John Aiken has once again paid tribute to his former Married At First Sight colleague Dr Trisha Stratford.
The neuropsychotherapist, who worked alongside John, 54, for seven seasons of the series before her exit in 2019, died aged 72 in September 2023.
Two years have passed, and her long-time friend has penned a touching tribute on Instagram, writing: ‘Remembering Dr Trisha today. #mafs #mafsau #mafsaustralia #twopaddockswines.’
He also uploaded a photo alongside Trisha sitting courtside at the Australian Open, the next a photo of her smiling while on a coastal walk.
This follows John commemorating her first anniversary last year with a montage of photos, celebrating the joyful moments they shared during their professional journey.
The first snap showed John and Trisha sitting on the iconic experts’ couch during a filming break on MAFS.
John Aiken has once again paid tribute to his former Married At First Sight colleague Dr Trisha Stratford, two years after her death. Both pictured
The neuropsychotherapist, who worked alongside John, 54, for seven seasons of the series before her exit in 2019, died aged 72 in September 2023
Another image captured the pair smiling in the early years of the series, looking decades younger.
He also shared a photo of them with fellow MAFS expert Mel Schilling, before finishing with an intimate selfie with just him and Trisha.
John announced Trisha’s death at the age of 72 on September 19, 2023.
‘I’m heartbroken and devastated that my friend and dear colleague Trisha has passed away,’ he announced on Instagram at her passing.
‘We enjoyed seven incredible seasons of MAFS together. She had a passion for everything New Zealand, cherished relationships, supported the All Blacks and the Black Caps, enjoyed French wine, and loved traveling the globe. I’ll miss you, Tish. Thank you for all the memories.’
John joined the Today show to reminisce about working with the neuropsychotherapist, expressing to co-hosts Karl Stefanovic and Sarah Abo that Trisha was an ‘amazing woman’ and the ‘voice of reason’ during their time on set.
When asked about the cause of death, John said he wanted to respect the wishes of Trisha and her family by keeping this information private.
‘Even though she was part of Australasia’s top show and gained worldwide attention, she was still quite private and possessed profound integrity,’ he mentioned.
Now, two years on, her long-time friend has shared a heartfelt message on Instagram, posting: ‘Remembering Dr Trisha today’
‘I’m heartbroken and devastated that my friend and dear colleague Trisha has passed away,’ he announced on Instagram at her passing
Trisha’s impressive achievements include being a single mother to three girls while maintaining a high-stress career.
She was also New Zealand’s first female sports journalist, later becoming a war correspondent before retraining as a clinical neuro-psychotherapist.
Channel 9 said in a statement at the time of her death: ‘We are deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Dr Trisha Stratford.
‘Our sincerest condolences and heartfelt sympathies go out to her family and those closest during this difficult time.’
During her time on the show, Trisha was known for her ‘pheromone test’ and for asking participants whether they had been ‘intimate’ with each other.
She was part of the line-up for seven seasons, and announced in 2020 that she was stepping back ahead of the eighth season.
‘After seven seasons of Married At First Sight I have decided to step back from the television series to focus on my writing, research and neuropsychotherapy,’ Trisha said in a statement at the time.
In early 2021, Trisha also came forward to launch a scathing attack on the controversial reality series, claiming that it left her feeling ‘sick’.
‘By the end, I couldn’t compromise my professional and personal standards because there were participants on the show who I felt shouldn’t have been there,’ she told Woman’s Day New Zealand.
John previously shared a photo posing with fellow MAFS expert Mel Schilling (left)
