A former bride on Married At First Sight UK has made disturbing allegations about her on-screen husband, claiming he performed a lewd act and touched her face without consent. She also says he restricted her movements and banned her from speaking to production staff without him.
The woman, who spoke to the Mirror following Monday's BBC Panorama investigation, alleged that production staff were aware of incidents but encouraged her to continue. She claimed staff bought her a drink to 'smooth things over' after she complained. She described the welfare team's approach as 'more like grooming'.
The bride said she felt pressured into intimacy and that safeguarding was insufficient once couples returned to their apartments off-camera. 'You go back to your apartment afterwards and there are no cameras there and nobody to protect you,' she said. She also questioned how much information was shared with the show's relationship experts.
She revealed she had undergone months of psychological assessments but now feels she gave producers 'the blueprint on how to expose me and use me'. She added: 'They knew I had a history of abusive, controlling relationships and paired me with someone who controlled my every move.'
The allegations come after Channel 4 removed all ten series of MAFS UK from its streaming platform and scrapped the next series following the Panorama investigation, which included claims of rape and sexual assault. The Metropolitan Police has urged potential victims to come forward.
Channel 4 has commissioned an external review, insisting its welfare protocols are 'some of the most comprehensive and robust in the industry'. However, the bride warned: 'This Panorama story is only the beginning of hearing the nightmares people have had.'
