Channel 4 has removed all previous seasons of Married at First Sight UK from its streaming platforms, linear services and social media channels following what the broadcaster has described as “very serious allegations of wrongdoing” made against a small number of past contributors.
The decision, taken “out of an abundance of caution to avoid fuelling speculation or jigsaw identification” while an external review is under way, follows a BBC Panorama investigation in which three former female participants gave detailed accounts of alleged sexual misconduct during filming.
The dating show, produced for Channel 4 by the independent production company CPL, sees single people matched by experts to “marry” strangers they meet for the first time on their wedding day. The marriages are not legally binding.
Allegations of rape and sexual assault
Two women have alleged they were raped by their on-screen husbands during production. One woman, referred to as “Lizzie” to protect her anonymity, claimed her on-screen husband raped her and threatened her with an acid attack. Speaking through an actress who stood in for her, she said: “When we were alone in the apartment, he kept bruising me during sex, I kept saying stop, but he carried on, and this would happen every time we’d had sex after this point.”
Lawyers for her on-screen husband have denied the rape allegation and stated that all sexual contact was entirely consensual. They also denied that he had been violent towards her or had made violent threats, according to the broadcaster.
A second woman alleged she told both Channel 4 and CPL, before broadcast, that she had been raped by her on-screen husband, but her episodes were still aired. An actress standing in for her under the pseudonym Chloe provided further testimony. She alleged that she was groped while asleep by her on-screen husband. On another occasion, she said, after she had said “no” when he asked if they should have sex, he proceeded anyway. “By that time, I’d like really given up, and I’d sort of.. I just didn’t want him to be angry at me when the cameras came. I just lay there, and I stared out the window,” she said, adding that after a while he realised she was not participating and became angry that she had not “shouted and screamed” her rejection.
Lawyers for her on-screen husband have challenged details of her account. They reportedly said the sex began consensually, but that Chloe communicated through her body language that she had withdrawn consent, and that he then stopped immediately. He denied groping her, the lawyers said.
Non-consensual sex act allegation
A third woman, identified as 2023 contestant Shona Manderson, accused her on-screen husband of ejaculating inside her without permission during sex. She said that she and her partner had agreed to use the withdrawal method of contraception, but he ejaculated inside her without her consent. “I want to share my story and hope that it can actually start a serious conversation about moving forward and putting more things in place, because at the end of the day, I shouldn’t have been in that situation,” she said.
The alleged abuser, named by the programme as Bradley Skelly, released a statement categorically denying “any allegations of sexual misconduct” or that he was “controlling”. He insisted the relationship “was based on mutual consent, care and affection,” according to the broadcaster. Lawyers for Skelly have denied any sexual misconduct and claimed the relationship was based on mutual consent.
Other disturbing accounts
Beyond the sexual allegations, one participant reported that her on-screen husband would have “toddler style tantrums” and “absolute focused anger”, and that he spoke about being violent with a previous partner.
None of the three women who have spoken to the BBC have reported their allegations to the police. One woman is pursuing a legal claim against CPL.
Channel 4’s response
Channel 4 issued a statement on Monday saying it could not comment on the “serious allegations of wrongdoing” against its past contributors, all of whom have denied the accusations against them. “In April, Channel 4 was presented with serious allegations of wrongdoing against a small number of past contributors, allegations that we understand those contributors have denied,” the statement read. “The channel is mindful of the privacy and continuing duty of care towards all contributors, and cannot comment on or disclose details of those allegations.”
The broadcaster said that when “concerns related to contributor welfare were raised through existing welfare and production protocols, prompt and appropriate action was taken, based on the information available at the time. Channel 4 strongly refutes any claim to the contrary.”
In April, Channel 4’s newly appointed chief executive, Priya Dogra, commissioned an external review into contributor welfare on MAFS UK. The review has two parts: the law firm Clyde & Co is examining the welfare protocols in place at the time the claims were raised and how Channel 4 and CPL handled them; and former BBC One Controller Lorraine Heggessey is examining current protocols to identify potential improvements for contributor welfare. Channel 4 expects the review to report in the coming months.
Ms Dogra said: “I want to express my sympathy to contributors who have clearly been distressed after taking part in Married At First Sight UK. The wellbeing of our contributors is always of paramount importance. It would be wholly inappropriate for me to comment on what are very serious allegations made against some MAFS UK contributors. Those allegations – which I understand are disputed by the contributors accused – are not something that Channel 4 is in a position to adjudicate on. We are also mindful of our ongoing duty of care to all contributors, and the need to preserve the anonymity and privacy of all involved. On the claims that Channel 4 may have failed in its duty of care, I believe that when concerns about contributor welfare were raised, and based on the information available at the time, Channel 4 acted quickly, appropriately, sensitively and with wellbeing front and centre.”
Channel 4 has stated that MAFS UK is produced under “some of the most comprehensive and robust welfare protocols in the industry”, including background checks, a code of conduct and “daily contributor check-ins with a specialist welfare team”.
Production company’s defence
Lawyers for CPL Productions have described their welfare protocols as “gold standard” and industry-leading, asserting that they acted appropriately in all cases. They stated that they followed welfare protocols and took concerns seriously, and that before one woman made a rape allegation, she had told CPL all sexual activity was consensual. Regarding the acid-throwing remark, CPL’s lawyers reportedly told the BBC it was a passing comment, not a threat, and that the company acted immediately once the woman expressed feeling unsafe.
Expert and watchdog reactions
Baroness Helena Kennedy KC, chair of the Creative Industries Independent Standards Authority (CIISA), has been highly critical of the show’s format, describing it as “televised abuse”. She said there should be an investigation into the women’s claims: “I think Channel Four really should be bringing in some sort of investigatory team to have a look at this, and it should always be external.” She also called for the show to be taken off air: “I personally don’t think it should be on air at all. I just don’t see the right kind of protections being put in place that would absolutely guarantee a prevention of the things that we’ve been hearing about.” Baroness Kennedy further noted that if a partner ejaculates inside someone after they have made it clear they do not want them to, this can amount to a sexual violation.
CIISA, an independent body established to uphold and improve standards of behaviour across the creative industries, has criticised the MAFS format for its inherent “high levels of risk” and suggested that the current management of these risks is fundamentally flawed.
Women’s Aid called the allegations “disturbing” and “incredibly worrying”, noting that violence against women can affect anyone.
Rape Crisis offers support for those affected by rape and sexual abuse. You can call them on 0808 802 9999 in England and Wales, 0808 801 0302 in Scotland, and 0800 0246 991 in Northern Ireland, or visit their website at www.rapecrisis.org.uk. If you are in the US, you can call Rainn on 800-656-HOPE (4673).
