Original subtitles

I'm staying. Previously... I've chose to stay.

..at the final commitment ceremony, the strongest bonds were revealed...

I decided to stay.

This programme contains strong language

I can't imagine my life without ya.

Stay.

..but behind the smiles, doubts remained.

Leisha is 100% into you, and you're 80% into her.

Probably, yeah.

Throughout the relationship, we have had a lot of unnecessary drama.

Just, like, a dagger to the heart.

While, for April and Leo...

I don't know you. You know...

How is that possible, in seven weeks?

How do I not know you?

..the cracks finally became too big to ignore.

To leave. As sad as it is,

leave.

And an explosive accusation...

I found out he was busy swiping on a dating app.

That is Steven's profile, which is verified.

SHE GASPS

That is not me. It's your face!

I had feelings for you, and my feelings were real.

..marked the brutal collapse of Nelly and Steven's marriage.

Leave.

Leave as well.

I'm so gutted.

It's just not how I wanted it to end.

Tonight...

Oh, my God! REBECCA SCREAMS

Babe! ..the couples head off on their final dates.

This is stunning.

For some, it's a fairy tale come to life...

The connection we had instantly is

the same connection that we have now.

..but for others, the magic fades as reality sets in.

It's just the distance, it's everything.

I never, ever thought I'd have this problem.

I can't be without you.

And a roller-coaster of emotions...

I hate it. We're just not on the same page.

..sends Leisha and Reiss' marriage completely off the rails.

I was trying to be nice to you, you're in a BLEEP mood.

I don't know if I'm the one for Leisha. Am I enough?

Is that it for us?

I don't know what else you need from me.

Just keep pushing him away, I don't really know what to do.

BELL CHIMES

Are you ready for today? Yeah.

The remaining couples

are heading off on their final dates.

I've got a surprise for you, today.

I'm feeling really excited about Abi and I's final date.

I really like surprising Abi, so I've written her a letter.

It just adds to the air of mystique.

I think that Abi'll be so pleased with where I've chosen to go today.

I just can't wait for the most fantastic day with my wife.

KNOCK AT DOOR

Hello! Hi!

Before leaving on her date with Reiss,

Leisha wants to reflect on last night's commitment ceremony.

How are you, you all right? Yeah, good.

Yesterday's commitment ceremony was tough.

I do feel a little bit deflated

about the "80 to 100" comment. I just need a little bit of advice.

When you know you're at 100

and they're just not quite there yet,

it's a bit of a bitter pill to swallow.

It does hurt.

Obviously, last night I got emotional... Yeah.

..on the couch. About the 80-100?

It was just, I don't know,

it just felt like a bit of, like, a realisation.

I was just kind of, like, "Oh." Yeah.

Do you know he's not gave me the reassurance that I need...

Mm-hm. ..to be like, yeah, no, we're going to work.

I know, at that moment, you wanted him to be like,

"Yes, like, I'm at the same level as you," but, like,

his feelings have grown massively, and they will continue to grow.

I'm just scared that when we leave here,

he'll regress back, so, like, when we're here,

we're growing every week because we're always together.

And I feel like, when we leave, like, is he going to stay at 80%?

I feel like I'm giving somebody my heart and soul,

and they could easily crush it if they wanted to.

I just need to hear a little bit of reassurance

to know that he does see a future with me,

and that when we do end this experiment,

that it isn't the end of the road for us.

I don't really know what to do, because I am...

I do...I do love him.

Like, I can't, now, imagine my life without him...

Mm-hm.

..but I'm scared to tell him, because, obviously, I know

that I'm probably not going to hear it back.

You guys just take it at different paces... Mm-hm.

..like, we've known from the beginning... Yeah.

..you go in full force.

I think, with Reiss, he just takes that much slower.

Yeah. It doesn't mean he's not going to get there.

Because, obviously, he doesn't like pressure.

But, I think by you saying you love someone,

that's not putting pressure on them, you're just expressing how you feel.

I'm just scared because I feel like... Yeah.

..once you say it, then he's got full control of, like,

my heart, because I've said it.

Really hoping, when the words come out of my mouth,

that Reiss just respects my heart.

I just hope he reassures me

that he does see, potentially, falling in love with me.

Am I gonna get reassurance? I don't know.

I love this date idea, by the way. Do you?

Well done, you.

I've organised this date, today,

because me and Leah are always

in better spirits when we're having a fun date.

She's always wanted to do pottery, so I thought,

what better place to take her for our final date?

Why is yours moving around like it's about to shoot off?

Look at it!

Yours is like, "I don't want to be here,

"I don't want to be here."

That's really on the wonk, that.

I feel like we need this, don't we?

Yeah, I like having more fun dates.

It sort of, like, makes you realise like,

why we're still here. Do you think?

I do always enjoy your company, though. Yeah, same.

