It’s been a big week of television for Altona Meadows’ John Robertson, who last Sunday met his bride Deborah for the first time – at the altar – before they embark on their honeymoon for Channel 9’s Married at First Sight.
Both 53, John is a divorced retail business owner with two adult children, while Deborah is a former model from Queensland, who has never married nor had children.
“I was expecting someone from the Polynesian Islands, so now I’ve got to overcome that,” Deborah says on their wedding day.
Mr Roberston tells Star Weekly that, as he said during the show: “All I can be is me”.
“I’m just hoping to be me and just to win her over, that’s sort of how I’m going to play it,” he said on Tuesday, before their honeymoon airs this week.
The TV wedding was an emotional day for John’s daughters, Emma and Jessica.
It also caused a stir in the Hobsons Bay community, with many single ladies offering to date John if the marriage doesn’t work out.
“Are they really,” John says, shocked.
Not only that, locals have formed a Facebook group for singles aged 40-plus as a direct result.
“They haven’t, have they?” John asks in disbelief.
He said the biggest changes he’s noticed since being on the show was being recognised when he’s “down The Meadows” at Central Square.
“People have been fantastic,” John said. “I’m amazed that I am recognised now.
“People are so nice.”
While John is sworn to secrecy about the outcome of the honeymoon before it airs, cracks are starting to appear.
“We are realising we are different people, I suppose, as we are going along on that honeymoon,” he said.
“She’s into yoga, and as you can see if you watch that yoga – this is another embarrassing thing for me – I am so not flexible.
“I just realised how unsuited I am to yoga.”
