Dame Caroline Dinenage demands explanations over Married At First Sight welfare concerns

Dame Caroline Dinenage, chair of the Culture, Media and Sport Committee, has written to Channel 4 and Ofcom with “serious concerns” about their response to “the horrifying allegations about Married At First Sight”.

The update comes after three women accused their on-screen partners of sexual assault while speaking in a BBC Panorama documentary.

The documentary, titled The Dark Side of Married at First Sight, features testimony from the three women, two of whom remained anonymous and one who publicly identified herself as Shona Manderson from the 2023 series.

Chairwoman of the CMS Committee, Dame Caroline Dinenage, said: “The horrifying allegations about Married At First Sight raise serious concerns over whether enough is being done to protect people taking part in reality television.

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“Both Channel 4 and Ofcom, as the broadcasting regulator, have urgent questions to answer.”

The letter sent to Channel 4 seeks details about the complaints procedures available to contestants on the programme, as well as what measures were taken to properly investigate the allegations and the broadcaster’s recently announced external review.

It also asks what steps Channel 4 takes to uphold its duty of care responsibilities across its wider slate of reality television programmes.

Meanwhile, the Culture, Media and Sport Committee’s letter to Ofcom questions the regulator’s role in the complaints process, the extent of its powers to investigate potential breaches of the broadcasting code, and when it may decide to launch its own inquiry into the Married At First Sight UK allegations.

On Tuesday, police urged anyone who may have experienced sexual assault linked to the reality programme to come forward.

The programme, produced by independent company CPL for Channel 4, pairs strangers who meet for the first time at the altar.

Though the marriages are not legally binding, participants share a honeymoon, a bed, and live together afterwards.

One former bride, identified only as Lizzie, alleges her on-screen husband became violent during their honeymoon before later raping her, allegedly telling her: “You can’t say no, you’re my wife.”

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She further claims he threatened her with an acid attack if she spoke out.

According to Lizzie, she raised concerns about his volatile behaviour and showed producers bruises she had sustained, but filming continued regardless.

She is now pursuing legal action against production company CPL Productions.

A second contestant, using the pseudonym Chloe, alleges she was raped by her television husband after explicitly refusing sexual activity.

She claims both Channel 4 and CPL Productions were informed before the series aired, but her episodes were broadcast anyway.

The third woman, Ms Manderson alleged her on-screen husband, Bradley Skelly, carried out a non-consensual sex act by ejaculating inside her during sex, without permission.

She later underwent an abortion, although she said she could not confirm whether the pregnancy resulted from that incident.

Mr Skelly has denied all allegations of sexual misconduct and controlling behaviour.

Channel 4 removed all ten series of Married At First Sight UK from its streaming, linear and social media platforms.

The allegations have also sparked concern at government level.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport described the claims as “extremely serious” and called for full cooperation with the authorities, while broadcasting regulator Ofcom said it was awaiting the outcome of investigations and reviews already underway.

Meanwhile, major travel company TUI has paused its sponsorship of the programme following the controversy.

Ms Manderson shared her feelings about participating in the show through an Instagram video, stating: "The short time that I was on the show, I completely lost my light."

She explained how she felt “extremely emotionally distressed” following her experience on MAFS and stressed that taking part in the documentary was “not a decision I took lightly.”

The influencer also called for stronger welfare processes, deeper casting checks and better support for contestants moving forward.

All three of the accused have allegedly denied the allegations.

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