Billed as a “bold social experiment”, Married at First Sight UK – known to many as MAFS – sees single people agree to “marry” total strangers, after meeting for the first time at their mock weddings.
The marriages are not legally binding, but viewers see the couples go on honeymoon, before moving in together and navigating their relationships – all while being filmed, almost every day.
The UK version, which had been running for 10 seasons, is one of Channel 4’s biggest shows, with audience figures often topping three million.
But the show was left reeling after the Panorama investigation in May, in which three women made allegations about the men they were partnered with – claims the men deny.
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One woman said her onscreen husband raped her and threatened her with an acid attack.
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A second woman told both Channel 4 and CPL, before broadcast, about being allegedly raped by her onscreen husband. Her episodes were still aired.
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A third woman – Shona Manderson, the only woman who was identified – accused her onscreen husband of sexual misconduct.
All three women accused the show of not doing enough to protect them.
Lawyers for CPL, the independent production company that makes the UK version of the show, previously said its welfare system is “gold standard” and industry-leading, and that it acted appropriately in all these cases.
Channel 4 had initially told Panorama that all the allegations were “wholly uncorroborated”.
Following the Panorama broadcast, Channel 4’s chief executive Priya Dogra initially didn’t apologise, although she did express her “sympathy” for those who had spoken up.
Less than 48 hours later, she changed position, telling reporters she was “deeply sorry” over the women’s distress.
The impact of the Panorama progamme was swift, and sizeable.
Channel 4 launched its external review, all the episodes were taken down from its streaming service, and a major sponsor pulled out.
Married at First Sight UK usually starts airing in September, but the new series was put on hold following the revelations in the Panorama.
Ofcom has since launched an investigation, and in June, a male cast member was arrested on suspicion of rape.
The individual is not being named. The alleged victim is also not being named; anyone who makes an allegation of rape is entitled to anonymity by law.
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