A BBC Panorama investigation into Married At First Sight UK pulled in 1.5million viewers on Monday evening after three contestants claimed they were sexually assaulted by on-screen partners on the matchmaking reality show.
Two women who appeared on the British version of the hit show say they were raped by their on-screen husbands, while a third claims she was subjected to a non-consensual sexual act.
The allegations were made during an investigation by the BBC current affairs programme Panorama. The broadcaster said the claimants have not contacted the police, and the men involved dispute accusations of wrongdoing.
Panorama aired their claims during a thirty minute episode, watched by an average 1.5million viewers on Monday evening.
Launching on BBC1 at 8:00pm, the scheduling clashed with the return of Married At First Sight USA at the same time on E4, with just 250,000 tuning in for the series nineteen premiere.
Channel 4 has pulled all episodes of Married at First Sight UK from its platforms in the wake of allegations made by three former contestants.
A BBC Panorama investigation into Married At First Sight UK pulled in 1.5million viewers on Monday evening after three contestants claimed they were sexually assaulted on the show
The broadcaster said the allegations are “very serious,” and the British government said Tuesday there must be “consequences for criminality or wrongdoing.”
Last night panicked bosses at Channel 4 were locked in crisis talks after it emerged that episodes of the hit series featuring one couple were aired despite producers being aware of the allegations.
The Daily Mail has since revealed its highly anticipated spin-off series named Second Marriage at First Sight will continue in its pre-production while an external review is carried out.
The show, announced in February this year at an event hosted by the outgoing Chief Content Officer Ian Katz, sees former stars of the long-running series return for another chance at finding love.
Bosses have ordered 24 episodes, which would see filming take place first in the UK as each couple navigate cultural clashes, before moving Down Under where they will be introduced to their spouse’s friends and family. Ultimately they will decide whether their match was worth uprooting their life to the other side of the world for.
It is understood advanced talks with former stars are already underway, with some having already signed up to appear.
An insider said: ‘While a review into the protocols on Married At First Sight is taking place, crew will continue with the pre-production of the show.
‘That includes finalising the lineup, which is at an advanced stage, and identifying filming locations and booking crew for the series.
‘However, cameras will not be rolling until the review is complete and any of its recommendations are implemented.’
Married at First Sight is an international reality TV franchise inspired by a Danish original, with editions in countries including the U.S., Australia and South Africa.
Strangers are matched by relationship experts and move in together after mock wedding ceremonies, with cameras capturing the various highs and lows of their quickfire unions.
Conservative lawmaker Caroline Dinenage, who heads the House of Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee, told the BBC that the show clearly involves “an element of risk.”
‘It is a TV show that almost expects and anticipates people that have only just met will have to become really quite intimate with each other,’ she told the BBC. ‘They´re expected to share a bed and a life together within minutes of meeting. It almost feels like an accident waiting to happen.’
Launching on BBC1 at 8:00pm, the scheduling clashed with the return of Married At First Sight USA at the same time on E4, with just 250,000 tuning in for the series nineteen premiere
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The U.K. version of the show is made by independent production company CPL. It has run for 10 seasons on Channel 4, with an 11th scheduled for broadcast this year. CPL did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The broadcaster said the show is produced under “some of the most comprehensive and robust welfare protocols in the industry,” including background checks, a code of conduct setting out behavioral standards and “daily contributor check-ins with a specialist welfare team.”
It has ordered a review of its welfare standards and procedures.
One participant of the show, who did not wish to be identified, accused her husband of raping her and threatening her with an acid attack, and is now looking to pursue legal action against CPL.
‘Lizzie’, as she was named to keep her anonymity, said her partner often lost his temper when the cameras were not on them.
Sex, she said, soon became violent and would leave her bruised even after she ‘kept saying stop,’ she told the BBC’s Panorama.
‘He said that if I told anybody what had happened, that he would get someone to throw acid at me,’ Lizzie said.
Last night, Channel 4 bosses were locked in crisis talks after it emerged that episodes of the hit series featuring one couple were aired despite producers being aware of the allegations
Shona Manderson, who appeared on the show in 2023, has publicly gone on the record to allege her partner, Bradley Skelly (both pictured) sexually assaulted her
Describing one alleged attack, she said: ‘We were in our apartment, on the sofa, and he tried to have sex with me. And I kept saying no, that I didn’t want to do it.
‘But he kept saying, “You can’t say no, you’re my wife”. And he just did it anyway.’
Lawyers for CPL told Panorama that Lizzie did not mention the ‘can’t say no’ comment to its team and the ‘acid’ remark was mentioned as a passing comment, not a threat.
CPL took action as soon as Lizzie said she felt unsafe, the lawyers added.
A second woman, named as Chloe, alleges she was raped by her husband before broadcast, though Channel 4 aired her episodes despite her telling the channel and producers.
‘He smirked and climbed on top of me, moved my leg… by that time, I’d really given up and I just didn’t want him to be angry at me when the cameras came,’ she said.
‘I just lay there, and I stared out the window.’
After filming finished, she told the show’s psychiatrist, alerting CPL who then went to Channel 4. When Chloe complained to the broadcaster, she only received a response once the series was on air. Lawyers for CPL told the BBC it followed welfare protocols.
Both men involved deny the allegations, Panorama added.
The long-running series, in which singles are paired together by a panel of experts, has now been removed from Channel 4’s streaming service
Shona Manderson, who appeared on the show in 2023, has publicly gone on the record to allege her partner, Bradley Skelly, sexually assaulted her.
Skelly told the BBC in reply he understood Manderson had consented to the act and categorically denies ‘any allegations of sexual misconduct’ or that he was ‘controlling’ and their relationship “was based on mutual consent, care and affection”.
Production company CPL, who make the show, told staffers of the accusations airing and urged them not to speak out to journalists who approach them.
They also warned against them posting on social media or identifying any of the accused males.
It read: ‘Please be mindful of commenting publicly or privately. It is prudent not to speculate about anything that is reported or commented on especially on social media, or to name any cast member in any posts as there may be legal reasons preventing anyone from doing so.
‘Please be aware that anything you say or post may be picked up and shared on social media or used in the press now or at a later date.’