I'm feeling a little bit

up and down about the relationship

after the commitment ceremony.

Leigh and I both know there's a lot more than friendship there,

but there's always a massive thing around trust issues,

and I think, that's something we really need

to nail down and be serious about over the next few days.

Yours is lovely. I've given it a good go.

I think I need help. Yeah.

Let me get down there. Let me get...

I'll sit on your knee...

Go on, then. ..shall I?

That's it.

That's it.

Right, and get your thumbs in.

Ooh, yeah.

Despite the fun that me and Leah have had today,

I am still questioning the longevity of our relationship,

and what's going to happen, beyond the experiment.

When we have these moments, it does make me feel really happy

to be in the situation that we're in.

Oh, sorry.

But it's just, if that's enough.

Where do you think I'm taking you?

Hopefully, somewhere with animals.

Uh, there's a couple of pigeons about, if that helps.

I cannot believe this is mine and Reiss'

final date in the experiment.

Hopefully, it's something very thoughtful and romantic.

I'm excited to find out.

Have a look. Voila.

Where are we?

It's a theme park. Oh, right.

Oh.

What do you reckon? Yeah.

He's took me to a theme park.

It just wasn't what I was expecting. I feel a little bit gutted.

Oh, God.

I'm getting frustrated, because I feel like,

you know, what I need from Reiss is just effort,

you know, he...

We're just not on the same page,

and I'm scared that when we leave this experiment,

it's going to be me making all the effort,

and me getting hurt at the same time.

Look at roller-coaster over there.

Oh, no, I don't want to do that one.

You'll be all right, don't be silly.

I don't know.

She ain't impressed at all.

I don't see the problem.

PASSENGERS SCREAM

Aw, this is cute!

Aw.

"To Abi, as the end of the first

"chapter of our love story draws near,

"I've chosen a palace fit for my princess,

"and crowning the near completion of our experiment.

"Get yourself ready to join me at

"the most perfect setting for our fairy tale journey.

"I'll meet you there. I love you, John."

That's gorgeous.

I'm so excited.

I can't wait to see what John has in store for me today.

Me and John have had such an incredible journey.

It's just going to be so nice to reflect on how much

growth we've had, and how we found the one.

I'm really excited for this final date with Abi.

I've put a lot of planning into this.

I love the bones of her.

I'm just hoping that at the end of our date,

Abi understands how much she means to me.

This is stunning.

I just thought our marriage is such a fairy tale,

that it would be fitting to do the final date at a palace.

Aw, I love that.

Aw, thank you so much,

this is beyond any expectation I had.

You are my Prince Charming.

Aw.

This is something else, this is incredible.

Being here today, at a palace,

on our final date,

it is a dream come true.

THEY GIGGLE

Isn't this beautiful? Look at that view, it's stunning. I know, right?

It's the perfect place.

I had to pull out all of the stops for our final date.

Well, you definitely did.

It's gorgeous.

And, look at this tree, here.

It's called the cedar of Lebanon.

Really? Yeah. Seriously? Yeah.

Oh, my God! Yeah.

It's on the Lebanese flag. It is, yeah, yeah.

Aw, that's incredible.

Aw, is that why you picked it here? Yeah.

Oh, my God, I love that.

I want you to know that

I recognise your Lebanese heritage.

Oh, that's so thoughtful.

I want to engrave our initials on it, but

I don't think that would be allowed! I don't think that'd be allowed.

THEY CHUCKLE

Just when I think I can't love you anymore, I do.

I'm just excited to do life with you.

I came here wanting to find, you know, my forever person,

and, you know, I have found you,

and that just makes me the happiest woman in the world.

PASSENGERS SCREAM

Well, at least it's comfy, not.

I did have high hopes for today,

but it hasn't gone to plan.

She's got the hump.

Yeah.

Love... Yeah.

There's been a frosty atmosphere, because

he's took me to a theme park.

It's just not for me, at all,

and I just want a little bit more of an effort from Reiss.

I feel like I'm just not good enough.

Were you just gonna ruin the whole day, then?

You're acting, like, horrible towards me.

What are you talking about? It's you cos you're in a fucking mood.

It's not nice. You're the one who started it, Leisha, actually.

I was trying to be nice to you.

Honestly, she's absolutely talking a load of shite.

How am I not making an effort?

I don't even really know what I need to do to reassure her now, like.

She's rowing with me, because I'm not

the person who she wanted me to be.

I can't help that.

I'm just getting a bit sick of, like, just all this drama.

It just, everything just gets blown out of proportion.

If there's going to be an atmosphere all day,

I'm just going to go, because I hate it.

I fucking hate it. I hate it.

You're the one who caused it at the beginning.

I'm just... No, I'm just worried that when we leave here, like...

Are you going to leave here and then, like...

And then like what? Like, is that it for us?

