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Channel 4 Cancels 'Married at First Sight UK' After Rape Allegations
· Confirmed
In Short: Channel 4 has officially cancelled the UK version of 'Married at First Sight' following a BBC investigation that revealed rape allegations.
Channel 4 has officially cancelled the UK version of 'Married at First Sight' following a BBC investigation that revealed rape allegations from two female cast members.
The decision comes after a review by law firm Clyde & Co found that Channel 4 and production company CPL had complied with Ofcom’s Broadcasting Code, with no findings of a breach in their handling of the allegations.
However, the review also recommended additional safeguards for the show, which Channel 4 deemed too onerous to continue.
In July, a contestant from MAFS UK was arrested on suspicion of rape following a police investigation launched after the BBC’s Panorama exposed allegations made by former cast members.
Shona Manderson, who appeared on the 2023 series of Married at First Sight UK, was one of the women who made allegations.
Dame Caroline Dinenage MP, chair of the House of Commons culture and media committee, said the decision to axe the show 'makes sense' given the review's findings and the 'seriousness of the allegations'.
Channel 4 CEO Priya Dogra said, 'We are clear that broadcasters have a duty of care towards members of the public who participate in their programmes.'
In addition to the cancellation of the main series, plans for the spin-off 'Second Married at First Sight' have also been abandoned.
The show, which ran from 2015 to 2025, has been at the center of sexual assault allegations since May, when the BBC’s documentary program Panorama released an episode called 'The Dark Side of Married at First Sight'.
All three men involved have denied the allegations, and the women accused the programme of failing to adequately protect them.
Background
Channel 4 has cancelled the UK version of 'Married at First Sight' following a BBC investigation that revealed rape allegations.
What's confirmed
- Married at First Sight UK will not return, Channel 4 has said, following a BBC investigation into the hit reality TV show.
- Shona Manderson appeared on the 2023 series of Married at First Sight UK The other part of the review, by law firm Clyde & Co, found that Channel 4 and CPL's welfare protocols were compliant with Ofcom's broadcasting code.
- Dame Caroline Dinenage MP, chair of the House of Commons culture and media committee, said the decision to axe the show "makes sense" given the review's findings and the "seriousness of the allegations".
- One review, conducted by law firm Clyde & Co, found that Channel 4 and production company CPL had complied with Ofcom’s Broadcasting Code, with no findings of a breach in their handling of the allegations.
- The programme attracted millions of viewers and became one of the broadcaster’s biggest reality shows, but the allegations raised serious concerns that needed to be addressed.
- In response to the documentary, lawyers for production company CPL said its welfare procedures were "gold standard" and were followed appropriately, while Channel 4 said in their statement that "prompt and appropriate action was taken" when the allegations were made ( their full statement is available here ).
- If you've been affected by the issues raised in this story, you can access more information from Rape Crisis England and Wales, which works towards the elimination of all forms of sexual violence and sexual misconduct, on its website or by calling the National Rape Crisis Helpline on 0808 802 9999.
- And in July, a contestant from MAFS UK was arrested on suspicion of rape following a police investigation launched after the BBC’s Panorama exposed allegations made by former cast members.
- Channel 4 has officially axed the UK version of Married At First Sight after a period of intense scrutiny on the matchmaking show.
- The BBC said Panorama revealed rape allegations from two female cast members and a third woman alleged a non-consensual sex act, while the men involved denied all the allegations against them.
- Married at First Sight has been canceled in the United Kingdom, Channel 4 announced on November 5.
- In July, London's Metropolitan Police said a cast member was arrested on suspicion of rape.
What's still developing
- Channel 4 had initially told Panorama that all the allegations were "wholly uncorroborated".
- Second Married at First Sight, a spin-off set to bring contestants from the UK and Australian versions of the show for a second chance at love, was in pre-production with CPL before being paused during the review.
- Married at First Sight UK cancelled after BBC revealed rape allegations BBC‘Married at First Sight UK’ Review Finds “Pressure” on Contestants to be Intimate Following Rape Claims The Hollywood ReporterChannel 4 Cancels ‘Married At First Sight UK’ After Rape Allegations DeadlineMAFS UK’s future confirmed as Channel 4 axes series for good after 10 years Daily StarChannel 4 axes Married at First Sight Advanced Television Originally published on news.google.com, part of the BLOX Digital Content Exchange.
- Another allegation claimed that senior staff members on Married at First Sight UK reportedly had an ‘unhealthy’ focus on whether cast members were having sex.
- In late May, the British investigative docuseries “BBC Panorama” aired an episode investigating rape accusations stemming from the U.K.
- A review was commissioned by Channel 4 shortly after the BBC first contacted the broadcaster, with details of the allegations we had heard.
- Channel 4 chief executive Priya Dogra confirmed in a statement Thursday the network was cutting ties with the reality series following an external review of the allegations made while filming its sixth season.