Channel 4 Removes 'Married at First Sight UK' Amid Allegations and Review
Channel 4's Response to Allegations Surrounding 'Married at First Sight UK'
Background and Allegations
LONDON, May 18 (Reuters) - British broadcaster Channel 4 removed all previous seasons of "Married at First Sight" - one of its flagship reality shows - on Monday after a BBC report detailing allegations of rape during the filming of the series.
Channel 4, the publicly owned but commercially funded broadcaster established in the 1980s, said it had launched a review into contributor welfare on the show, which is made by independent production company CPL, in April.
Details of the Allegations
BBC News reported that two women had told the news service that they were raped during the filming of the show, while a third had described an allegation of a non-consensual sex act. They all said the show did not do enough to protect them, the report stated.
The report cited lawyers for CPL as saying its welfare system was "gold standard" and that it had acted appropriately in all these cases.
Channel 4's Actions and Statements
Channel 4 said that in April it was presented with "serious allegations" of wrongdoing against a small number of past contributors, allegations "we understand those contributors have denied".
Show's Popularity and Franchise
In its 2024 report, Channel 4 said the show topped its streaming charts for that year. There have been 10 seasons broadcast by Channel 4 on its E4 channel and its streaming platform.
The show, where strangers are matched by experts and marry at first sight, is part of an international franchise across multiple countries, including the United States and Australia.
Official Statements from Channel 4
"It would be wholly inappropriate for me to comment on what are very serious allegations made against some MAFS UK contributors. Those allegations ... are not something that Channel 4 is in a position to adjudicate," Channel 4's chief executive Priya Dogra said in the statement.
"We take these issues very seriously and are committed to ensuring that we continue to lead the industry in our duty of care for contributors," she said.
Review Process and Ongoing Investigation
Channel 4 said it had removed all previous seasons of the show "out of an abundance of caution to avoid fuelling speculation or jigsaw identification" while the review is ongoing.
Scope of the Review
The review is examining the welfare protocols in place on this programme at the time claims were raised, as well as the handling by Channel 4 and CPL of those claims, the statement said.
Regulatory Response
Britain's media watchdog, Ofcom, did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.
(Reporting by Muvija M; Editing by Paul Sandle and Daniel Wallis)
