EXCLUSIVE: Sophie Trethowan shares her thoughts on how the series has changed over the years.

Farmer Wants A Wife’s Dustin Manwaring and Sophie Trethowan.

Farmer Wants A Wife’s Sophie Trethowan shares her thoughts on the show being too ‘drama-filled’. Photos: Channel 7

Ever since Farmer Wants A Wife was rebooted on Channel 7 in 2020, viewers have complained that the reality show has become too “drama-filled”. While it was once regarded as the most wholesome series on Australian TV, it’s been compared to shows like Married At First Sight in recent years thanks to certain controversial storylines and scandalous moments.

Ahead of the upcoming fifteenth season, a former contestant has weighed in on the show’s updated format. Sophie Trethowan, who found love on the show last season with Dustin Manwaring, tells Yahoo Lifestyle that she agrees with the consensus from fans that the series has become too focused on drama rather than love.

“I guess everyone loves a bit of drama, and that’s why people do stay tuned in, but there are a lot of people who do just really like those genuine love stories. I know for me and Dustin, there was so much that didn’t go to air that wasn’t drama-filled. They were just really nice moments,” she shares.

“I guess it is a drama reality love show at the end of the day, but you do see lots of comments where people just want to see those genuine love stories, and I feel like a lot of things get left out.”

Farmer Wants A Wife’s Dustin Manwaring chatting with his contestants, including Sophie Trethowan.

Sophie says there was ‘so much that didn’t go to air’ from her season that wasn’t ‘drama-filled’. Photo: Channel 7

As a long-time fan of the reality show, Sophie adds that it’s disappointing the series no longer showcases rural Australia the same way it did in early seasons.

“Farmer Wants A Wife is such an opportunity to show what it’s actually like living on a farm, and I feel like they don’t do that because they focus a bit more on the drama,” she says. “People love seeing that, and a lot of people don’t know how farms actually work and how that day-to-day goes.

“We did do a lot of filming of some farm work on the farm, and hardly any of it was shown.”

Sophie asserts that while Farmer Wants A Wife isn’t a scripted reality show, the contestants are put in situations that inevitably create drama.

“It’s a very pressure cooker situation. You’re all living together, the same girls are dating the same guy, you’re completely out of routine in this whole other world, and you’re sleep-deprived, so it’s going to bring out the worst in everyone and emotions are definitely heightened,” she details.

“And I guess, too, you are pushed to your limits. You’re asked the same questions a lot, and you have to be very open. Certain times there are things that you don’t want to talk about, and you do get pushed to discuss some of those things.”

After going through the experience herself last season, Sophie admits she’s “definitely intrigued” to tune into the new season when the show returns later this month.

“I’m kind of excited to watch it with no stress about seeing what’s going to air and things like that because I’m not involved this season,” she says. “I’ve talked to some of the girls who have been on this season and Dustin’s talked to a couple of the farmers as well, so I’m interested to see how it all unfolds.”