Participants from the controversial TV show Married at First Sight Australia claim the programme left them feeling vulnerable and exposed because their on-screen spouses had criminal histories which were kept from them.
Background of the Controversy
Controversy struck Channel 4 when last month BBC's Panorama aired an investigation into the channel's popular dating show Married at First Sight UK. The programme disclosed rape allegations made by two female contestants - accusations which the men in question have refuted. This led to the channel deciding to remove all previous series from their streaming platform, uncertainty on whether the next season will air as planned, and the announcement that they would be conducting an external review of contributor welfare on Married at First Sight UK.
Following the documentary titled The Dark Side of Married at First Sight, Channel 4 released a statement saying that they had "some of the most comprehensive and robust welfare protocols in the industry." They added: "These include the most thorough background checks available, a Code of Conduct which clearly sets out behavioural standards, daily contributor check-ins with a specialist welfare team and access to additional support before, during and after filming. The physical and psychological wellbeing of all contributors is of paramount importance throughout the process. All duty of care processes are regularly reviewed and, where appropriate, strengthened."
New Revelations from Australia
Now, a separate investigation conducted by the BBC revealed that participants from Married at First Sight Australia claim the programme left them feeling vulnerable and exposed because their on-screen spouses had criminal histories which were kept from them. One woman from last year's Australian series, which follows a group of brides and grooms who are married sight unseen after being matched by a team of experts, claims she was not informed that the man she had been paired with had a prior drug conviction and only discovered this after filming concluded. She told the BBC: "There should be informed consent."
Nine former participants from MAFS Australia contacted the BBC during their investigations and are now demanding that the dating show enhances its vetting procedures and prevents individuals with prior convictions or allegations from appearing on the show.
Production and Responsibility
MAFS Australia is not produced by the same company as MAFS UK, and is instead created by Endemol Shine Australia who produces the programme which broadcasts in Australia on Channel 9. Channel 9 and Endemol Shine Australia stated they take their responsibilities regarding the health, wellbeing and safety of participants "extremely seriously." They told the BBC, "there is a structured, multi-stage checking process that every participant must complete and clear." These checks include police and criminal-history checks in each declared country of residence, independent clinical psychological assessment, medical screenings, disclosure supported by a statutory declaration, and legal and digital due diligence.
Channel 4 have stated that they are not involved in the production of MAFS Australia and that they have "no editorial control or input" into its making. They told the BBC: "Channel 4 ensures any version it transmits of acquired programmes adheres to the Ofcom Broadcasting Code."
Expert Panel and Show Format
John Aiken, Mel Schilling and Alessandra Rampolla have been experts on previous seasons of Married at First Sight Australia. The programme has proven enormously successful in Australia and enjoys popularity in the UK, where it airs on Channel 4. Both versions feature single individuals who consent to "marry" complete strangers after their initial encounter at staged wedding ceremonies, although the marriages carry no legal weight.
Instances of Criminal Histories
Multiple male participants have been permitted to appear on MAFS Australia despite having criminal convictions for, or facing accusations of, violence, assault or drug-related offences. The BBC disclosed some of these individuals for the first time, while others have been previously documented in Australian media. Many of the details were discovered in court records available on a public database. Several female cast members they interviewed during the investigation revealed that they had not been made aware of their partners' criminal histories when they were paired together. When they questioned Channel 9 about this, the broadcaster declined to address that particular query, but stated its protocols did not encompass sharing personal or background details between participants.
Case Study: Sierah Swepstone
Sierah Swepstone, from last year's series, said that she felt let down by the show's producers. The then 31-year-old from Victoria was paired with Billy Belcher, who was arrested and sentenced in 2014 for multiple drug-related offences in Perth. She claims she was not informed of his previous conviction and only discovered the truth after the series had concluded. Sierah told the BBC: "You shouldn't be left alone with a stranger with a criminal record. At the very least, there should be informed consent. They should let us know. Why is the show accepting that risk on our behalf? We should have the choice." Sierah felt like she was not adequately protected on the show and that they failed in their duty of care towards her and other female participants. She said: "Brides are not safe on MAFS Australia." Her on-screen husband, Billy, did not respond to a request for comment from the BBC.
Channel 9 and Endemol Shine Australia directed them to a previous statement which read: "Billy was completely honest with production about the life lessons he learnt when he was 18, after receiving a suspended sentence with good behaviour for drug related offences." They further stated that there were no accusations or convictions relating to violence or abuse of any kind.
Calls for Change
Our Watch, an Australian non-profit organisation working to prevent violence against women, informed the BBC that allegations or convictions must be regarded as "a serious safeguarding issue" by television productions, "and not withheld from the people most at risk."
You can watch Panorama's The Dark Side of Married at First Sight on BBC iPlayer now.
