‘I have failed with this lovely woman’: How one MAFS couple broke our hearts

They started out with fireworks, but as of tonight, love is dead. Cancel the rest of the season, we’re too devastated to go on.

Remember when we said Richie and Andy meant Married At First Sight finally proved they actually cared about love, and it was going to be so nice watching a drama-free relationship?

That was nine weeks ago, when we were so young, so naïve, so foolish.

Fast forward to tonight, love is dead. Cancel the rest of the season, we’re too devastated to go on.

Our favourite “mature couple” decided to call it quits.

They didn’t go out in a blaze of glory, nor did they sling cruel insults at each other.

They just acknowledged their heartbreak, agreed to write “leave” on their respective cards, and gave each other a final kiss goodbye.

“My work is to make a difference, and I couldn’t do it in my relationship,” Richie said, choking up.

“I failed with this lovely woman.” 

*SOB*

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RELATED: ‘MAFS broke up my relationship, they should find me a new man’

That's it. Love is dead. Photo: Nine

How did MAFS Richard and Andrea start?

It seemed like a match made in reality TV heaven. They both have adult children, both ride motorbikes and were both ready to find the loves of their lives.

While Richard’s daughter encouraged him to apply for the show, Andrea has been a MAFS fan since forever, and the show was actually the reason why she decided to leave her husband.

Observing all the dysfunctional relationships, the gaslighting and the borderline abuse contestants meted out on each other made her realise what a mess her own marriage was.

“I heard the term gaslighting and went and looked it up. I realised it was happening to me,” she said.

“MAFS broke up my relationship, they should find me a new man,” she added, laughing.

They found her Richard, who came riding into the ceremony on a motorbike, and who said of his new wife, “She takes my breath away.”

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Richie was devastated. Photo: Nine

What happened to MAFS Richard and Andrea?

The end of their relationship was like watching a slow-motion crash, as their passion fizzled out for weeks. It seemed to start with Richie revealing too many details about their sex life and Andrea feeling like her privacy was violated.

After that, things went from bad to worse. But they agreed to keep trying, always aiming to get back to those magical first two weeks.

Richie talked about seeing all the other couples working hard to get to the place where they had started. "We started in such a different place," he said, obviously wondering where things had gone so wrong. 

After both of them held up their cards, the experts gave them a chance to share some parting words.

“I had the best time with your Richie, I have so many happy memories,” Andrea said.

“Andy, those first 10 days we spent together, I will never forget in my entire life,” Richie replied and then dissolved into tears.

“So good. It was so f**king great. I mean that’s it, if I walk away with that, that’s a win for me and I’ll take it any day. Thank you so much.”

Originally published as ‘I have failed with this lovely woman’: How one MAFS couple broke our hearts