Married at First Sight UK cancelled after review, sexual assault allegations
Months after three female cast members came forward with allegations of sexual assault on the set of Married at First Sight UK, the results of an external review have prompted Channel 4 to decide not to bring the show back.
Channel 4 says show will not return after 3 female contestants alleged misconduct
Helen Surgenor · CBC News
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Britain's Channel 4 says it will not bring back Married at First Sight UK, following the results of an external review into contributor welfare.
It was commissioned after three female cast members came forward with allegations of sexual assault on set.
The show follows strangers matched by relationship experts who meet for the first time at the altar, take part in a mock wedding ceremony and move in together as newlyweds.
The U.K. version of the program was considered to be a massive ratings juggernaut for Channel 4, and ran for 10 seasons.
In May, BBC's current affairs program Panorama spoke to two women who said they were raped by their on-screen husbands, and a third who alleged her on-screen husband subjected her to a non-consensual sexual act.
The men denied the allegations. In June, a male cast member was arrested on suspicion of rape.
Channel 4 commissioned a review tasked with examining whether the show's welfare protocols met its duty of care obligations — and whether those protocols needed to be changed.
The results of that review, released Thursday, found the show's welfare protocols were extensive, extremely thorough and of a high standard — though in some isolated incidents, not fully implemented.
Measures to improve welfare
The final report also included recommendations to improve the welfare of Married at First Sight UK cast members — including putting couples in separate bedrooms on wedding night and honeymoon, reviewing the frequency with which couples are asked about the physical side of their relationship, and removing Intimacy Week and Partner Swap Week.
It also suggested installing CCTV and sound recording equipment in all areas of the apartments to be monitored 24/7 by a welfare-trained team, and providing two lockable ensuite bedrooms for cast members.
Channel 4 headquarters in London, U.K. (Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)
"MAFS UK has been enjoyed by millions of viewers, made possible by the willingness of its contributors to embrace the social experiment at the heart of the show and the many talented people involved in its production," said Channel 4 chief executive Priya Dogra in a statement.
She thanked the team for its efforts to protect the welfare of contributors, but said "the series will not return to Channel 4, with the show’s budget reinvested in distinctive new programming."
Dogra also repeated her apology to the female cast members who came forward with their allegations.
"This review did not have the authority to adjudicate on the very serious allegations made by three women in the Panorama program, but I would like to repeat that I am very sorry for the distress those women have clearly felt."
She said she hopes Channel 4's swift action demonstrates "our desire to relentlessly strengthen industry standards."
The show is part of an international reality-TV franchise with editions in countries including the U.S. and Australia.
CBC News has not had any response to questions about whether those shows will continue.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Helen Surgenor is a producer for CBC News based in Toronto, currently working for the entertainment unit. She spent years waking up before dawn to make the daily news podcast World Report. She has reported in Alberta, Iqaluit and Barbados. You can reach her at helen.surgenor@cbc.ca.
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