Married At First Sight’s Jono McCullough and Ellie Dix shocked their co-stars when they walked in hand-in-hand during Sunday night’s reunion episode.
And Daily Mail can reveal just hours before announcing the news of their relationship to their fellow brides and grooms, the couple defied producers’ instructions and enjoyed a romantic breakfast together.
Ellie, 32, and Jono, 38, stared into each other’s eyes as they tucked into a healthy meal at Cali Press in Sydney’s CBD.
Busty brunette Ellie opted for activewear in a black zip-up jacket, black leggings and grey sneakers.
Jono meanwhile sported a sleeveless black printed top and black sneakers.
Married At First Sight’s Jono McCullough and Ellie Dix were spotted looking loved-up outside their Sydney CBD hotel just hours before attending the reunion together
Ellie, 32, and Jono, 38, appeared calm and collected as they were pictured enjoying a low-key breakfast at Cali Press in Sydney’s CBD
The couple were put up at the Skye Suites in Sydney’s CBD, while other cast members stayed at several other hotels almost 15 minutes away.
Last month, tensions came to a head on the show when Lauren Dunn finally confronted husband Jono about texting fellow bride Ellie after she left the show.
Lauren’s heart was shattered when she found out her groom was secretly texting the brunette bombshell.
The couple were put up at the Skye Suites in Sydney’s CBD, while other cast members were housed at other hotels almost 15 minutes away
One dramatic episode saw Lauren, 32, demand to see Jono’s iPhone, only to discover he had texted Ellie hundreds of times after she left the experiment.
‘You reached out to her. These aren’t just relaying information that happened the night before, this is more than that. My stomach dropped,’ Lauren told Jono.
Jono finally admitted he had secretly been texting Ellie – but attempted to downplay their relationship as just platonic.
The pair appeared somewhat shy, as they flaunted their new romance to an awaiting photographer
Despite his efforts to convince the other couples he wasn’t romantically interested in Ellie, the pair unveiled their relationship during the show’s explosive reunion.
The couple first travelled together to the party, holding hands in the car on the way and disparaging their former partners.
‘I wish I got to do this with you the entire experiment, but never mind,’ Jono said to Ellie.
‘You had to kiss a toad. I had to slay a dragon,’ a giggling Ellie replied.
Despite his efforts to convince the other couples he wasn’t romantically interested in Ellie, the pair unveiled their relationship during the show’s explosive reunion
Arriving at the dinner party four weeks after filming ended, the couple walked in holding hands.
The other participants were stunned, none more than Jono’s former bride Lauren.
‘She blanked me. Like, girl, I didn’t do anything to you. Like… You’ve got my sloppy seconds,’ Lauren said.
‘You can say, like, hi to me. Like, I’ve got no issue with the girl but now I do, now it’s a problem. It’s just rude. So rude.’
Sara Mesa chimed in: ‘I think Jono’s a snake. Like, the fact that he actually messages, like, with another wife was nothing and then walk hand in hand with Ellie, it’s bulls**t.’
Jono insisted the pair are ‘so happy’ while Ellie said she felt she had ‘won Married At First Sight’.
‘She has no right to be upset and, if she is, I don’t really give a (bleep),’ Jono said of Lauren, before praising Ellie.
Arriving at the dinner party four weeks after filming ended, the couple walked in holding hands
‘It was worth crawling through hell on broken glass to end up with this beautiful woman,’ he said.
The pair were invited to discuss their romance as soon as they sat down to dinner.
‘Everyone says that I’m glowing and I’m like, “Yeah!” It’s not just the tan. It’s Jono,’ Elli boasted.
‘I’ve been so happy. Yeah, it’s been amazing. We barely spend a day apart. I wouldn’t change anything. Can I have a kiss?’ Jono said before the couple smooched.