Married At First Sight 2019: Queensland groom Mike Gunner was shocked by his portrayal on the Channel 9 reality show

Controversial Married At First Sight groom Mike Gunner and bride Heidi Latcham have come clean about what happend behind the scenes on the reality show.

QUEENSLAND reality TV groom Mike Gunner says he’s been “cringing on the couch” watching the way he’s been represented on Married At First Sight.

The 43-year-old electrician has come under fire from fans over the way he talks about women, including on-screen wife Heidi Latcham, on the Channel 9 reality show.

“I was born in the early 1970s back when a word like sweetheart was general vernacular, so for me when I say sweetheart there’s no derogatory connotation, the end. And if you want to take it in any other way then I believe you’re being hyper sensitive,” Gunner said, as the show’s ratings continued to climb to 1.29 million metro viewers on Wednesday.

Married At First Sight couple Heidi Latchman and Mike Gunner attended a Nova 106.9 event in Brisbane on Wednesday. (AAP Image/Josh Woning)

“I’ve had a couple of major mistakes during the filming and those have been highlighted.”

“I always tried to treat Heidi respectfully and fairly, I was reasonable as much as I possibly could be. I don’t know that that’s necessarily been represented.”

“The representation of me on the show, if that’s accurate, why on earth would Heidi stay with me.”

The pair can’t comment on their current relationship status. Latcham has replaced The Block’s Jess Eva as co-host of 91.9 SeaFM’s breakfast radio show on the Sunshine Coast while Gunner remains on the Gold Coast, where he will take part in Cupid’s Undie Run to raise money for the Children’s Tumour Foundation on Sunday.

Latcham, 38, said while she was learning a lot about herself watching the show, she had been “embarrassed” when Gunner’s comments implied they had sex on their wedding night, having met at the altar earlier that day.

Heidi Latcham and Mike Gunner had instant chemistry when they met at the altar during a Byron Bay wedding on Married At First Sight

“When he’s saying ‘gentlemen never tell’ … it implied (we had sex), but we definitely didn’t for a while. I was a bit embarrassed,” she said.

Gunner replied: “It’s another instance where I’m cringing on the couch watching it back, because that’s not my intention. When you’re being asked several times a day ‘are you having sex?’ openly, you have to be a bit clever and quick on your feet.”

“Or you can just say no,” Latcham retorted.

“You can, but then you get asked again. You’ve got to give them something to shut them up basically. That’s how this thing is. We are here to contribute, not to give yes or no answers,” Gunner replied.

Gunner was particularly lampooned when, during their honeymoon, he responded to Latcham discussing her past in foster care and government housing by saying “I’m not your therapist”.

“I’ve had to own that. I call it a catastrophic brain failure,” he said.

Meanwhile Latcham said she remembered the encounter worse than how it appeared on TV.

“It’s hard to watch because when you’re watching it through your own filters that’s not how you remember it, so this is good for us to actually see what happened,” she said.

Mike and Heidi argued during their honeymoon on Married At First Sight. Photo: Channel 9

“Whatever we see is filtering through our eyes and what we’ve experienced, so that’s different to what (the public) is seeing.”

“This is the biggest gift to be able to watch yourself and see the things you do and how you act. I feel like I’m changing and I definitely want to see more.”

When Gunner was quizzed about the encounter during the commitment ceremony, he commented that men didn’t show their emotions and thought differently to women — which also drew criticism.

“For me that was the best answer I could give in the moment that could possibly explain my behaviour. I was embarrassed. I was ashamed and it was very difficult to admit that,” he said.

“I was also highlighting that men don’t speak about emotions enough. We do see the world a little bit differently. I’ve had a lot of support and encouragement from men since that episode aired. If only they knew the truth of the moment.”

Latcham said having watched herself on TV, she was trying to never say “like” or “oh my God” again, while Gunner was eager to clear up the footage of him working out in a sauna prior to their Byron Bay wedding.

“Please know I have never done sauna push ups previously or since. Producers can be very convincing,” he said.