Channel 4 has cancelled its reality series Married At First Sight (MAFS) UK following an external review into "serious allegations of wrongdoing against a small number of past contributors by Panorama - allegations that those contributors have denied."
The decision comes after a BBC Panorama investigation, aired in May, in which two women alleged they were raped by their husbands during filming, and another MAFS bride alleged she was a victim of sexual misconduct by an on-screen spouse while filming the series. The three women, who have remained anonymous, raised concerns about the welfare and safety of female participants in the TV experiment.
One woman claimed her onscreen husband raped her and threatened her with acid. The men accused of sex attacks deny all the allegations against them in the documentary, The Dark Side of Married at First Sight, which broadcast earlier this year.
External Review Findings
As a result of the review commissioned by Chief Executive Priya Dogra, the show's budget will be reinvested in distinctive new programming. The review had two elements. The first was a legally privileged and confidential review conducted by law firm Clyde & Co, examining whether the welfare protocols in place at the time the claims were initially raised, as well as the handling by Channel 4 and CPL of those claims, fulfilled Channel 4's duty of care obligations under the Ofcom Broadcasting Code.
In their investigation, the Clyde & Co team reviewed 31,172 documents and 20 hours of broadcast and unbroadcast footage, and conducted interviews with relevant individuals from Channel 4, CPL and contributors. They found that "based on the evidence available and the balance of probabilities, Channel 4 and production company CPL's welfare protocols were compliant with the Ofcom Broadcasting Code." Further, with respect to the handling of issues raised at the relevant times, there were no findings of a breach of the Code.
The broadcaster stated: "The Clyde & Co review also noted that, separately, there were isolated incidents where the welfare framework was not fully implemented; that Channel 4 and CPL could have undertaken a more structured longer-term review over multiple series; and found certain areas where it considered that the contributor welfare framework could be further strengthened, and made recommendations in this regard."
Second Review and Future of the Show
The second element of the review was led by former BBC One Controller Lorraine Heggessey, who examined whether changes should be made to current MAFS UK protocols to further strengthen contributor welfare. Heggessey reviewed extensive documentation and conducted confidential interviews with individuals involved in MAFS UK production, welfare processes, commissioning and compliance in line with the terms of reference.
The Heggessey review found that the welfare protocols for MAFS UK were extensive, extremely thorough and of a high standard from which other productions in the industry have learnt. It also offered observations on the specific challenges associated with the MAFS UK format and made comprehensive future-facing recommendations. The review concluded that, with enhancements to the existing contributor welfare framework and adjustments to the format, it would be reasonable to continue to produce future series of MAFS UK.
Dogra has confirmed that the sixth series of MAFS UK, which was in production when the review was commissioned, would not be broadcast as it was not made under the recommended strengthened protocols. In addition, the Second Married at First Sight (SMAFS), which was in pre-production with CPL before being paused during the review, will not resume production.
Chief Executive's Statement
In her statement, Dogra said: "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."
She added: "Channel 4 has always thrived on reinvention, and this is a moment to kickstart a new era of creative renewal, using the considerable budget to find the next generation of distinctive and disruptive British television."
Dogra also said: "This review did not have the authority to adjudicate on the very serious allegations made by three women in the Panorama programme, but I would like to repeat that I am very sorry for the distress those women have clearly felt. I hope our actions – in swiftly commissioning the review and taking clear, decisive steps - demonstrate our commitment to the wellbeing of all contributors and our desire to relentlessly strengthen industry standards."