I need reassurance, like your feelings.

Do you want it to end, or, what do you want from me?

Do I want it to end? Yeah.

Do you? Well, obviously I fucking don't.

Of course I bloody don't.

I don't understand, like, what I'm doing,

that's, like, not allowing you to commit.

You obviously move at a different pace to me.

Let's not put this on me, let's just talk about you. No, but that's...

No, no, let's not just put it on me, because I'm happy with my pace.

I don't know what else you need from me.

I feel like if we're not on the same page

when we leave here, or if the feelings aren't as strong,

it is a massive commitment.

The only way it would work is if, like,

you were, like, really strong feelings for me,

cos if not, it's too easy just to be like, "Oh, do you know what?

"I'll just go with somebody that, like, lives closer."

It feels like there's pressure getting added... It's not.

..because it's coming to an end.

What she wants me to do is just not how I would be.

I can feel that extra pressure getting piled on,

like it was in the start.

I don't know if I'm the one for Leisha.

If she...if she's saying

she needs more than what I'm giving her, am I enough?

I can't be having these doubts all the time.

I've been honest with you, I haven't, like, fed you no bullshit.

But, listen, like, there's things that do make me think,

do I want that for the rest of my life?

My worry is that the more arguments we have,

the more it pushes Reiss away,

and he'll just leave me at the end of this process.

You feel like you just keep pushing him away.

I don't really know what to do.

I am gonna push him away. He's not...

I am gonna push him away.

BELL CHIMES

BELL CHIMES

Ooh, this looks nice. Love this.

Let me get the door for you. Thank you, my honey.

The final dates are in full swing.

Oh, my God! We're going up there, girl.

..and Bailey has organised a surprise outing for Rebecca.

What is it? Um, it's a slide.

Stop, I love slides!

Oh, my God, it's higher than I thought, though.

Got an action-packed day planned for Bec.

I've booked The Orbit. You can see all across London,

and then they've got the world's biggest slide.

You don't like heights. I know, I'm panicking now.

Come on, let's go. All right, come on.

We'll just have loads of fun,

loads of laughs and loads of being silly.

I'm excited for this. Let's have a look.

Oh, these steps are a bit...

They're see-through. Oh, that's so weird!

I'm absolutely terrified of heights.

Does that not freak you out a little bit?

Look, we're about 500 foot in the air.

Look. I know, but, it's fine. Oh, nah, that's weird.

HE SHUDDERS

Don't know why I've booked this. My legs have absolutely gone,

they're like jelly.

God, look how high it is.

SHE SQUEALS Oh, my God.

Oh, my God! SHE SCREAMS

Babe!

Oh, mate, I'm all right, actually,

I'll probably just stay up here, geez.

SHE LAUGHS

All I can hear is her screaming, like she's being murdered.

Oh, my God.

My bottle was absolutely gone.

HE YELPS

Ah! Oh, my gosh!

SHE LAUGHS

Uh!

Oh, my God.

Honestly, it was comedy gold.

Oh, my gosh. Are you OK? No!

This date has been so much fun,

so if he's got nothing planned for the rest of the day,

that's fine by me, because I've had such a good time this morning.

I loved it. I'm not OK!

Shall we cheers to

the highs and the lows?

Yep. Cheers to that.

This whole marriage has been a roller-coaster.

It has, it's been a journey.

I'm really looking forward to my final date with Leah.

It's, like, our last chance to be able

to have some serious conversations about our future moving forward.

There are so many positives to me and Leah,

and we're having so much fun at the moment,

but I know that there's

bigger questions that need to be answered.

You know what the mad thing is about me and you?

In this experiment, we've been through so many challenges...

Mmm. ..but we've, somehow, end up coming out...

Stronger, mmm. ..OK at the end of it.

But I think, now, we need to try and really be honest with ourselves.

I think all the reasons we have

been matched, we're so aligned,

it's like, there's... We are so aligned... ..similarities...

..yeah. Yeah.

Do we align enough to take it to the outside world?

Different elements of the experiment

have been really difficult for us... Mmm.

..but then we've had the best Homestay.

That spun my head again about me and you,

because I'm like, oh, like,

there are so many reasons here why we do have so much potential.

Let's think about our feelings.

If we were to depart each other tonight...

Yeah. ..go our separate ways... Mm-hm. ..how do you feel?

I would be gutted, because I feel like, I would really miss you.

We'd both regret it. Yeah. Mmm. I do think I'd regret it.

I think the big question for us now is...

..do you 100% trust me?

I mean, I know that would be something that we would need...

I-I feel like I'd be lying if I said yes.

I don't 100% trust you.

If it was going to work on the outside world,

I'd need you to 100% trust me.

Yeah, you need that.

And I know... Do you think you'll ever trust me?

I don't definitely know the answer to that question.

Where do I go from here?

