A former psychologist on Married at First Sight UK has stated that she believes the series should never have been broadcast, following serious allegations of rape and sexual assault made by female participants.
Allegations and Reactions
Shona Manderson accused her on-screen partner of sexual misconduct while appearing on the Channel 4 show. Two other women also came forward, alleging they were raped by their on-screen husbands during a BBC Panorama documentary. All three men have denied the allegations.
Dr Jo Hemmings, a former psychologist for the programme, expressed her shock to Channel 4 News. “My immediate reaction was that I don’t think the series should have been broadcast,” she said. “My second reaction was that an investigation needs to be launched pretty urgently. And my third response was, where on earth in a pretty tight welfare system did that situation, how was it able to fall through the net?”
Welfare Concerns
The show, produced by CPL for Channel 4, pairs singles matched by experts who meet for the first time at their wedding. Though not legally binding, they go on a honeymoon and live together. Dr Hemmings noted that during her tenure, there was a robust vetting process, but “you can’t be 100% sure in terms of predictability, how someone is going to behave.”
She criticised the trend in reality TV towards conflict and controversy, saying, “Every reality TV series... doesn’t have to be full of conflict. But people want to increase the level of controversy as series go on, and I think this is where the direction of travel is wrong.” She called for a return to more “wholesome” content.
Police and Channel 4 Response
Police have urged potential victims to come forward, noting no criminal reports have been received yet. Channel 4 announced an external review into contributor welfare, expected to report in the coming months. CPL’s lawyers described their welfare system as “gold standard.”
Ms Manderson’s on-screen partner, Bradley Skelly, categorically denies any allegations of sexual misconduct or controlling behaviour. Channel 4 stated it was presented with serious allegations against a small number of past contributors, which they understand have been denied.
