Three North Yorkshire MPs have urged Channel 4 to ‘fully cooperate’ with police investigations into allegations of rape and sexual assault on Married At First Sight UK.
It comes after a BBC Panorama episode that aired earlier this month documented accusations from contestants about their time on the reality TV show.
Shona Manderson accused her on-screen partner of sexual misconduct while on the Channel 4 show, while two other anonymous women alleged they were raped by their on-screen husbands. All the men deny the claims.
Scarborough and Whitby MP Alison Hume, York Central’s Rachael Maskell and Luke Charters for York Outer co-signed a letter to the broadcaster’s chief executive stating that “the latest concern does not exist in isolation”.
Ms Hume, herself an award-winning screenwriter, said: “Like so many of you, I was deeply troubled to learn of the allegations of serious sexual crimes connected to the Married at First Sight television series.
“That’s why I signed this letter, together with a number of other MPs, calling for Channel 4 to commission an independent review into safeguarding, participant welfare, editorial oversight and duty of care standards while also pledging to cooperate fully with all police investigations.
“There have been a number of troubling cases involving reality television over the past few years and we must ensure that commercial pressures and audience ratings are never, ever, prioritised over basic safeguarding.”
Channel 4’s recently appointed CEO, Priya Dogra, instructed an external review of contributor welfare on MAFS UK last month.
The review is now underway and has two elements. The first, conducted by law firm Clyde & Co, is examining the welfare protocols in place on this programme at the time claims were raised, as well as the handling by Channel 4 and CPL of those claims.
Channel 4 has also commissioned an external industry expert to examine whether any changes should be made to current protocols for MAFS UK to further strengthen contributor welfare.
Channel 4 said it expected the review to report in the coming months and that it will share a summary of findings and recommendations “at the appropriate time”.
Priya Dogra, Chief Executive of Channel 4, said: “I want to express my sympathy to contributors who have clearly been distressed after taking part in Married at First Sight UK. The wellbeing of our contributors is always of paramount importance.
“It would be wholly inappropriate for me to comment on what are very serious allegations made against some MAFS UK contributors.
“Those allegations – which I understand are disputed by the contributors accused – are not something that Channel 4 is in a position to adjudicate on. We are also mindful of our ongoing duty of care to all contributors, and the need to preserve the anonymity and privacy of all involved.”
The reality television series sees single people – matched by experts – ‘marry’ strangers who they meet for the first time on their wedding day.
Ms Manderson’s on-screen partner, Bradley Skelly, told Panorama he categorically denies “any allegations of sexual misconduct, or that he was controlling”.
Chair of the culture, media, and sport committee, Dame Caroline Dinenage MP, said: “The horrifying allegations about Married at First Sight raise serious concerns over whether enough is being done to protect people taking part in reality television. Both Channel 4 and Ofcom, as the broadcasting regulator, have urgent questions to answer.”
An Ofcom spokesperson said it had “launched an external review into contributor care on MAFS UK and we await its findings”.
