Channel 4 cancels 'Married at First Sight' UK following sexual assault allegations

Channel 4 has canceled the reality series "Married at First Sight" U.K. following allegations of sexual assault on the show, the broadcaster confirmed.

Background of Allegations

Earlier this year, a BBC investigation by the documentary strand "Panorama" alleged there had been three instances of sexual assault during the series. According to reports, two women alleged they were raped by partners they met on the show, while another claimed she was the victim of a non-consensual sex act. The three men accused of wrongdoing have denied the allegations. One cast member was arrested on suspicion of rape over the summer.

External Reviews

Following the investigation, Channel 4 commissioned two separate reviews:

• Clyde & Co: This law firm examined whether welfare protocols fulfilled Channel 4’s duty of care obligations as set out by media regulator Ofcom. The review found that Channel 4 and producer CPL Productions had not breached the Ofcom code, though it did "identify a small number of instances in which the show’s established protocols had not been fully applied" regarding contributors breaking rules around "prohibited substances."
• Lorraine Heggessey: Former BBC One controller Lorraine Heggessey conducted a review to determine whether changes would "strengthen contributor welfare." Heggessey suggested several changes, including installing CCTV in apartments, using individual safe words and panic buttons, and providing lockable ensuite bathrooms. She also suggested psychological testing for final contributors that might take into account "current societal trends" like misogyny and attitudes to consent.

Cancellation Decision

Channel 4 CEO Priya Dogra stated that while the reviews cleared the broadcaster of wrongdoing, the implementation of Heggessey's recommendations would be too onerous.

"The recommendations are eminently sensible and feasible, but considering their wholesale implementation provoked fundamental questions about the editorial proposition of a show that, I believe, has now run its course over ten years," Dogra said in a statement.

As a result of the cancellation, the current sixth season and the spin-off "Second Marriage at First Sight" will not air. The show has been removed from Channel 4’s streaming platforms, though international versions remain available. Channel 4 stated the show's budget will be re-invested in other programs.

Ofcom has launched its own investigation into the show concerning "fairness and privacy."

---

Sources

• variety.com: 'Married at First Sight' U.K. Axed After Sexual Assault Allegations
• deadline.com: Channel 4 Cancels 'Married At First Sight UK' After Rape Allegations

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.