Since it emerged that Brent Vitiello and Ella Ding have split from their respective Married at First Sight Australia 2022 partners, fans have been hoping (and praying) that the two fan-favourites may be dating on the sly.

They’re this season’s will-they-won’t-they couple, and given their expert-appointed spouses Mitch Eynaud and Tamara Djordjevic have hooked up IRL, we’re impatiently waiting for #Brella to come to fruition.

Now, they’ve tried to throw us off the scent again by declaring they’re “just friends” and well — let’s just say it wasn’t convincing!

“I know everyone wants to know what’s going on between me and Ella, and I’m saying we’re just friends,” Brent said at co-star Domenica Calarco‘s viewing party on Sunday night.

“But… Ella, stop sending me messages late at night, I’m not awake!” he joked, eliciting laughter from the crowd.

Ella then admitted she “love[s] the Team Brella” as she wrapped her arm around the 34-year-old.

She continued: “We were mismatched and we probably would’ve been a better match. We are very similar. Brent is the next Bachelor, that’s for sure.”

@sodramaticonline TEAM #BRELLA 🥰❤️ #mafs #mafsau #mafsaus #mafsaustralia #mafs2022 #marriedatfirstsight #marriedatfirstsightau #fyp #brentvitiello #ellading #domenicacalarco #alperkins #jackmiller ♬ original sound – So Dramatic!

Brent then feigned hurt, asking whether the crowd could see “that she’s friend-zoning [him] in front of all these people”.

Laughing, Ella confessed: “I’m just playing it safe!”

These two are just the cutest… vote #TeamBrella!

Ella and Brent Fueled Dating Rumours at the NOVA Married at First Sight Dinner Party Event

During NOVA’s annual MAFS Dinner Party hosted by Michael “Wippa” Wipfli and Ryan “Fitzy” Fitzgerald on March 31, an intense moment between the two was caught on camera, fuelling rumours that the former co-stars may actually be a thing!

In a playful take on the infamous MAFS honesty box challenge, the hosts asked Brent and Ella whether or not they “had hooked up”, and Brent’s response was VERY telling.

The question was followed by a looong pause from the former groom, who gave his “friend” Ella a cheeky look.

“He hasn’t said a word, but it says so much,” Wippa quipped. Cat got your tongue, Brent?

“I will say now; If there is any woman in the world you would want as your partner, you would want Ella,” Brent confessed.

Fitzy and Wippa took the mic to Ella, whose response was a tad more coy.

“In the experiment, we didn’t get to know each other on that deeper level,” the reality star said. “we were there focusing on our partners.”

Welp, they have plenty of time to get to know each other now!

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Where Did Rumours That Brent and Ella Were Dating Begin?

The rumours that Brent and Ella had recoupled post-MAFS began swirling back in February after the pair were papped hanging out (and slathering SPF all over each other) at Bondi Beach together on Valentine’s Day.

Speaking in episode 159 of the So Dramatic! podcast’s AFTERMAFS series, Brent admitted: “It did look like that [a date], to be honest.”

“But look, we were just having a good time,” he continued. “We were just chillin’, like honestly, relaxing and just enjoying some time away from, you know, everything.” Like their respective MAFS partners, perhaps?

He added that he “just wanted to make sure Ella was protected from the sun”. Bless.

Additionally, as reported in episode 151 of the So Dramatic! podcast, another Married at First Sight star was also at the beach with Ella and Brent that fateful rumour-sparking day!

MAFS 2022 Domenica calarco
Domenica Calarco was also at the beach with Ella and Brent. Source: Nine.

Yup. A source dished that Domenica was catching some rays with her co-stars but was omitted from the pics “for obvious reasons”.

“Domenica was at the beach… as well, but she was cropped out of the photos… make it look like it was Ella and Brent on a date,” they explained. “If you look closely, you can see her in the corner of one of the snaps.”

MAFS Producers Wanted Ella and Brent to Get Together During The Show

Ella and Brent may have been matched with Mitch Eynaud and Tamara Djordjevic, respectfully, on Married at First Sight Australia 2022 but pretty much everyone could see that both relationships were doomed to fail.

However, fans pointed out that Ella and Brent would have been a much better pairing. As it turns out, MAFS producers through so too!

As reported exclusively in episode 163 of the So Dramatic! podcast, producers were hoping that Brent and Ella would swap partners!

“Producers went into the season wanting Brent and Ella to potentially cheat that’s why they mismatched them with Tamara and Mitch,” a production source divulged.

“They thought if they gave them such horrible partners, it might force them to look elsewhere for support.” Ooft!

Unfortunately, the swap never gained any steam because Carolina and Daniel swooped in. TBH, we know who we would have preferred!

Brent and Ella’s MAFS Exes are Hooking Up IRL

As revealed in episode 155 of the So Dramatic! podcast, a source confirmed that Brent and Ella’s Married at First Sight matches are a thing IRL! Love square, anyone?

As reported in episode 168 of the So Dramatic! podcast, the co-stars’ fling is set to cause some drama at the Married at First Sight Australia 2022 Reunion.

“Tamara and Mitch are now dating/seeing each other,” the source revealed. Wild!

Allegedly, Mitch and Tamara have been staying together on the Gold Coast and have been together for “maybe a couple of months, since the show was airing”.

So, maybe there is a full-blown MAFS love square after all!?

Want even more goss about Married at First Sight Australia 2022? Listen to episode 159 of the So Dramatic! podcast with Megan Pustetto below!

Know something about Married at First Sight Australia 2022 that we don’t? Spill the tea here!

Get the tea first! Follow So Dramatic! on Instagram and tune in on Mondays to get your reality tea fix with the So Dramatic! podcast with Megan Pustetto.