It's really hard,

because there is feeling there,

there is a lot of potential,

but there has to be trust there.

I'm trying to be patient with her, but it has been wearing me down.

Is it going to work? I don't know.

Look at this. Oh, what a beautiful setting.

I love how we've matched the aesthetics as well.

Did you plan this as well? Abi looks beautiful tonight.

To sit down with my wife, and think about how far we've come,

and then thinking about the future, just feels so good.

I've just loved every single part of this process.

It's just been so easy, and it's just been so natural,

from, yeah, the apartments, to then we had the Homestays as well.

Homestays made me realise

about being excited for the end of the experiment,

you know, like, we were so good in each other's home environments.

Mmm, I do agree. Like, I feel like our lives just, kind of...

..matched effortlessly. Mmm.

You know, I do feel so comfortable in Bournemouth.

I want you to feel really comfortable in North Wales... Mmm.

And, yes, of course, we will have to make a decision on

where we finally settle down because,

you know, we want the house, we want the children, we want the pets,

and, you know, that can't happen, yeah,

in both of our little apartments... Yeah. ..it needs to happen,

you know, in our family home.

We'll make that decision together.

This is the next step.

If this is what can happen in a short space of time,

imagine what we can do in a lifetime. I know.

I'm so glad that I'm doing it with you.

Thank you for the most magical day. Aw. Love you.

I love you, too.

Oh, good, a dark space. You know how much I love them.

All right.

Hi. Hello.

I love Keye, just from the moment I met him,

he made it easy to fall in love with him.

And today, I have a surprise for Keye.

It's going to be very special.

I think it's the perfect way to end final date.

Let's see if he likes it.

Stop!

Stop!

Look at him.

I'm so nervous.

Hi, nice to meet you. Davide, nice to meet you.

Nice to meet you.

How are you? Good. Very, very, very nervous.

Good. Shaking a lot, sorry! It's fine, you got this,

you got this. We're good, we're good, we're dancing it off.

Yeah, we got this.

You're fantastic! Shake it off.

All fairy tales end with happily ever after.

I guess we are meant to live our own ever after, now.

And, like the rest of those fairy tales,

we have no idea what happens next.

For something great to happen, we must close our eyes and jump.

So, today, that's what we're here to do,

committing to staying together, through and through.

Just know that I will hold your hand, right up to the edge,

and won't let go, as we dive into the journey ahead.

Do you wanna high five it, or can I kiss you?

You can kiss me. Ah, perfect.

GUESTS CHEER

I got you, I got you, I got you, I got you.

I feel like a princess!

DAVIDE LAUGHS

Look how happy we are.

Come here.

Shall I leave?

I'm enjoying you.

Same, a lot. Yeah. Yeah.

100%. Yeah. We got this. Yeah, we do.

Aw.

Thank you so much. Aw!

Have we changed?

No, we're the same. Like, we've grown,

and we understand each other more in, like, conflict and stuff,

but, like, the connection we had instantly at meeting is

the same connection that we have now. Yeah.

It means everything that Davide has done this for me.

I could not be prouder of the progress Davide and I have made.

Despite going through highs and lows in this relationship,

we're still the same couple we were the first day we met.

I really have found my person and we're going to have a really,

really, really good life together.

This being our last

date together.. Mm..

..in the experiment...

..I have got you a gift.

OK.

What? What did you get me?

Should I wait for you to open it, and then explain?

OK.

DAVIDE LAUGHS

Oh, my God, we adopted an otter!

So, obviously, it was a really special

experience for us to feed the otters together,

so, what better way to end the final date than with

adopting two otters.

Do you know their names?

Hughie and Otis. And Otis!

Oh, my God, stop!

I absolutely love this gift.

It's something that connected us so much deeply.

It's really cute. Just like me and Keye.

This is just the beginning, and

I'm excited to leave the experiment and start our lives together...

Yeah. ..and have lots of new firsts. Yeah.

Yeah. Whatever life throws our way, we'll fix it together.

Today was very, very important.

It taught me a lot about my relationship with Keye.

Keye is my family.

Today just cemented, even more,

that me and Keye are supposed to be together.

This day is going to stay in my mind for the rest of my life.

Did you have a good day today?

It was all right. What do you reckon?

After their argument at the theme park,

Leisha and Reiss are out on a dinner date.

This morning, at the theme park, it was a bit rocky,

It kind of drained me a little bit, to be honest.

If we row again tonight, then it will put doubts in my head.

I hate drama so much.

I don't want to give you drama.

Like, I don't like drama, I'm not a drama person.

Today has been one of the most emotional days.

I am feeling a little bit apprehensive of

the conversation that we're going to have tonight at dinner,

but I am just going to be open

and honest and vulnerable with Reiss,

and, hopefully, that pays off.

How are your feelings towards me now?

