EXCLUSIVE: Farmer Wants a Wife's winner Melanie reveals all the behind-the-scenes shenanigans.

Well, ladies and gentlemen, the 2016 season of Farmer Wants A Wife has drawn to a close. Wives have been chosen. The metaphoric country sun has set. Throughout this years series we have seen tears, fears and plenty of sneaky smooches as our six farmers embarked on their quest for lasting love.

If you haven’t caught up with the results of the finale, check out who won themselves a farmer here.

We were lucky enough to sit down with one of the series winners Melanie to ask her a couple of questions about life on reality TV and whether or not her experience in Tumby Bay was everything she thought it would be.

What made you decide to go on the show in the first place?

As any of my friends and family will tell you, it’s no secret I have a love for the country and big rugged men. I want space for my kids to grow up, and most importantly a heard of cattle! It’s been a joke amongst my friends for a while now that I should apply and last year I thought, “Okay, this will keep you quiet, I’ll apply!” I never thought I’d actually get to the Hunter Valley in episode one, let alone a farm stay.

How did your friends and family react when you told them you were doing it?

The general consensus was that they were excited. I remember telling my best friend with my head in my hands, not sure if I was embarrassed or excited – but I couldn’t stop smiling. My beautician basically booked her flights to South Australia to start planning the wedding as she had so much faith in me.

Mum was worried, as mums do. I remember after the speed date she asked me if there was a “spark”, to which I replied, “I met the guy for no longer than 5 minutes with half a dozen people watching our every word”. Safe to say it was the weirdest first date in the world.

What did you expect when you first started?

I had just moved back to Sydney after being rural for nearly six years, felt a little stuck, and thought to myself “write your story book”. Whatever I was going to take away from this experience was going to be a chapter in my book, so I’d best make the most of it.

I went in with no expectations. I’d never been to South Australia before so at the very least if I was the first to leave I could say I’d ticked that off my bucket list.

There was a point at the end when I was telling someone that my girlfriends and I had planned the wine list for the first episode viewing and Julz piped up with, “I thought you’d be watching it with me?”. The thought hadn’t even dawned on me that I’d end up with the Farmer.

Did you watch yourself back on TV? And if so, what did you think of the way you were portrayed?

We finished filming in September last year, I had tossed up whether or not I would watch it, but decided to.

The feedback I’ve been given from people who know me has been that they can see my personality coming through. For those that don’t know me, or didn’t, I’m severely sarcastic person and love a laugh. The ten second grabs haven’t done me much justice but those who know me well enough have had a good laugh.

Freemantle and Channel 9 have done a great job at showing the relationships bloom, both romantic and friendship wise.

Did you think it was a true representation of what really happened?

People accuse reality TV of being scripted and I can vouch that they certainly aren’t! With only eight hours of show there are more than two full weeks of filming, with six farm stays to have their love story shown. While these are real people with real emotions, there is some editing involved, but we were never forced to say anything we didn’t want to say. The farm stay was one of the funniest weeks of my life. The team, his family and the girls all had a great bond! However it is “FWAW” not “City girls go rural for a week”.

Tell me a secret of what goes on behind the scenes?

My beautiful hut date night, complete with sangas and bread? Julz didn’t touch the BBQ once. We owe that meal to the beautiful production crew!

You have a microphone on and all times. Including little girls room breaks.

Did the experience meet your expectations?

The experience of reality TV and getting my farm stay in one of the most beautiful locations in Australia? Yes.

What did you think of the other contestants?

The most daunting part of this trip was arriving at Sydney airport to meet 47 other girls who are trying their luck at love. As luck would have it, they were the most incredible group of women and I have found some life long friends.

Have you remained in contact with any of them?

“The other women” Alex and I have become best friends. We shared a bed the entire farm stay, helped each other pick outfits and she helped me with my makeup! If that’s not an odd situation then I don’t know what is.

She is one of the most genuine people I’ve ever met, and gaining a best friend out of this experience was something I did NOT imagine. I really could not have done the whole thing without her, as cliche as that sounds.

Has anyone recognised you from TV?

I had a group 30-year old single men pull me aside out one night and asked me if I won the farmer. I jokingly asked them, “what, are your ladies making you watch this?”.

They were genuinely offended and told me about their Monday night routine.