Take a look at Channel Nine's all new series 'Married at First Sight'. Courtesy: Channel Nine

WOULD you marry a total stranger on national television for your shot at finding ‘the one’? These eight unlucky-in-love singles have done the unthinkable.

Channel Nine is gearing up to premiere its locally made version of matchmaking series Married at First Sight, which sees four men and four women paired up and hurled down the aisle, ready to say ‘I do’ without even knowing their partner’s name.

The extreme social experiment follows the newlyweds as they honeymoon together, meet the in-laws and live under the same roof for a whole month, all while trying to figure out if their new spouse is in fact a perfect match or their worst nightmare.

On paper, the four couples are a match made in heaven. Three of Australia’s top relationship experts are leading the experiment and have trekked across the country meeting the thousands (yep, thousands) of potential applicants. Each of the chosen eight have been assessed within their natural environment and have undergone an intense psychological session to ensure they all want the same endgame — lifelong commitment.

But the one thing the experts can’t control is whether or not the strangers will actually be physically attracted to their other half.

It’s a concept that’s guaranteed to fire up plenty of viewers when it goes to air and has already been criticised by advocates of gay marriage, labelled as “offensive” and accused of trivialising heterosexuals’ ‘right to marriage’.

Nine predicted there would be backlash when they took on the risky reality show. “I think we’ll be criticised that we’re playing with the sanctity of marriage and people will have an opinion one way or the other,” Nine’s head of programming Andrew Backwell told TV Tonight when the network floated the idea back in 2013.

But for those huffing and puffing and declaring it the most absurd thing they won’t be watching, I’ll remind you we’ve been hooked on matchmaking shows like this for years — farmers wanting wives, bachelors dishing out red roses, strangers dating in the dark. This show is no different, it’s not a competition and there’s no cash prize, only the big kahuna of prizes, if you will — L.O.V.E love.

Besides, the recipe for successful reality TV right now seems to be the more absurd, the better (Gogglebox, anyone?) Throw in the potential for a happy ending and what’s not to love?

We currently have around 2.5 million singles in Australia, despite more dating options than ever before. That’s a whole lotta lonely Aussies. But can an arranged marriage create a long lasting relationship? That’s what Married at First Sight will put to the test.

Call me a reality TV junkie, or maybe I’m just a sucker for a good love story. Either way, it’s one incredibly timely social experiment, and I for one, am hooked.

What do you think of Nine’s new reality show? Would you marry a total stranger for your chance at finding love? Share with us below.

charlotte.willis@news.com.au

Married at First Sight is coming soon to Nine.