Former MAFS ‘villain’ Mike Gunner tries his luck on new season of spicy dating series Love Triangle

A controversial former Married At First Sight groom ruffles a few feathers as he makes a spectacular return to reality TV.

Has there ever been a reality TV dating show where a villain has not emerged?

Well, for the 2019 Married At First Sight season, you might recall one man who was not exactly a hit with both participants and viewers alike: Mike Gunner.

To refresh your memory, he was matched with curly-haired, vivacious blonde Heidi Latcham but their doomed relationship was overshadowed by Mike’s offensive and often sexist comments on the show.

Fast forward six years and 50-year-old Mike still hasn’t found love, but he does claim to have grown up and become more self-aware as he prepares to star on the new season of Stan’s Original Series Love Triangle.

Mike Gunner appeared on Married At First Sight in 2019, where he was paired with Heidi Latcham. Picture: Nine

MORE: Gross reality of MAFS revealed

On this dating show, Mike – a videographer from Queensland – once again tries his luck with love alongside four other sexy singles looking for that life-changing connection.

Each participant is matched with two potential partners who they have three days to get to know via text messages before having to choose one to date in the real world.

Here’s the twist: they have no idea what their matches look like and they won’t know until their first date, after which they move in together.

So how does a duo become a triangle? Well, the suitor they rejected then enters the house and they must all learn to live as a trio.

The former MAFS groom (left) will join four other singles on the Stan Original Series. Picture: Stan

On Wednesday, Stan dropped the spicy first trailer for Season 3 while also announcing the core cast.

There’s Ariana, 29, an executive assistant and wedding pet chauffer from Victoria who is done dating gym junkies and walking red flags. Also from Victoria is 27-year-old business analyst Bernie, who has the gift of the gab but struggles to focus on one person.

Then there’s Chloe, a 25-year-old nurse manager from NSW who thought she found her person but they abruptly ended their engagement.

Mike is set to ruffle some feathers on the show …

… while some of the cast just ruffle each other.

To round off the cast is loud and proud Payton, a 25-year-old concreter / business owner who receives lots of attention on dating apps, just not from the guys she’s after.

In the explosive trailer, Mike clashes with castmate Chloe after “she called me a 50-year-old washed up reality TV star.”

“You sound a bit like a flop,” she hit back after he called her “irritating”.

Chrishell Stause will host the Season 3 reunion special of Love Triangle. Picture: Stan

Unlike the first two seasons, which are still streaming on Stan, Season 3 will see a reunion episode air after the finale with seasoned reality TV star Chrishell Stause coming on-board as host.

Viewers can expect confrontations, controversies, catastrophes and more, with Stause even confronting one of the singles on camera.

“Oh my gosh. I have to say, this is unprecedented to anything I’ve seen,” she told news.com.au during a press tour late last year.

“This was insane. The emotions that we’ve gone through, the walkouts – we have it all.”

The first two episodes of the Stan Original Series Love Triangle Season 3 will premiere April 6, followed by a brand new episode every Sunday. Every episode of Love Triangle Seasons 1 and 2 are now streaming.

Originally published as Former MAFS ‘villain’ Mike Gunner tries his luck on new season of spicy dating series Love Triangle