Channel 4 axes Married at First Sight UK after external review

Channel 4 has decided to cancel Married at First Sight UK, the reality show better known as MAFS UK. According to BBC News, the decision followed an external review of the programme. The news came after months of scrutiny over serious allegations made by cast members.

The show was thrown into crisis in May this year, when a BBC Panorama investigation revealed rape allegations from two female cast members. A third woman, Shona Manderson, was the only one of the three to be named publicly, and she made a claim of a sex act carried out without her consent. Those accused deny every claim made against them.

The Panorama investigation looked at whether the show’s welfare procedures had failed the people taking part, leaving them at risk of harm.

Mixed reactions from former cast members

Several of the women who spoke to the BBC said they were relieved. One said she was pleased that no one else would have to face the same experience. Another described her feelings as overwhelming relief, but said she was surprised that an external review was needed before the broadcaster acted.

Shona Manderson told BBC News that her main feeling was relief that the women had been listened to. Other former participants were less satisfied. Some said the decision did not go far enough and called for greater accountability. One former cast member said the programme should have been taken off air years ago.

April Banbury, who took part in the 2022 series, said she was glad the show had been cancelled. Police later took her on-screen husband into custody over alleged controlling and coercive conduct. That inquiry was eventually dropped, and her partner has described those claims as untrue.

Others who spoke to the BBC described happier memories. Some said the show had brought them friendships and career opportunities, and they were sorry to see it end. Lara Eyre, who appeared in 2022, said the case raised wider concerns about how reality TV stars are treated and protected. She also said it was a shame for the crew who filmed this year’s series, which will never be broadcast.

Several participants also voiced concern for the production staff who had worked on the series, and for viewers who had followed it.

What the review found and what remains unclear

Channel 4 has released only a summary of the review’s findings, not the full report. The broadcaster said the review did not decide whether the serious allegations were true, because those matters are for the relevant authorities. According to Channel 4, the review found no breach of Ofcom’s broadcasting code in how it and production company CPL handled the issues raised at the time.

Questions remain. It is not yet known what the broadcaster did when the production company first warned it about the allegations, or why an investigation was only launched after the Panorama programme raised concerns. Channel 4’s chief, Priya Dogra, told BBC News that the broadcaster’s response to incidents as they arose was appropriate.

What happens next

Channel 4 bosses will give evidence to a parliamentary committee overseeing culture, media and sport on 17 November, so more details may emerge then. An Ofcom investigation into the show is also ongoing. Police took a male participant into custody in June over a suspected rape.

The decision may also affect other versions of the format. Channel 4 has said it will not show international editions, including MAFS Australia, again. The wider reality TV industry is likely to face renewed questions about whether shows of this kind can keep participants safe.

Frequently asked questions

Sources

• BBC News: Relief, tears and sadness: Married at First Sight UK cast react to show being axed

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