Channel 4 removes all Married at First Sight episodes following 'sexual assault allegations' ahead of BBC Panorama episode

Channel 4 has taken the decision to pull every previous series of Married at First Sight UK from its streaming services.

The broadcaster confirmed the move follows "very serious allegations of wrongdoing" involving a limited number of former participants.

The removal comes ahead of a BBC Panorama documentary set to air this evening, which examines claims made by women who appeared on the popular reality programme.

The investigation, titled The Dark Side of Married at First Sight, is scheduled for broadcast at 8pm on BBC One.

Three women have come forward with accusations of sexual misconduct against men they were paired with on the programme.

According to the BBC, two of these former contestants claim they were sexually assaulted during their participation in the reality series.

The documentary features testimony from all three women, though their identities have not been made public.

Similarly, the names of the men facing these accusations remain undisclosed.

All three men at the centre of the investigation have denied any wrongdoing, the BBC confirmed.

The Panorama programme examines whether the show's welfare procedures failed to provide adequate protection for contributors, potentially leaving them vulnerable to harm during filming.

Both Channel 4 and CPL Productions, the independent company responsible for making the series, have defended their approach to participant safety.

The broadcaster and production firm described their welfare protocols as "robust and comprehensive."

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Channel 4 told The Mirror: "We have not seen the programme and will comment when we know more."

Participants on the programme are matched by experts before meeting their partners for the first time at a non-legally binding wedding ceremony.

The couples subsequently travel on honeymoons together before moving into shared accommodation, where their relationships are observed by fellow participants and a panel of relationship specialists.

Married at First Sight UK ranks among Channel 4's most successful and lucrative programmes, consistently drawing audiences in excess of one million viewers.

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The format pairs complete strangers who agree to wed without having previously met, walking down the aisle in ceremonies that are not legally binding.

Following their weddings, the couples embark on honeymoons before cohabiting as they attempt to build genuine romantic connections.

The concept originated in Denmark in 2013 and has since become a global television phenomenon. The format has been adapted into 35 different versions around the world, with particularly popular iterations in the United States and Australia.

The programme's success has made it one of the broadcaster's flagship entertainment offerings.

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