We, obviously - we have been trying, but,

I don't know, we're obviously doing something wrong.

I don't really know what the answer is.

Yeah.

Unless we can actually get over that hurdle,

I wouldn't be able to continue the relationship,

going through life like that. I couldn't do it.

For me, it's, like, building that trust.

I think once the trust is there,

anybody that I've dated or been with,

the more secure they make me feel, the less pressure I put on it...

Mmm. ..because I feel like, oh, well, I know that I'm all right,

like, I know he's not going to run off.

I don't think that is it. It's not because you think I'm going

to run off, like, you cause these dramas. It's not all down to that.

But I'm feeling insecure, though. But that's where it comes from.

It does come from that, because we've had this discussion...

Listen, we've been trapped

in an apartment with each other for the last, God knows how long.

It's not like I'm going to run off.

But it's coming towards the end now.

Yeah, but it's not like, this isn't just coming out towards the end.

We've had it throughout.

I do deserve somebody that makes me feel like

I'm the number one and I'm their priority, always.

Well, do you not think I'm giving you enough?

No.

You never really tell me your actual feelings.

I want to know how you actually feel about me,

like, I want to know your deep-down intentions.

Me saying to you, after the experiment,

I want to continue our relationship,

do you need more than that? Yeah.

I just hope that I am the person that you want...

..but I feel like I'm, maybe, not.

I hope Reiss' feelings are strong enough,

because I love this boy.

I just need honest and open communication.

It is only Reiss that can push things forward.

If he doesn't tell me that he wants to make this work,

I honestly don't know what I'm going to do.

BELL CHIMES

BELL CHIMES

I just hope that...

..I am the person that you want...

..but I feel like I'm maybe not.

And, of course, like, I want to keep going with you,

but them feelings are not there yet.

What would you say, until you get to that part

where you say, "Oh, listen, like, I love you,"

or whatever? Just be like, "I've got really strong feelings for you."

Mmm. I mean, definitely.

I may not have said I've got

really strong feelings for you, I haven't said that,

but I said to you I've got feelings for you.

Yeah.

That's me telling you how I, like, at what stage I am.

I express with actions, rather than words.

I know you do.

Like, I've said to you that I want to come visit you,

you come visit me. Yeah, yeah.

We've discussed it, we've made plans about it.

I am just a bit panicked by it,

but, like, now I've got the reassurance,

now, that is enough, you don't need to keep...

But is it enough? It is enough.

Are you sure you don't need being reassured tomorrow? No.

Are you sure? Yes. OK.

It's just, obviously, I can't help but have those emotions,

and it's only because I care about you so much.

Sometimes, I just want to be given the reassurance that I need.

However, I need to respect the fact that Reiss just isn't like that,

and the less pressure I put on him, the more things will just flourish.

All right, let me, uh... OK. I got a little something for you.

OK, let's see.

Lovely. Oh.

Oh, husband and wife! Oh, I love that.

Oh, that is my favourite photo of us.

Oh, thank you so much! You like it, yeah? Yeah, I love that.

That is so cute. Reisha. Yeah.

REISS LAUGHS

That is so cute, look at that.

I love that.

I've had, like, the best experience with you.

You're everything I asked for. Like, that was so important

for me to find someone that was, like, driven, who's not lazy. Mmm.

Somebody who's, like, sporty, adventurous,

and just truly wanted to,

like, start a family and have, like, a partnership.

Uh-huh.

And just, yeah, I feel like this whole experience

wouldn't be the same if it wasn't for you.

And you, you've made this experience for me so special.

Yeah, we're so lucky to have, like, had each other.

You're perfect in my eyes.

And, yeah, I just...

..like, I do, obviously, love you.

It's very brave of you to say that.

It takes some balls to come out... Yeah. ..and say that to me.

I've told you, I've got very strong feelings for you... Yeah.

..and...

..I know, one day, you'll be hearing it back.

Yeah, and I know

when I do hear it back, it's going to be, like, so special.

It's going to come from the heart.

It's going to be... Yeah. It's going to be the truth.

Come here. Aw.

I've got feelings for her. I care for the girl.

I'm giving it as much as I can. I was just a bit,

like, gutted for her, that I wasn't

at that stage, really, to say it back.

I definitely feel like we're going the right route to me saying it.

Eventually, I will get there, I believe.

That's very cute.

I've told him how I feel, I can see that he's really softened up.

My heart has just burst with happiness.

But I'm just so glad that we've made up,

and we're just going to enjoy the next few days with each other.

All about you today, girl.

It's all about you today, baby girl.

While the other couples continue to enjoy their final dates...

To us. To us.

..in London...

Hi, guys. Hi, Grace, come on in.

..Grace...

Hello. Hello, Ash.

Hello there, Ash.

..and Ashley have each been invited

to meet with experts Paul, Mel and Charlene.

