Married at First Sight is undergoing a major casting shakeup ahead of Season 20 on Peacock, with long-term experts Pastor Calvin Roberson, Dr. Pepper Schwartz and Dr. Pia Holec not returning.

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Affectionately known as Dr. Pepper, Pastor Cal and Dr. Pia, the three MAFS experts are exiting the series after matching singles and guiding spouses through the extreme marriage experiment for many seasons, most of which had aired on Lifetime, Variety reported.

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Married at First Sight, which is produced by Kinetic Content, will therefore star new experts on the show's upcoming 20th season.

"We're thrilled to be embarking on a brand new chapter of the MAFS journey with our partners at Peacock. We're excited for the future and honored to have worked alongside Dr. Pepper, Pastor Cal, and Dr. Pia," Kinetic founder and CEO Chris Coelen told Variety.

"Dr. Pepper has been with us from the beginning and Pastor Cal joined us shortly thereafter; their unwavering wisdom, insight, and passion has been a guiding light for us throughout the seasons."

Dr. Pepper, a sociologist who specializes in sexuality and intimate relationships, has served as an expert on Married at First Sight since its very first season debuted in 2014 on Lifetime.

Pastor Cal, who is also a motivational speaker, joined the series for Season 4 in 2016, and Dr. Pia, a clinical psychologist and sex therapist, took on the expert role for Season 15 in 2022.

Married at First Sight, which has produced many spinoffs, moved from Lifetime to Peacock for Season 19, where it will remain for Season 20.

Married at First Sight's latest season ended with all five couples choosing to stay together and work on their marriages.

But when the five couples reunited to film the reunion special about a year-and-a-half later, according to Today, all the couples had broken up, citing arguments, communication issues and loss of attraction after Decision Day.

The new Married at First Sight experts will be unveiled at a later date.

Dr. Pepper, Pastor Cal and Dr. Pia each issued a statement about their Married at First Sight departure.

"Being part of Married at First Sight has been one of the most meaningful chapters of my professional life. I am deeply grateful to Kinetic Content and the entire production team for their vision, trust, and dedication to creating a series that thoughtfully explores modern relationships and marriage," Dr. Pepper said.

Dr. Pepper said she had spent almost 13 years bringing this franchise to life.

"To my fellow experts and the remarkable crew behind the scenes; thank you for your collaboration, care, and commitment to helping these stories be told with depth and integrity. This work has always been a true team effort," she continued.

"To our singles and couples: thank you for your openness, bravery, and willingness to take an extraordinary leap of faith. Allowing yourselves to be seen in such a vulnerable way is no small thing, and it has been a privilege to walk alongside you during such a pivotal moment in your lives."

Dr. Pepper added, "As I step away, I do so with immense pride in what this franchise has accomplished and deep confidence in its future. I leave this post with gratitude and optimism, knowing that the foundation we've built will continue to evolve and inspire."

Dr. Pepper concluded that she's looking forward to new projects and will take relationships and lessons learned from Married at First Sight with her.

Pastor Cal has also apparently taken great pride in serving as the show's spiritual advisor and relationship coach.

"[It] has been one of the great honors of my life. I am deeply grateful to Kinetic Content and the entire production team for their trust, collaboration, and unwavering commitment to telling love stories with care and intention," Pastor Cal said.

"To the experts, crew, and everyone behind the scenes who poured their hearts into this franchise, thank you for creating a space where vulnerability, growth, and faith in love could truly exist."

Pastor Cal also thanked all of the "brave" Married at First Sight participants over the years.

"You allowed me into some of the most sacred moments of your lives, and I never took that lightly. Your courage, honesty, and willingness to believe in the process reminded me time and again why this work matters. Thank you for trusting us with your love stories," Pastor Cal shared.

"As I step away, I do so with a full heart; grateful for the journey, proud of what we built together, and hopeful for what lies ahead for this franchise. I am passing the torch with love and faith, believing the work will continue to touch lives in powerful ways."

Pastor Cal insisted, however, "this is not goodbye."

"It's a new, exciting chapter," he clarified. "I'm elated about the doors God is already opening, and forever thankful for the seasons we shared."

And Dr. Pia said she "genuinely loved" her time on Married at First Sight and working alongside its "OG" experts-turned-friends.

"I'm proud of the time we've spent with each person who so bravely took this step in finding love," Dr. Pia said.

"A warm thanks to Kinetic Content, all of the amazingly talented producers, and every single member of the production staff for their dedication and important work in telling meaningful stories while also creating some TV magic."

RELATED: 'MARRIED AT FIRST SIGHT' COUPLES NOW: WHERE ARE THEY NOW? WHO IS STILL TOGETHER? WHO HAS RE-MARRIED? (PHOTOS)

She concluded, "I'm prioritizing time with my family while focusing on my clinical work and educational projects centered on mental health, interpersonal relationships, and intimacy."


About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski

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