Married at First Sight will be premiering its ninth season and a new expert on a new night on Lifetime in June.
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Lifetime has announced the ninth season of Married at First Sight, which filmed in Charlotte, NC, will premiere with a special two-hour episode on Wednesday, June 12 at 9PM ET/PT.
RELATED LINK: 'MARRIED AT FIRST SIGHT' COUPLES NOW: WHO'S STILL TOGETHER? WHO BROKE UP? (PHOTOS)
Prior to the two-hour premiere, Lifetime will also air a Season 9 Matchmaking Special at 8PM ET/PT. Watch a teaser trailer for the new season below!
In addition, the network has also confirmed Dr. Jessica Griffin will not return as one of the show's experts and newcomer Dr. Viviana Coles will be taking her place.
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Dr. Viviana, a psychotherapist, will join Married at First Sight's two returning experts, sociologist Dr. Pepper Schwartz and marriage counselor Pastor Calvin Roberson on the new season.
Dr. Viviana is a married mother-of-two who lives in the Houston, TX area.
Lifetime revealed earlier this month Season 9 of Married at First Sight was slated to debut in June 2019 and will feature four new couples.
The network disclosed in October 2018 cameras would soon be rolling in Charlotte and potential cast members had to be available for interviews in early February and late March of this year.
Married at First Sight typically changes its filming location each season, and previous editions have taped in cities including Atlanta, Miami, Chicago, Boston, and Dallas.
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The most recent season was filmed in Philadelphia.
An image was posted on the show's Facebook casting page in October 2018 that read, "Single and brave? Appear between 26 to 40? Live in the Charlotte area? Exhausted all dating options? Ready to find the love of your life? We want to hear from you!"
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People reported earlier this month Dr. Jessica, a clinical and forensic psychologist with expertise in trauma, relationships, and high conflict divorce, had left the show and would not be returning for Married at First Sight's ninth season after participating in three editions of the show.
Not only did Dr. Jessica serve as a matchmaking expert and couples' counselor on Married at First Sight, but she also starred on three seasons of Seven Year Switch from 2015 to 2018.
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She also guided participants on the reality franchise's Married at First Sight: Honeymoon Island spinoff, which aired on Lifetime in 2018.
It's unclear why exactly Dr. Jessica has chosen to leave the reality series, but a source told People she wants to focus on her family and relationship with Season 6 MAFS cast member Jonathan Francetic, who recently proposed marriage.
Earlier this month, Dr. Jessica also posted an Instagram photo in which she thanked Dr. Pepper for being "an extraordinary friend" who has been "100 percent supportive" of her relationship with Jonathan, "even when others have turned their back on me."
Married at First Sight features experts matching up pairs of strangers based on their compatibility, goals, hobbies, religion, views of marriage, and more.
After meeting for the first time at their wedding ceremony, each couple gets married and the next six to eight weeks of their lives are documented -- beginning with their wedding ceremony, reception and honeymoon, and continuing with the joys and struggles of daily life as they move in together and adjust to their new life as a married couple.
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About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski