Married at First Sight Australia 2023 co-stars Duncan James and Evelyn Ellis are now dating and his ex Alyssa Barmonde is not too happy about it.

The recoupling comes after rumours first began swirling that the pair were romantically linked after they were spotted looking cosy at Evelyn’s viewing party in late February.

Despite them both calling BS on the claims at the time, a number of their fellow participants have since confirmed to So Dramatic! that they’re now officially an item.

As revealed in episode 272 of the So Dramatic! podcast, the new couple both recently asked the model’s on-screen husband Rupert Budgen for his “blessing” for their relationship.

“Rupert has confirmed to a number of cast members that Evelyn and Duncan are now dating,” the contestant spilled.

“He said they both contacted him separately and asked him if they could have his blessing to progress to a romantic relationship.”

Duncan James and Evelyn Ellis have been trying to keep their romance a secret

Despite Rupert being given a heads-up about their romance, Duncan’s ex-wife Alyssa was not afforded the same grace.

rupert budgen evelyn ellis married at first sight
The new couple both recently asked the model’s on-screen husband Rupert Budgen for his “blessing” for their relationship. Source: Nine

“But they didn’t contact Alyssa to ask for her blessing,” they claimed. “No one even told her. She had to find out through a third party.”

They went on to reveal that the news left Alyssa “devastated”.

“She feels betrayed because they were paired up for the Partner Swap challenge, so now everyone is wondering what the hell happened during those three days when they were sleeping in the same room and hanging out non-stop.

“Alyssa told some of the cast that everything switched for her and Duncan after the Partner Swap task. It was already rocky but it got much worse after that.”

According to our insider, the pair are trying to keep their romance “hush-hush” as they haven’t wanted anyone to find out about it.

“They are trying to keep it on the down-low but all the cast knows now and everyone has confronted them about it,” a contestant explained.

Alyssa Barmonde is upset over Duncan and Evelyn’s romance

So Dramatic! is told that Alyssa not only feels “upset” but also “disappointed” she wasn’t given a “heads up” about their recoupling.

Evelyn portrayed herself as being all for the girls on the show but her actions since filming say something completely different,” our insider revealed.

“First, she invited Harrison [Boon] and all the MAFS boys to her viewing party but none of the girls scored an invite and now she’s dating Alyssa’s ex and didn’t even tell her?”

duncan james alyssa barmonde married at first sight
Duncan’s on-screen wife Alyssa Barmonde not only feels “upset” but also “disappointed” she wasn’t given a “heads up” about the recoupling. Source: Nine

Another source revealed that Alyssa was lucky she even found out about Evelyn and Duncan’s relationship when she did and it saved her from a lot of embarrassment.

“If Alyssa didn’t find out, she would have rocked up to media appearances and put on a united front and tried to play the part of still being together with Duncan having not known he’s now with Evelyn,” they explained.

“How awkward. That’s why Alyssa didn’t go to the Nova Reunion dinner because she didn’t know how she would pretend to still be with Duncan when he’s dating Evelyn who was also at the event.”

Is Duncan and Evelyn’s relationship real?

The source went on to suggest that Evelyn and Duncan may be “playing the game” and in a “showmance” to boost both of their profiles like Ella Ding and Brent Vitiello did last season, after seeing “how much publicity it got for them”.

“Is she playing the game still? Absolutely,” they claimed.

“Good on her if that’s what she wants to do, cool. But she should have told Alyssa and given her a heads-up.”

Fans first speculate that duncan co-stars Duncan and Evelyn are an item

Speculation that Duncan and Alyssa had split first gained wheels when the cyber security salesman was spied getting cosy with the intruder bride at her viewing party on February 24.

ICYMI: The pair also shacked up together during MAFS‘ newly introduced Couple Swap exercise, so TBH, it’s kinda viable…

evelyn duncan 2023 together married at first sight
Rumours swirled that Duncan and Evelyn Ellis had hooked up after being spotted together at a MAFS viewing party. Source: Instagram

However, Evelyn has since denied anything is going on between the pair.

“Everyone from [the cast] in Sydney was invited,” she told Yahoo! Lifestyle.

Melinda [Willis] and Layton [Mills] were supposed to come but she had to fly back to Brissy, and Ollie [Skelton] was sick that day.

“I was stuck with the boys which was fine, we just had a few drinks and watched the episode. There’s definitely nothing there.”

Stay tuned, we guess!

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