Married At First Sight 2019: Mike Gunner regrets defending fellow groom Sam Ball on the Channel 9 reality show

Married At First Sight’s Sam Ball and Ines Basic have shocked viewers with their secret flirtation — including a regretful Mike Gunner.

MARRIED AT First Sight’s Mike Gunner says he regrets defending fellow groom Sam Ball since watching his betrayal unfold on the reality show.

Throughout the series, the Gold Coast electrician has been repeatedly shown supporting Ball as he struggled with his on-screen wife, Elizabeth Sobinoff.

James Weir recaps Married At First Sight 2019 episode 14

Married At First Sight’s foul behaviour a headache for TV execs

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

But Gunner said he wasn’t aware of Ball’s secret flirtations withInes Basic.

“I didn’t know the finer details between Sam and Ines. I have since defended Sam’s actions and I regret that now,” the 43-year-old told Confidential.

Mike Gunner and Heidi Latcham had no idea about Sam and Ines’s secret relationship on Married At First Sight. (AAP Image/Josh Woning)

“Now I know the full extent of what happened between those two, because Bronson’s a good friend of mine, I regret having stuck up for Sam.

“I will always stick up for a friend … but it’s a shame because he made it very difficult to defend him.”

READ MORE: Mike Gunner was shocked by his portrayal on Married At First Sight

Last night on MAFS, Ball and Basic were shown kissing in a bar before returning to Ball’s hotel room, unbeknownst to their partners,Bronson Norrishand Sobinoff.

Gunner’s on-screen wife, Heidi Latcham, said they had no idea about the secret dates.

“Ines seemed … still like she wanted to be there,” Latcham said.

“Sam and Lizzie seemed like there was something weird going on as well but never would I have known there were doors opening and closing.”

Sam was criticised for comments he made about Elizabeth’s body during their wedding. Photo: Nigel Wright / Channel Nine.

Meanwhile Gunner did feel Ball had been unfairly targeted over comments he made during his wedding to Sobinoff, accused of body shaming by saying that he had “never really dated girls as big” and that he would “get her running in the mornings”.

“For me there’s a recurring double standard in this show and life in general,” Gunner said.

“Elizabeth called Sam ‘tubby’ and ‘porky’ the first time she saw him and yet that conveniently seemed to disappear and then when he answered a question about her body shape he did it in as diplomatic a way as he could and yet he is being castigated for it.”

“That I take umbrage to.”

Originally published as Married At First Sight 2019: Mike Gunner regrets defending fellow groom Sam Ball on the Channel 9 reality show