.

‘At a couple of dinner parties I felt sick. I felt in my guts that this wasn’t what I’d want to be watching at home on TV,’ Trish said.

Stratford was replaced on the show by clinical sex therapist Alessandra Rampolla, who has been shaking up the current season of the show with racy challenges and exercises.

Before joining MAFS, Trisha worked as a journalist for 60 Minutes in New Zealand and Australia.

She was also a war correspondent in Somania and Bosnia and produced and directed over 20 prime-time TV documentaries about social justice issues.

Trisha was replaced by Puerto Rican sex therapist Alessandra Rampolla (pictured), who has been shaking up the current season of the show with racy challenges and exercises