PA MediaPolice have urged potential victims of sexual assault on reality TV show Married At First Sight UK to get in touch, after women made allegations of rape and sexual misconduct.
It comes after Shona Manderson accused her on-screen partner of sexual misconduct while on the Channel 4 show, while two other women alleged they were raped by their on-screen husbands, while speaking in a BBC Panorama documentary.
A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said: “We are aware of media reporting relating to allegations of rape and sexual assault following the airing of a television programme on Monday, May 18.
“At this time, we have not received any criminal reports in relation to this matter. We will be making approaches to the relevant production teams to ensure that anyone they have spoken to is aware of how to report any criminal allegations to police.
“We continue to encourage anyone who believes they have been a victim of sexual assault, no matter how long ago it happened, to get in touch with us.”https://www.instagram.com/reel/DYfmRGhAz_-/embed/captioned/?cr=1&v=14&wp=622&rd=https%3A%2F%2Fexplore.pa.media&rp=%2Fready%2Fstory%2Ff0bef0be-b731-43be-87b1-9f0fd1977dd2#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A7390131.200000003%7D
The show, which is produced for Channel 4 by independent production company CPL, sees single people matched by experts and then “marry”, with couples meeting for the first time on their wedding day.
The “marriages” on the show are not legally binding but the couples go on a “honeymoon” and move in together after their weddings.
Ms Manderson’s on-screen partner Bradley Skelly told Panorama he categorically denies “any allegations of sexual misconduct, or that he was controlling”.
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.”
Ms Manderson, the only woman of the three who is identified, appeared on the programme in 2023.
Talking to Panorama on camera, Manderson said she deserved better welfare from production company CPL after she alleged her partner, Bradley Skelly, took things too far during sex.
In a video shared on Instagram, Ms Manderson claimed that a meeting about welfare with the show’s production team “wasn’t honoured”.
Ms Manderson claimed the couple were using the pull-out method of contraception, but added: “One day, my boundary was crossed and he finished inside me without my consent.”
She added she found out she was pregnant shortly afterwards, but said she did not know if this was from the alleged incident.
Ms Manderson said in a post on Instagram that she was “grateful” for the “care and support” she received from domestic abuse charity Women’s Aid following the alleged incident.
Women’s Aid said the allegations made for “disturbing and sobering” viewing.
Farah Nazeer, the chief executive of Women’s Aid, said: “For years, Women’s Aid, and countless viewers, have been calling out abusive behaviours aired on Married At First Sight UK and other dating and entertainment programmes.”
She added: “Panorama has exposed some troubling and incredibly worrying allegations. We are told that these programmes are about finding love, yet abuse and control are not love.
“Producers have a duty of care to contestants and a responsibility to younger viewers – it is time they take it seriously. We stand ready to help all involved get this right.”
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.
Culture, Media and Sport Committee chair Dame Caroline Dinenage said the premise of the dating show was “horrifying” and she was “unsurprised” by the sexual assault allegations.
Channel 4 has removed all previous seasons of the show from its streaming platforms.
A spokesperson for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport told the BBC: “All allegations must be referred to the appropriate authorities and investigated with the full co-operation of those involved, with action taken to ensure that the highest standards are upheld and there are consequences for criminality or wrongdoing.”
Security minister Dan Jarvis told BBC Breakfast that the “very serious nature” of the allegations means there will likely be a police investigation.
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.
Channel 4 said it was “presented with serious allegations of wrongdoing against a small number of past contributors, allegations that we understand those contributors have denied”, and added that it is “mindful of the privacy and continuing duty of care towards all contributors”.
The broadcaster said it cannot comment on or disclose details of the allegations.
Lawyers for CPL reportedly told the BBC its welfare system is “gold standard” and it acted appropriately.
Priya Dogra, chief executive of Channel 4, said she wanted to “express my sympathy to contributors who have clearly been distressed” after taking part in the show, and added that contributors’ wellbeing is “always of paramount importance”.
She added that the “very serious allegations” are “not something that Channel 4 is in a position to adjudicate on”, and added that she felt the broadcaster responded “quickly, appropriately, sensitively and with wellbeing front and centre”.
Channel 4 said MAFS UK is produced under “some of the most comprehensive and robust welfare protocols in the industry”, including background checks, a code of conduct setting out behavioural standards and “daily contributor check-ins with a specialist welfare team”.
An Ofcom spokesperson said it had “launched an external review into contributor care on MAFS UK and we await its findings”.
It is understood that no decision has been made on future series of Married At First Sight.
CPL has been approached for comment.
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