As both opted not to attend

the final commitment ceremony,

we've invited Ashley and Grace to meet with us individually,

to explore any issues they feel are unresolved,

and to get some sort of

closure on their time in the experiment.

It's really lovely to see you. How are you doing?

I'm very up and down.

Sometimes, I'm very sure of how I'm feeling, sometimes less so.

I really, really wanted it to work,

and I wanted, kind of, that magic,

but there was, obviously, challenging parts

with me and Grace just being,

I think, just different people.

After a turbulent Partner Swap week...

I just feel like you see me in such a bad light and I...

No. ..just don't get it.

..and an intense recent dinner party...

I never really feel...

..listened to, or resolved,

or, I just always feel, like, brushed off.

This isn't going to go anywhere,

I don't know what we're trying to work through.

..the couple spent Homestays apart, both coming to the same conclusion.

It's just over, over, then? Yeah.

You're still wearing your ring.

Probably time to take it off, to be fair.

What was behind that decision for you,

not coming to that last commitment ceremony?

Well, most of the time at the commitment ceremonies,

whenever I tried to speak about what was happening,

I felt like Ash was quick to deflect.

I did find that he would be revisionist.

I think I mentioned it at commitment ceremonies before, like,

he's very fluid with... Mmm. ..the truth, and I lost my voice, almost.

I just didn't feel confident anymore in what I was saying.

Which must have been so incredibly frustrating.

Yeah.

I feel like from, even the wedding day,

Grace had me pegged as this misogynistic, not great guy.

I was just thinking, look, just give me a bit of time with her,

I know who I am, I'll treat...

I know I'll treat her like a princess anyway.

It'll kind of come round.

But then, it started to come around and then it would go back.

I just felt like there's not much more

I can do here, to try and...

..get her to see who I am.

And then as soon as I started pulling back,

she changed, and then it went from me trying

to prove to her that I'm a good person,

to her actively trying to paint me as a bad one.

And I felt like it just wasn't a great place for me to be.

I felt like I had to prove to Grace that,

no, like, I'm in this, like, you can trust me, it's fine.

I think what we have to try to figure out here is how

the trust was broken between you and Grace.

So, it's so frustrating because so much

of it is about private stuff that I had wanted to avoid talking about.

Um, one morning, like...

..Ash really wants to be intimate.

I put my head in the room and I went,

"Ooh," like, in a joking way,

and, um, she, like, laughed and smiled at me,

so I went over and I grabbed her, and I put her on the bed... Mmm.

..and then we rolled around and kissed.

I said, "No, not up for it." He continued, pursued,

and I said, "Oh, you're like a dog with a bone today,

"like, what's gone into you?" And he said,

"There's a half-naked woman in front of me with a good body,

"what do you expect?"

She replied and said, "What, so if it was any woman,

"you'd feel the same?"

I was like, "Why would you come back with that?"

Like, it's me and you in the room, you're half-naked

and I've given you a compliment. Like, why would you do that?

And I stopped and I was like,

"I don't understand how you can't take a compliment."

Mm-hm.

And, to me, that's basically saying, like,

"Oh, my animal instinct is overtaking me," like,

"You're just a piece of meat," or like,

"You could be anyone standing in front of me." Mm-hm.

Ash kept saying, "I want to talk about this compliment."

I was like, "We don't need to talk about the compliment."

He was saying, "You ask Leah, you ask Rebecca,

"they'll tell you it's a compliment." I was saying,

"I don't need to ask them. It was a compliment for me..." Yeah.

"..and I'm telling you, it didn't land and that's all it has to be."

"But why didn't it land? Let's unpack it,

"let's get the..." Don't need to.

I remember, we spoke to him about

the fact that if it doesn't land well... Yeah.

..to the person you're sending the compliment to... Yeah.

..then that needs to be acknowledged.

Do you feel that he took that feedback on board?

I don't think he ever took any of the feedback

from the commitment ceremonies.

He acknowledged when I was saying it,

but he didn't actively do any of it himself.

I think what's fair to say is that communication

for the two of you was just going in two different directions.

Would you say that's kind of a fair analysis of your relationship?

I would. It's like, everything I was kind of doing to help

the situation was making it worse.

I've got so many, I know, maybe examples aren't the right thing, but

one of the things that...

..I didn't really speak up about,

I would go to the toilet and lock the door,

and Ash would get something from the kitchen,

I guess, and unlock it from the other side.

And I'd be like, "No, no, no," like, "Stop, stop."

Really, like, panicking.

What was the intention there? Was he wanting...

Playfulness, I think he wanted

the kind of marriage where it's like, really like, familiar,

but we were strangers, so for me... Yeah.

..maybe that would come later, but hadn't yet.

And this was happening when I was in the shower, sometimes.

One time he even said, like,

"I don't know why you keep locking this door, I'm an engineer."

