Domestic abuse charity Women’s Aid said the allegations made for “disturbing and sobering” viewing, ITV News Correspondent Sejal Karia reports
Channel 4 has said it is “deeply sorry” for the distress caused to participants on Married At First Sight UK following allegations of rape and sexual assault made by former contestants.
Chief executive Priya Dogra said an external review was under way after two women told the BBC’s Panorama programme they were allegedly raped by their on-screen partners during filming.
A third accused her on-screen partner of sexual misconduct.
The women claimed the incidents took place while appearing on the reality dating series. All three men deny the allegations.
On Wednesday, senior figures at Channel 4, including chief executive Priya Dogra, spoke at a briefing for the broadcaster’s annual report at an event in London.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Ms Dogra: “While I attempt to do my best to answer questions, I’ll ask their forbearance because there are limitations on what I can say before this review is complete late in the summer.
“That said I have watched the (Panorama) programme and heard the women’s accounts, which are very troubling. Their distress is clear, and for that I am, of course, deeply sorry. Welfare across all our programmes is hugely important to us, and is a primary concern.
“However, I’m sure you’ll appreciate that Channel 4 cannot investigate the specific allegations against the men, which they have denied, nor can I comment on them in any way.
“We are a broadcaster, not an adjudicator, and allegations of this type are investigated by other bodies, including when complaints are raised by the police. What I can do, and have done, as you have heard, is to commission an external review, which I did just days after being first contacted by the BBC back in April.”
Channel 4’s chief content officer, Ian Katz, said Married At First Sight UK participants “were kept safe when any issues were raised” and were given “appropriate support” after allegations of rape and sexual misconduct were made.
Shona Manderson, the only woman of the three who is identified, accused her on-screen partner of sexual misconduct while on the Channel 4 show. Her on-screen partner, Bradley Skelly, told Panorama he categorically denies “any allegations of sexual misconduct, or that he was controlling”.
Domestic abuse charity Women’s Aid said the allegations made for “disturbing and sobering” viewing.
Earlier, MPs on the Culture, Media and Sport (CMS) Committee wrote to Channel 4 and Ofcom about their response to the allegations, asking the broadcaster about its complaints process for contestants on the programme and the steps taken to ensure the allegations were fully investigated, along with the review announced by the broadcaster.
It also questioned the broadcaster about its approach to the duty of care to participants on its other reality TV programmes.
A CMS Committee message to Ofcom asks it about the role of the broadcasting regulator in the complaints process, its powers to investigate potential breaches of the broadcasting code, and the timeline for launching its own investigation into the Married At First Sight allegations.
On Tuesday, police urged potential victims of sexual assault on the reality TV show to come forward. The show, which is produced for Channel 4 by independent production company CPL, involves single people matched by experts and then “marry”, with couples meeting for the first time on their wedding day.
Channel 4 said in a statement released on Monday: “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.”
Lawyers for CPL, the independent production company that produces the show, 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.
The “marriages” on the show are not legally binding but the couples go on a “honeymoon” and move in together after their weddings.
One woman alleged to Panorama that her onscreen husband raped her and threatened her with an acid attack
A second said she told both Channel 4 and CPL about being allegedly raped by her on-screen husband, but that her episodes were still aired.
Channel 4 has removed all previous seasons of the show from its streaming platforms. Shortly before the Panorama episode aired, Channel 4 announced it had commissioned an external review into contributor welfare last month, which it expects to report in the coming months.
Sir Ian Cheshire, the government’s candidate to be the next Ofcom chairman, said he “welcomed” Channel 4’s decision to investigate the allegations of rape on the show.
Speaking to the Science, Innovation and Technology Committee on Wednesday, Sir Ian, who was Channel 4’s chairman between 2022 and 2025, said: “I welcome the fact that Channel 4 are taking the allegations seriously on Married At First Sight.”
It is understood that no decision has been made on future series of Married At First Sight.
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