Channel 4 removes all seasons of MAFS UK after rape allegations

Channel 4 has removed all previous seasons of Married At First Sight UK from its platforms after “very serious allegations”.

The BBC reported that two women said they were raped by their onscreen husbands, while a third described an allegation of a non-consensual sex act.

The broadcaster said that all previous seasons of MAFS UK have been removed from its streaming and linear services, and it announced that in April, it commissioned an external review into contributor welfare.

“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,” Channel 4 said in a statement on Monday.

The show, which is produced for Channel 4 by independent production company CPL, sees single people matched by experts “marry” strangers who they meet for the first time on their wedding day.

Channel 4 said they believed “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.”

Priya Dogra, chief executive of Channel 4 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.”

Lawyers for CPL, told the BBC its welfare system for MAFS is the “gold standard” and industry leading. They said they acted appropriately in all of the cases raised by the BBC.