We called it: Married at First Sight UK 2023 was going to introduce us to a reality television icon for the ages, and that's precisely what Ella Morgan Clark delivered in her time on the series (which, by the way, was a ratings hit for Channel 4).
She made TV history, as the show's first openly transgender bride. But more than that, she had us laughing, crying and sitting on the edge of our sofas thanks to the jaw-dropping drama and her witty one-liners.
Having sat down with her for a Rainbow Crew interview ahead of the show's launch, we simply had to come full circle and catch up with Ella to reflect on her groundbreaking time on MAFS now that it's over.
The below Q&A has been edited for length, but you can also watch the full chat in our exclusive video below.
What was your highlight of the MAFS experience, and what was your most challenging moment?
My biggest highlight from my MAFS experience was probably meeting my Spice Girls – Rozz, Tasha, and Jay. Besties for life. But I think, more importantly, meeting JJ, who is just the most incredible guy I've ever met.
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As a cisgender straight guy, to openly date a trans woman on a national television show, to me, takes such courage.
The fact that he went with his heart, and we were both so genuine and real with each other, and got a lot of backlash with what we did – I'm so glad we did, because he's inspired me, and he's hopefully inspired many other people – trans girls and boys that are going to realise that you can find love, and you can be accepted by someone who is cis and straight, and that there's not a stigma.
You can be accepted, and you can still be loved, and not seen as a label. You can be seen and loved as the real person that you clearly are.
My biggest challenge in the experiment was probably my relationship with my husband, Nathanial. I feel like I went into the experiment very confident, and very sure of myself, and very self-aware of who I am, and what I want.
I feel like during the relationship, my confidence just went down, and I lost who I was. And that ultimately affected how I felt in my relationship with JJ. But I tried, and I wanted it to work – and ultimately it didn't.
But I think the biggest challenge was being with someone that I felt the whole time didn't want to be with me, and didn't try and make as much effort.
What's been the biggest misconception about you from viewers of the show?
I would say it's probably that I'm this bitch, and that I don't have much emotion, and that I'm very confident and very secure.
I think as the series has gone on, viewers can probably see that I actually am not the most confident person, and I think I put on a bit of a façade.
That just comes from years of not feeling good enough for anybody. I try to cover up my insecurities and my confidence issues with humour. I have quite a dry sense of humour.
Sometimes it can be a little bit offensive, and some people don't always get it, and it can be a bit crude. But I realised that I don't always need to give the humour to cover up my insecurities. I'm not insecure. I just have insecurities.
I've definitely learned through the show to be more confident, and to be proud of who I am. I'm definitely not as insecure as I once was, and JJ is a huge factor in helping me with that...
Anyone who's gone through what I've gone through, or gone through any hardships in life, whether it's similar or different to mine, is going to suffer from confidence issues.
And I'm actually quite proud of it now. I've shown that I can be vulnerable. I wear my heart on my sleeve. I'm a very emotional person. Maybe the Ella that went into the experiment isn't the Ella that's come out, but the Ella that's come out of the experiment – I'm a lot more self-aware. I've grown. I've learned. I'm actually confident now. And I've not got as many insecurities.
I think by being so open and vulnerable, it's helped me to, I guess, shed some of that. And the help of the girls, and the help of JJ – hopefully people can see that that misconception isn't true, and I'm not this crazy, loud, flamboyant person who's confident all the time.
I do have a big heart, and I can be emotional, and wear my heart on my sleeves. I'm not a bitch. It's just that sometimes I'm a bitch. I'm nice most of the time.
Looking back over your whole MAFS experience, what was the biggest learning moment for you?
I learned a lot throughout the experiment, but the biggest learning curve from doing the whole journey, for me, is that I learned that... I am enough.
I think years of just being seen as a label, or seen as a fetish, and people being ashamed to be with me, or linked to me, has made my confidence go down.
