One of Married At First Sight UK’s most beloved and seemingly unshakeable couples has officially parted ways—just days after viewers watched their affectionate, united front during the reunion episodes. Fans who celebrated Bailey and Rebecca as one of the “strongest couples” of the season were stunned when Bailey confirmed that their relationship had ended shortly after filming wrapped.

Bailey, a devoted father of one who appeared deeply smitten with his bride throughout the experiment, announced the breakup through a lengthy and emotional Instagram post. Sharing a recent photo, he wrote:
“Unfortunately it’s time to share that Bec and I are no longer together. We tried our best to navigate life after the experiment, and although we spent a lot of great time together on the outside, unfortunately the relationship came to an end.”

He went on to express tremendous affection for Rebecca, saying he had fallen for her “completely,” describing their journey as a “true love story,” and emphasising how grateful he was for everything they shared during and after the experiment.

Bailey also admitted that watching their love story replay on television has been unexpectedly painful:
“I won’t lie… watching us fall in love all over again on screen has been ridiculously hard to go through and it’s something I’m still struggling with now. But I wouldn’t have changed any of it.”

However, he also used the moment to address what he described as false online allegations, which he said have followed him since early in the season. Wanting to set the record straight once and for all, he wrote:
“I want to make it very clear, I never cheated on Bec at any point. I didn’t handle our break-up well and for that I’m truly sorry to Bec, but I was completely loyal the whole way through our relationship.”

Bailey went on to add that he does not claim to be perfect and accepts responsibility for his share in why things ultimately fell apart. Ending the statement on a heartfelt note, he said:
“Making the decision to end things was heartbreaking and not a decision I took lightly. I’m still heartbroken, but I wish Bec all the best and I always will.”

Prior to the announcement, Bailey frequently posted photos with Rebecca—from tender moments during the experiment to loved-up snapshots afterwards—making the split even more surprising for fans who believed the pair had enduring chemistry.

All episodes of Married At First Sight UK are available to watch on Channel 4’s streaming service.

Sources: Birmingham Live; Channel 4