That happened once.

I, personally, don't even feel like

the reaction, in that moment, was bad... OK.

..because if the reaction was, like,

really bad or shouted, or did something,

I'd be like, "OK, wow, like, I'm sorry, I messed up."

Like, I'm very accountable if I do something wrong.

In my mind, I was doing it playfulness,

like, we'd been intimate, we'd seen each other,

and we're married.

It's not a big deal. I don't do it maliciously.

Going in there would always be playful.

She said that you got a utensil from

the kitchen to open the door, and you said, "I'm an engineer,

"I can pick the lock." I did it with my nail.

So, you picked the lock while she was having a private moment?

When you say it like that, it sounds...

I can completely understand what you're saying, you're right.

For me, it was a silly little, just,

we were married,

and I just thought it was, like, a funny thing to do.

You keep saying, "We're married." Yeah.

That is not a permission slip... Yeah. ..to cross boundaries.

Yeah, that's not what I'm saying. It was...

..like, really just confusing.

I just... It was impossible for me to navigate.

So, some real issues there around boundaries.

All right, so, this is how I look at a boundary.

Rules are a two-way street, boundaries are a two-way street.

When I'm looking at this, that's an area where I see

that you could have stepped up and said, "You know what?

"Enough is enough... Yeah.

"..I've set a consequence and enough is enough."

Yes, I fully agree.

If I'd have been stern with Ash,

if I'd have been, like, really firm, he would have said,

"You think I'm a bad person."

And he had this blanket statement of, like,

"You just don't see me for who I am.

"You only see me a certain type of way."

It's not lost on me now

that the best week Ash had, quite openly,

was the week at the retreat where I was avoiding conflict,

and I just stopped asserting myself.

And the things he was doing that made me uncomfortable,

I just stopped saying, and he's like,

this is the best week we had, it's the closest I've felt to you.

And, to me, I'm like, that is so...

He doesn't want to be accountable, and he doesn't want it pointed out,

and he doesn't want to change.

My argument to Grace was always, "How come everybody else can see me

"for who I am and see that, like, I'm working at this,

"that I'm really trying, and then

"the person I'm putting most time, effort and energy into,

"and you still can't?"

"How come everyone else can see it and you can't?"

What about just accepting,

listening, and trying to understand her perspective?

I think when your partner is saying to you they don't feel heard,

it's really important that you do say, "OK, I hear you,

"I respect where you're coming from." Yeah.

You know what's so interesting to me about this,

is I think about the relationship that I have with my wife,

I think everything that you've done with Grace...

..my wife and I have done. Mm-hm.

But I think the difference is that I've been married for 23 years...

Yeah. ..and we have built a level of undeniable trust... Mm-hm.

..and I think what you did is, you went into this

marriage saying, "We should trust each other, just because." Yeah.

And Grace said, "No, you have to earn my trust."

And you started off on a different page.

Yeah. Would you agree with that? 100%. Yeah.

Like, these things, I know, when you're saying it now,

and I'm here and I'm thinking, yeah,

"I fucked up," but I've done them in the past and it's always been OK.

OK. Mmm.

The challenge, though, is that when you cross

a boundary... Mm-hm. ..from Grace's perspective... Mm-hm.

..you then take on the role of a bully.

Right. It's always about being aware of

where the boundary is and calibrating around that,

and it seemed like that was definitely a challenge for you.

Yeah.

Like, you saying it out loud

and saying that makes me feel shit, makes me feel awful.

Mmm.

I summarise it, I came in and married a stranger,

Ash came in and married a wife. Like...

I just want to acknowledge something here for you.

When we first met,

I really got how serious you were taking this experiment...

Yeah. ..and I really do believe that you were

ready to start dropping your guard and opening up,

and we saw you do that. Yeah.

And that's where vulnerability lives.

And you opened that door, showed some vulnerability,

but the way that he managed that with you

is what's been disappointing.

Yeah.

Ash, it's become clear that, whilst there

are many great traits that you both share,

there are some fundamental differences between you and Grace.

It's absolutely fine to be different,

but if a partner is saying to you that they don't

feel comfortable with something that you've done,

if your reaction is dismissive, you're likely

to get another reaction from them,

which will mean that the conflict continues. OK, yeah, yeah.

And I think, oftentimes, partners just want to feel validated.

And I think I completely agree with you.

Since coming out of it, I'm questioning so much more now,

where going into this, I wasn't really questioning it at all.

I don't think it's a bad thing, I think it could be a positive.

Absolutely. It's growth. Yeah.

Really appreciate it, thank you. Thanks, Ash.

Thanks so much, Ash. Thanks, Ash.

Thank you so much for sharing your experiences with us,

and hopefully you have felt really heard today. Yeah.

Thanks, Grace.

Thank you, Grace. Thanks, guys.

