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Police urge victims
The Metropolitan Police urged potential victims of sexual assault connected to Channel 4’s Married at First Sight UK to come forward after a BBC Panorama investigation alleged that two women were raped during filming and a third said she was subjected to a non-consensual sex act.
“We continue to encourage anyone who believes they have been a victim of sexual assault, no matter how long ago it happened, to get in touch with us.”
A Met spokesperson told the BBC that the force had not received any criminal reports in relation to the matter and continued to encourage “anyone who believes they have been a victim of sexual assault, no matter how long ago it happened, to get in touch with us.”
The BBC reported that the Met was approaching production teams involved in the reality TV show to ensure anyone they had spoken to was aware of how to report any criminal allegations to police.
Channel 4 removed all episodes of Married at First Sight UK from its streaming and linear services, alongside MAFS UK social channels, after being presented with “serious allegations of wrongdoing” last month.
In response to questions about the claims, Channel 4 chief executive Priya Dogra expressed sympathy to contributors who had “clearly been distressed after taking part in Married at First Sight,” while lawyers for CPL said its welfare system was “gold standard” and industry-leading.
Denials and reviews
Channel 4 said it commissioned an external review of welfare on the show last month “after being presented with serious allegations of wrongdoing,” with lawyers for CPL telling the BBC that its welfare system was “gold standard” and industry-leading.
The BBC reported that Priya Dogra said the allegations were disputed by those accused and that she believed the broadcaster had “acted quickly, appropriately, sensitively and with well-being front and centre” when concerns were raised.
Security minister Dan Jarvis told the BBC he was “extremely concerned” about the allegations raised in the BBC investigation and called on Channel 4 and CPL to fully investigate them.
Jarvis added that given the “very serious nature of these allegations,” it was “highly likely that there will be a referral to the police and it will be a police matter for them to investigate,” as the Met continued to encourage victims to contact them.
The BBC also reported that the prime minister’s spokesperson said the claims were “extremely serious” and that it was right that Channel 4’s external review be commissioned and that all allegations be referred to the appropriate authorities.
Parliament, regulators, sponsors
In Parliament, Alex Mahon, who was chief executive of Channel 4 from 2017 to 2025, faced questions from MPs in the Culture, Media and Sport Committee after the BBC investigation, with Mahon saying: “I watched the programme and there were some very serious and concerning allegations in it.”
“I watched the programme and there were some very serious and concerning allegations in it.”
Mahon told the committee that “The industry is always trying to evolve and take allegations or incidents very seriously,” and said the duty of care protocols “do advance all the time but it's always worth another look” given the seriousness of the claims.
The BBC reported that Ofcom said broadcasters needed to take “due care” over the welfare of show participants, while Holiday company Tui told BBC News it was pausing sponsorship of the show.
The BBC also quoted committee chair Caroline Dinenage saying MAFS UK did “involve an element of risk” as a show, describing it as “a TV show that almost expects and anticipates people that have only just met will have to become really quite intimate with each other.”
As the Met continued its outreach, the BBC said Channel 4 declined to apologise when asked by a reporter and walked off back into Channel 4’s London headquarters after discussing its review and the disputed allegations.
