Married At First Sight UK star receives mental health diagnosis after show

24 February 2024 , 13:17

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Nathanial Valentino reveals that he suffers from social anxiety since leaving the show (Image: Reach Commissioned/Steve Bainbridge)

Married At First Sight UK star Nathanial Valentino has revealed he has been diagnosed with social anxiety following his short-lived appearance on the show.

The 36 year old model was originally teamed up with Ella Morgan, who was the E4 show's first transgender female. But their relationship was doomed from the start following a series of brutal arguments and the final straw for Nathanial, was when he found out Ella had been secretly contacting a new arrival, named JJ Slater. In an explosive row at one of the show's dinner parties, Nathanial confronted both Ella and JJ and stormed off the show, refusing to return.

Nathanial Valentino reveals that he suffers from social anxiety since leaving the show (Reach Commissioned/Steve Bainbridge)

And now Nathanial, who identifies with being pansexual, has said his sleep pattern was effected not to mention his ability to concentrate. At his lowest point he claimed to have struggled to get out of bed for two weeks. In an interview with the MailOnline, Nathanial said the stress of starring on the "toxic" series led to weight-loss and sensationally claimed Channel 4 were trying to "control" the narrative.

On the back of his experience he has urged the broadcaster to "safeguard" the new line-up and take on an external welfare team, in a bid to prevent a repeat of what he allegedly went through. Speaking ahead of Married At First Sight UK's reunion show on Monday (February 26), he said: "I have been diagnosed with social anxiety, which impacts my sleep and concentration."

He added: "After the show, I lost weight, I had constant rashes of eczema all over my body and face, I was basically in bed for two weeks." He continued: "I stepped back from my life and looked at the things which are the most important to me including my friends, my chosen family… and I took everything I thought was toxic out of my life."

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Nathanial and Ella failed to form a connection while on the E4 show (DIGITAL/EROTEME.CO.UK)

Nathanial failed to film the reunion dinner party which saw all of the past and present participants of that series reunite for the explosive episode. He continued saying that he didn't want to be "around those people or the producers", because it was a "toxic" and "horrible" environment.

Nathanial was left fuming and accused Channel 4 of setting the couples up to fail as he recalled he told them he didn't want to be set up with a transgender, a smoker or anyone who had worked in the sex industry. But they paired him with Ella, who was not only a smoker, a transgender female but had worked as a stripper.

Remarkably, despite their feud on the show, both Ella and Nathanial are now on friendly terms and have moved past their drama. Nathanial also hopes that that Channel 4 bosses do not prioritise creating a drama filled show over one that is heartfelt. And he insists that he "won't be watching" the upcoming series which is set to air later this year.

Lucretia Munro