Channel 4’s chief executive, Priya Dogra, has stood by the broadcaster’s handling of concerns raised by contestants on Married at First Sight (MAFS), while expressing deep regret for the distress suffered by female participants who have made allegations of rape and sexual misconduct.
External Review Commissioned
Dogra stated that she believes the channel acted appropriately at the time of the allegations but has commissioned an external review to ensure the safety of all participants in the show. Speaking at Channel 4’s annual report, she acknowledged the troubling nature of the women’s accounts and ordered a second look at the procedures, given she assumed her role only in March.
Allegations and Responses
The BBC’s Panorama programme aired allegations from two women who claimed they were raped by their on-screen husbands on MAFS. A third participant, Shona Manderson, accused her on-screen husband of a non-consensual sex act. All men involved have denied the claims. The Metropolitan Police have reiterated their appeal for anyone with allegations of abuse during the show to come forward, and they are in contact with Channel 4 and the production company CPL.
Dogra emphasised that Channel 4 cannot investigate the specific allegations, as they are matters for other bodies, including the police. She said, “We are a broadcaster, not an adjudicator.” Ian Katz, Channel 4’s chief content officer, expressed confidence in the decisions made at the time but acknowledged the need for a second review to learn lessons for the future.
MPs Demand Answers
MPs on the Commons culture select committee have written to Channel 4 and Ofcom, demanding answers over what they described as “horrifying allegations.” Caroline Dinenage, the Conservative chair of the committee, raised concerns about whether enough is being done to protect participants in reality television.
The former Channel 4 chief executive Alex Mahon had previously described the rape allegations as “very serious and concerning.” The broadcaster’s response continues to face scrutiny as the police investigation progresses.
