How The ‘Married At First Sight UK’ Scandal Has Impacted Hit Show Around The World

EXCLUSIVE: The team behind Married at First Sight (MAFS) Australia is “reviewing” Channel 4’s report into the show, which has been axed in the UK following rape allegations.

Deadline asked some of the teams behind versions of MAFS around the world whether they will take heed of the report. Australian broadcaster Nine and MAFS producer Endemol Shine Australia told us they are “examining the findings,” while noting “many of the recommendations for improvement are already in place for MAFS Australia.”

“We are always reviewing our participant protocols to ensure our participants’ safety and wellbeing,” added a spokeswoman for Endemol Shine Australia. “Production of MAFS Australia continues.”

Channel 4 axed MAFS UK following rape allegations revealed earlier this year by BBC News, which the men accused of wrongdoing deny. Following these allegations being made public, two reviews were commissioned by Channel 4 CEO Priya Dogra, one examining welfare protocols and the other looking into whether changes should be made to protocols to strengthen contributor welfare in the future. While the latter, penned by ex-BBC One boss Lorraine Heggessey, suggested MAFS UK could continue if it took in some changes, Dogra axed MAFS UK last week.

Many of the versions around the world are made by different production outfits than MAFS UK such as MAFS Australia, which is produced by Banijay-owned Endemol Shine Australia while the UK version is overseen by Seven.One Studios-owned CPL. The two versions are “separate productions and separate shows,” according to the Endemol Shine Australia spokeswoman.

Deadline understands MAFS Australia protocols already in place that were suggested by Heggessey include cast being allowed to keep in touch with friends and family outside the show, a regular refresh of the show’s psychologists, and keeping casting and welfare teams separate.

The Australia team have separate issues they are dealing with. New South Wales Police told BBC News last month that inquiries had taken place “following a report of inappropriate content being shared”. Nine has confirmed that it is “aware of a police investigation.”

In the U.S., MAFS is made by another different company, North Road-owned Kinetic Content. A spokeswoman declined comment on the Channel 4 review and whether MAFS could implement some of the recommendations in the States. We understand the American version is not currently filming and hasn’t been picked up for new seasons at this point.

‘MAFS UK’ still on sale

MAFS is one of the world’s most successful formats. It originated in Denmark, where it still airs on local network DR1, produced by Seven.One-owned Snowman Productions.

Seven.One told us other versions around the world that it controls remain business as usual, while its distribution arm will continue selling older editions of MAFS UK to global buyers.

A Seven.One spokeswoman said: “The external reviews of contributor welfare on Married at First Sight UK confirmed that Channel 4 and production company CPL’s welfare protocols were compliant with the Ofcom Broadcasting Code; the Heggessey review found that they were ‘extensive, extremely thorough and of a high standard from which other productions in the industry have learnt’. Despite the findings of the reviews, Channel 4 has made the independent strategic decision not to continue the show. This decision has no impact on the show in other countries.”

In the UK, however, the fallout from the cancelation continues. Its axing came on the day Russell Brand, a former Channel 4 presenter, was found guilty of rape and sexual assault. Several days later, allegations of sexually exploitative behavior towards women and teenagers were published about Little Britain co-creator David Walliams, who denies the allegations and says “I am not a sexual predator… I have not broken the law.”

Channel 4 is moving on from MAFS. All past seasons of MAFS UK plus the American, Australian and New Zealand versions have been removed from Channel 4’s VoD platform, while a planned spin-off has been cancelled.

Channel 4 boss Dogra was merely a few weeks into the job when the MAFS UK allegations broke. She will likely face questions on the show when she appears in front of a parliamentary committee on Tuesday and has said its “considerable budget” will now be used to “find the next generation of distinctive and disruptive British television.” This will be a key task for new programs chief David Brindley, who starts in a few weeks’ time.