Vale: Dr. Trisha Stratford

Dr. Trisha Stratford, best known as an expert on Married at First Sight, has died, aged 72.

John Aiken wrote on Instagram, “I’m heartbroken and devastated that my friend and dear colleague Trisha has passed away. We shared an amazing seven seasons of MAFS together. She loved everything New Zealand, relationships, the All Blacks, the Black Caps, French wine and traveling the world. I’ll miss you, Tish. Thank you for all the memories.”

Stratford, a clinical neuropsychologist who specialised in the neuroscience of relationships, featured in seven seasons of the hit show, before announcing her departure in 2020 ,replaced by clinical sexologist Alessandra Rampolla.

Stratford joined Married at First Sight when it launched in 2015, quickly becoming known for asking participants if they had been “intimate” yet and for her “pheromones test”.

Prior to MAFS, she worked for 60 Minutes in both New Zealand and Australia and was a war correspondent in Somalia and Bosnia. She also produced and directed over 20 prime-time television documentaries about social justice issues, and published two books, including Blood Money: The incredible true story of David Morris and the tragedy of Somalia.

In 2021 she said she told Women’s Day NZ, “the participants we got in seasons six and seven were so outrageous and outside the norm that it wasn’t what I signed up for.”

A Nine spokesperson said, “Our sincerest condolences and heartfelt sympathies go out to her family and those closest during this difficult time.”

Source: SMH