But I've learned from being with JJ that having a cisgendered straight guy be into me, and be so proud to be with me on national television in front of everyone, and deal with all the hate that he's had, and still be so confident and proud of me – that's probably the biggest thing that I've learned.
I didn't ever think that I would come out of the experiment being this proud of myself... It may not have worked with JJ, but I know I'll find someone that loves me for me – everything about me.
I still have a lot of work to do on myself, but if it wasn't for JJ, I don't think I would be this proud...
Thanks to him, I actually can see now that I'm going to be happy with someone that's going to accept me for everything, and not just accept me and for that to be it. I can ask for a full package. I can ask for the world. And I know I'm capable of getting it. And I deserve it as well.
It was empowering to see you choose yourself at the end and decide to just be friends with JJ. How did it feel watching that moment back?
Watching myself and JJ do our final vows was emotional, to say the least...
Me choosing me was the hardest decision I think I've made on the show, but also in life. Because when it comes to relationships, I will settle quite quickly. As long as someone accepts me, that's all I ask for. I went into the experiment, on the couch, and said, "I just want to be accepted. I've faced so much rejection."
I realised it's one thing to be accepted, but what about everything else? I deserve the whole package...
So it was hard to watch, but you've got to pick yourself sometimes, and I'm glad I put number one first. I've learned so much. But don't get me wrong: I was in floods of tears...
We've all gone through breakups in life, and we've all gone through hardships. We've all had bad times in and out of relationships. I think I'm very surprised at myself. I'm very "wear my heart on my sleeve". What you see is what you get. I always go with my feelings.
But I think, deep down, in the back of my head, I knew that this was the right decision for me to make... When you're gutsy enough to put yourself first, and realise your self-worth, and what you deserve... I think I went with my heart.
What's next for Ella? Can we start the campaign to get you on Celebrity Big Brother? Or is there another reality show or TV gig you'd have your eye on?
I may not have left the show with a husband – or a boyfriend, for that matter [laughs] – but I think since finding myself, I've realised what I want to do.
And I think the next chapter in my life is about me, and my career. I think I want to do so many things. The world's my oyster. I love an adventure. I would never say no to any challenge.
So, you know, I'd absolutely love to do a certain dancing show... and maybe eat some testicles in the jungle. Hint hint.
Celebrity Big Brother? I feel like I’ve had enough of cameras around me 24/7, you know, and just being wild and crazy, and living with a bunch of strangers. I mean, now, I love everyone that I had to live with in the experiment, but it was testing at times.
So I don't know how confident and sure I am about wanting to go into the Big Brother house. I know that people want me on there, but I know there's two shows for sure that I would definitely, if it ever came my way, I would not say no to.
I mean, they couldn't be further apart, the jungle and the dance floor. But I'd never say no to any challenge.
There's lots of things that I've got coming up and that I want to do... But just wait and see. This is not the last that you’re going to see of me on your screens, whether you like it or not...
It's trans representation. There's hardly any. It's me, Hallie [from Big Brother], Munroe [Bergdorf] – we need the representation. We need more people like me – maybe not as wild as me, I don't think the world could cope with that! But this isn't the last time you're going to see me.
So, sorry not sorry.
Married at First Sight UK airs on E4 in the UK. Married at First Sight Australia airs on Nine Network in Australia and E4 in the UK.
TV Editor, Digital Spy Laura has been watching television for over 30 years and professionally writing about entertainment for almost 10 of those. Previously at LOOK and now heading up the TV desk at the UK's biggest TV and movies site Digital Spy, Laura has helped steer conversations around some of the most popular shows on the box. Laura has appeared on Channel 5 News and radio to talk viewing habits and TV recommendations. As well as putting her nerd-level Buffy knowledge to good use during an IRL meet with Sarah Michelle Gellar, Laura also once had afternoon tea with One Direction, has sat around the fire pit of the Love Island villa, spoken to Sir David Attenborough about the world's oceans and even interviewed Rylan from inside the Big Brother house (housemate status, forever pending).
