What are the allegations against Married At First Sight UK?

Two women allege they were raped during filming of Married At First Sight UK, and a third person describes an allegation of a non-consensual sex act. The allegations were outlined in a BBC Panorama documentary aired on Monday. The women claim Channel 4 did not do enough to protect them. Channel 4 says prompt and appropriate action was taken when welfare concerns were raised through existing welfare and production protocols, and it strongly refutes claims of failures. Channel 4 says all previous seasons have been removed from its streaming and linear services. Channel 4 also commissioned an external review into contributor welfare in April. The show is produced for Channel 4 by CPL, which reportedly says its welfare system is gold standard and that it acted appropriately.

"Two women say they were raped during filming of dating show Married At First Sight UK (MAFS UK), while a third has described an allegation of a non-consensual sex act. The women, who outlined the allegations in a BBC Panorama documentary aired on Monday, claimed that Channel 4 programme did not do enough to protect them."

"Channel 4 said prompt and appropriate action was taken when welfare concerns were raised. It added that all previous seasons of MAFS UK have been removed from its streaming and linear services, and it announced that it had in April commissioned an external review into contributor welfare. The show, which is produced for Channel 4 by independent production company CPL, sees single people matched by experts marry strangers who they meet for the first time on their wedding day."

"In April, Channel 4 was presented with serious allegations of wrongdoing against a small number of past contributors, allegations that we understand those contributors have denied. The channel is mindful of the privacy and continuing duty of care towards all contributors, and cannot comment on or disclose details of those allegations. Related to those allegations, Channel 4 was asked to respond to claims of failures in welfare protocols."

"Channel 4 believes that when concerns related to contributor welfare were raised through existing welfare and production protocols, prompt and appropriate action was taken, based on the information available at the time. Channel 4 strongly refutes any claim to the contrary. CPL has been approached for comment. Lawyers for CPL reportedly told the BBC that its welfare system is gold standard and that it acted appropriately."

Read at www.independent.co.uk