BELL CHIMES

BELL CHIMES

I've never had a date this extravagant.

You are very welcome.

Don't think that every date's gonna be like this.

Honestly, this journey has just been amazing,

and this is just the start. The fact that we're visualising

the rest of our lives together is amazing... Mmm.

..and to be honest, Abi, it's not something that I thought

I would get from this experiment, like. Yeah.

You know, I feel like my future's so certain now... Yeah.

..and that we're going to have such an amazing time together.

I've got an excitement back for life.

Oh, I love that, and for once in my life,

I'm not worried about the future.

If anything, I'm excited, because not only do I love you,

but I feel like for once, like,

I love myself again... Mmm. ..as well.

There is nothing more certain than our future together.

Oh, that's made me feel so emotional! Aw.

I've got you a gift. Aw.

Another surprise. Another surprise.

Thank you!

Can you hold my... Thank you!

Oh, aw, that's gorgeous.

Oh, my God, it's so beautiful.

I love that.

So that's been named after you.

Got an Abi rose! Yeah.

That's beautiful.

Thank you so much.

I loved my gift from John.

I have a rose named after me.

How magical is that?

We're like Beauty and the Beast, except for you're not a beast,

you're just, like, Prince Charming.

It just shows how solid our connection is,

and how our love is lasting for a lifetime.

I couldn't be happier.

I'm feeling so loved.

Abi is really in love with me, and I just feel absolutely ecstatic.

And I'm just so thankful that she's my wife.

I love you. I love you, too.

Bailey. Happy?

Today has been absolutely incredible.

Started with loads of laughs...

Oh, my gosh.

..but tonight, it's all about a bit more romance.

We've got a slap-up meal, beautiful suite.

I wanted her to feel appreciated, I wanted her to feel special.

I'm pulling out all the stops.

Wow, this is bougie.

I never expected something quite as beautiful as this.

Only the best for my girl.

CORK POPS Oh!

This date, for us, is going to be so memorable.

So, what do you think your highlight's been

throughout the entire process?

Oh, God, of the whole thing? Mmm.

Walking into the first dinner party with you was one. Yeah.

I remember just thinking, I'm just so happy it's you. Aww.

The other one for me was, like, I think,

yeah, when I first said I loved you,

like, even though I knew you weren't there yet,

but I just, I don't know, it felt like quite,

like, it was such a big moment.

I feel the same.

I remember feeling, like, in the right place,

at the right time, then.

Yeah. Behind closed doors, you are so soft, and, like...

Who, me? ..you're very,

very open with your emotions.

It's such an attractive quality for a man like you to have.

I honestly couldn't love you any more than I do.

I love you so much. I love you, too.

I do, I love you so much. It's mad, innit?

I think one of the really special times for me,

as well, was moving in together.

I desperately wanted to move in with you.

Throughout this whole experience,

it's given me happiness to, like, have made our apartment home to us.

But, like, home for us feels like each other.

Yeah. You know what I mean?

That's what worries me the most about being outside.

It's going to be so hard.

Yeah. Like, honestly, it's going to be hard.

It's just a distance and, ah, I don't know...

..it's everything.

I know.

We have this huge obstacle in the way.

Huge obstacle.

You've got Bluebelle, and I would never,

ever put pressure on

you to leave her... Yeah, no, yeah. ..or to be anywhere away from her

that would jeopardise your time with her.

She's always going to be first, and she is.

I feel like I'm torn apart at the moment.

If...

..I could go anywhere with Bluebelle, I'd just be with you.

I know. I would move up to Liverpool in a heartbeat.

It's just something that we can't change right now,

and, like... Yeah.

..I never, ever thought I'd come

into this experiment and have this problem at the end.

I don't know what I was thinking that, like,

if someone would be closer.

The thought of being left...

Yeah. ..is worrying.

Yeah.

Ah...

I don't want anything to change.

This is how I would want to feel for the rest of my life.

I can't be without you,

like, I don't want to spend time without you.

Um...

Sorry.

Feel like I can't speak.

I'm honestly dreading the day when...

..Bailey and I leave the apartments and leave each other.

I just know how I'm gonna feel leaving him.

It's so frustrating that we've found the right person...

..but we live miles away from each other.

Sorry.

Bailey has changed my life,

forever.

I can't imagine my life without him.

Next time...

Hey! Cheers, gorgeous.

..a day apart from their spouses...

For me, it shouldn't be this hard.

..exposes fears for the future.

Can't just up and leave.

We don't know what forever looks like.

Leisha told me she loved me. Did you say it back?

No, I didn't. SHE GASPS

But it's the return of familiar faces...

She's back! Oh!

..that sends their reunion into chaos.

Your behaviour, disgusting.

Who instigated that? We'll find out now.

Was it you or was it him?

What the fuck?

He's a lying toad.

Have you slept with him?

What the actual fuck?