Farmer Wants a Wife is back with a brand new season arriving soon, where farmers Alex, Jarrad, Dylan, Jason and Zac are all hoping to find love.
But some fans are asking the same question they always do: how real is it, really?
Looking back, the 2025 season certainly gave us plenty to talk about.
Host Natalie Gruzlewski returned full-time for the first time in years to guide farmers Jack, Jarrad, Tom, Corey and Thomas through one of the most dramatic seasons the show has seen — complete with shock walkouts, secret texts, jealousy and more than a few broken hearts.
It was worth the ride, with some relationships formed on the show still going strong IRL: Corey and Keeley, Tom and Georgie, and Jack and Sarah are all as loved-up as ever as we head into the new season.
But behind the heartwarming success stories, fans were left wondering how staged all the action on the show really is.
Scroll on to find out more.
Is Farmer Wants A Wife real or fake?
The question on your lips might be – is FWAW scripted? The answer is no!
While contestants aren’t given scripts, claims have circulated that action is “orchestrated” on the show to stir up drama.
While the Farmers’ search for love is very much real, producers are thought to edit scenarios together to serve certain storylines.
Some past contestants have spilt behind-the-scenes secrets from the show, claiming that filming can be a pressure-cooker situation.
Last year, reports swirled that multiple girls had left the show within hours of arriving on the farms, leading to speculation about what had occurred.
The girls who packed their bags were matched with Farmers Tom and Thomas, with Tom only learning of the departure after it happened!
However, some TV insiders wonder if they were also unhappy with the production side of things, after Ellen Dunger spoke out about her experience on the 2024 season.
Ellen competed for the affections of Farmer Todd last year. As she watched 2025 premiere, Ellen revealed what it was really like filming for the Channel 7 show.
While the 2025 women were being slammed for getting emotional after the Speed Dates so early on in the process, Ellen jumped to their defence and revealed some show secrets.
“These girls will be criticised for being upset, but they have literally spent back-to-back days … filming until it is dark,” Ellen wrote on one Instagram Story.
“It’s so emotionally draining, and you get exhausted.” On another, she claimed they get served “warm champagne” and that the cheese platters are often left sitting out “for hours”.
Over on Facebook, in a group dedicated to Farmer, Ellen spilled more production secrets, saying the show isn’t “scripted” but is “orchestrated”.
“They are up at dawn and filming until dark,” she commented on one post.
“Hair and make-up have to be the same every day. They are grilled on emotions all day by producers. They fill your head with all these expectations, but they all bring up all these memories of failed relationships.”
“By the end of the third day of Speed Dates (that’s what last year was), the girls are so emotionally exhausted and mentally drained. The tears would be from that. I was wrecked after one day and 15 hours of filming. Imagine doing three.
“Literally, during our lunch break, we were locked in our Budget rental van and brought lunch. We had to be accompanied to use the portaloos. It’s not glamorous at all.”
Ellen emphasised on Instagram that she holds no grudges, but just wanted to let people know about her experiences on Farmer. A journalist by trade, she said it’s natural for her to gather information and “get a message across”.
When does Farmer Wants A Wife 2026 air?
Channel Seven has not yet confirmed when FWAW will return to air in 2026.
Last year, the show premiered in April, but with news of a premiere date still to come, fans might be waiting longer this time around.
Stay tuned for more news!
Start your journey to find love for FREE today, with eHarmony.
