A First Dates contestant who reportedly assaulted his ex-girlfriend and abused another woman has appeared on the show, sparking a new scandal for Channel 4. The victim's mother and the second woman have spoken out after the man, who has not been named, was cleared to feature on a recent episode of the hit programme.
Background of the Incident
In 2020, the 41-year-old man reportedly admitted to assault at a magistrates court and was handed a two-year restraining order and ordered to pay £225 over the offence in West Sussex. The victim's mother described him as physically 'damaging' to her daughter and claimed the long-term impact on her mental health has been 'catastrophic'. She said her daughter was 'brave' to take the man on, hoping he would face punishment so no other women would suffer at his hands.
The mother expressed shock at seeing him 'promoted as an ideal potential partner' on the dating show, stating: 'There obviously cannot have been any due diligence.'
Second Woman's Allegations
A second woman has also alleged to have suffered in a relationship with the same man. 'What I experienced has left lasting trauma that I carry with me every single day,' she said in an interview with The Sun. The woman, a fan of First Dates, said Channel 4 should be 'held accountable' for presenting a man with a 'known history of violence' against women as a 'safe and trustworthy partner'. She added that she 'completely spiralled' after seeing him on television, saying: 'The impact has affected every part of my life.'
Channel 4's Response
A Channel 4 spokesperson said: 'All First Dates contributors are subject to the highest level of checks we are legally able to undertake, which include a DBS and detailed online checks. All checks for this individual, including the DBS, were clear.'
The revelations come as fellow Channel 4 show Married at First Sight (MAFS UK) has also been embroiled in claims of sexual misconduct. It will likely face a police probe after two former participants claimed they were raped by their on-screen husbands, and a third woman claimed she had been the victim of sexual misconduct.
MAFS Allegations
Shona Manderson alleged that Bradley Skelly engaged in a non-consensual sex act while they filmed the show. Speaking to BBC's Panorama, she said she had an abortion after Skelly took things 'too far' during sex by ejaculating inside her without permission. She said she 'completely lost her light' during filming, leading experts to raise concerns over Skelly's alleged 'controlling' behaviours toward her, and the two were asked to leave the show.
Two other female contestants alleged being raped. One woman, using the pseudonym Lizzie, told Panorama she was left with bruises from an alleged assault and claimed her partner threatened to have acid thrown at her. She described how one night: 'He tried to have sex with me. And I kept saying no, that I didn't want to do it. But he kept saying, 'You can't say no, you're my wife'. And he just did it anyway.'
Chloe, also a pseudonym, alleges being raped by her on-screen husband. Her claims were raised with CPL, which produces First Dates, and Channel 4 prior to the episodes being aired, but they were shown anyway. She said: 'He smirked and climbed on top of me, moved my leg… By that time, I'd really given up and I just didn't want him to be angry at me when the cameras came. I just lay there, and I stared out the window.'
All the men are understood to deny the allegations against them. In a statement to the BBC, Brad Skelly said he categorically denies 'any allegations of sexual misconduct, or that he was controlling'.
Aftermath and Police Involvement
In light of the allegations, Channel 4 bosses have axed the new series of MAFS UK, and all ten series were removed from the channel's streaming service. The Met Police has urged any woman with allegations of sexual assault or rape linked to the show to contact them. A spokesperson said: 'We will be making approaches to the relevant production teams to ensure that anyone they have spoken to is aware of how to report any criminal allegations to police. We continue to encourage anyone who believes they have been a victim of sexual assault, no matter how long ago it happened, to get in touch with us.'
