Police urge victims to come forward after MAFS UK rape allegations

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport says claims of serious sexual abuse during filming of Channel Four’s “Married at First Sight UK” are “serious allegations”, as ITV News’ Cari Davies reports

Police have urged any potential victims who were sexually assaulted while taking part in Married At First Sight UK to get in touch after two women claimed they were raped during their time on the show.

The two women, who spoke to the BBC anonymously, said their onscreen husbands both raped them while the show was being filmed.

Another woman, Shona Manderson, told the BBC her on-screen partner sexually assaulted her.

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.

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.”

In a statement to the programme, Ms Manderson’s on-screen partner Bradley Skelly said 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.”

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.