Married at First Sight UK is facing police probe over ‘deeply concerning’ claims two brides were raped, minister says as TV insiders claim Channel 4 show is ‘over’

Married at First Sight UK likely to face a police investigation and subsequent ax two women She claimed they were raped by their on-screen husbands, and one of the alleged victims said she was forced to have an abortion.

Shona Manderson, who has refused to give her name, claimed Bradley Skelly was involved in a non-consensual sex act while filming the Channel 4 programme, a claim he denies.

Ms Manderson, who appeared on the show in 2023, later found out she was pregnant and had an abortion, but admitted she wasn’t sure if she was pregnant. from the alleged incident.

He said he “completely lost his light” going on the show.

Mr Skelly said it was his understanding that his on-screen partner had taken the night off and He categorically denied ‘allegations of sexual misconduct’ or that he was ‘controlling’.

Shona is one of three MAFS UK contestants who told BBC Panorama they were victims of sexual harassment on the show. Two women claim they were raped.

Channel 4 pulled all episodes immediately – and the police may be ready to investigate.

Security Minister Dan Jarvis said he was ‘extremely concerned’, adding: ‘I think there is a good chance it will be referred to the police and it will be up to the police to investigate.’

Media Minister Ian Murray will meet with Channel 4 management today to discuss the scandal. Culture Minister Lisa Nandy is currently out of the country.

A senior source with knowledge of the program said that the claim will probably end in the UK, but it is still ongoing in nearly 30 countries around the world.

‘It’s a big format for Channel 4 but it’s not like Top Gear, Strictly Come Dancing or MasterChef. Channel 4 may lose this. The days of bringing strangers together are over, a Daily Mail insider said.

Mr Skelly said he understood his on-screen partner (pictured together) had consented and in a statement said he categorically denied ‘any allegation of sexual harassment’ or that he was ‘controlling’.

‘This type of programming has long promised a path to fame. It now risks exposing the less glamorous truth that spectacle always comes with a human cost.’

The expert, who has worked in television for decades, said the cost of the MAFS scandal to production companies will be huge.

They added: ‘This deep crisis will of course lead to seismic change. For years, reality TV has marketed itself as a democratic path to fame: ordinary people elevated by personality, romance, drama or delusion.

‘But it will change insurance, legal oversight, casting, psychological screening, duty of care and broadcaster tolerance for formats based on emotional burn.’

While MAFS may collapse in the UK, similar shows will continue because they make money.

‘This crisis will not kill reality TV. ‘Television rarely kills rates,’ they said.

‘I’ve been saying for some time that reality TV formats are digging deeper to satisfy viewers and we’re starting to see a failure of cohesion and care. I believe fame is toxic and requires a health warning.’

Dame Caroline Dinenage said the dating show, which showed single people ‘marrying’ strangers they met for the first time on their wedding day, was ‘appalling’ and she was ‘not surprised’ by sexual assault allegations.

Speaking on BBC Radio 4 today, Tuesday, Dame Caroline said: ‘Obviously the program was extremely shocking.

‘I think what surprised me most was how unsurprised I was at what this revealed, given that, as you said, these were couples who got married without ever having met each other and then immediately had to establish life as a married couple.

‘They’re going on their honeymoon, they’re sharing a bed, and they’re in this bubble of intimacy, under the glare of a TV camera.

‘This is really quite terrifying in the cold light of day, isn’t it?’

Asked if the format of the show was ‘guaranteed’ to cause trouble, Dame Caroline said: ‘The whole format of the show is that you set up an artificial bubble where there’s almost an expectation that people will get closer to each other.

‘And I think people probably feel like the contestants almost feel compelled to do it.’

Two women who took part told the BBC they had been raped by their ‘husbands’, while the third claimed she had been sexually assaulted.

Alarmed bosses at the broadcaster were locked in crisis talks last night after it was revealed that episodes of Married at First Sight UK featuring the couple were aired despite producers being aware of the allegations.

The long-running series, which sees singles matched by a panel of experts, has now been removed from Channel 4’s streaming service.

Marriages made as part of the ‘social experiment’ are not legally binding, and cameras follow every move of the couples while they go on a ‘honeymoon’ and live together.

While several departments at the broadcaster were in talks yesterday, an email from production company CPL following the Panorama report publicly instructed staff not to speak out.

The long-running series, which saw singles matched by a panel of experts, has now been removed from Channel 4’s streaming service

One of the programme’s participants, who wished to remain anonymous, accused her husband of raping her and threatening her with an acid attack and now wants to take legal action against CPL.

‘Lizzie’, whose name was given for anonymity, said her partner often became enraged when the cameras were not around.

The sex soon turned violent and he injured her even though she “kept saying stop”, he told the BBC.

“He said if I told anyone what happened he would find someone to throw acid on me,” Lizzie said.

Describing an alleged attack, she said: ‘We were sitting on the sofa at our house and he tried to have sex with me. And I kept saying no, I didn’t want to do that.

But he kept saying, ‘You can’t say no, you are my wife.’ And yet he did it.’

CPL lawyers told Panorama that Lizzie did not tell her team about the ‘can’t say no’ comment and that the ‘acid’ phrase was stated as a passing comment and not as a threat.

The lawyers added that CPL took action as soon as Lizzie said she didn’t feel safe.

While a second woman named Chloe claimed she was raped by her husband before broadcast, Channel 4 broadcast her episodes despite telling the channel and producers.

‘He grinned and climbed on top of me, moving my leg… I had really given up by then and I didn’t want him to get mad at me when the cameras came,’ she said.

‘I laid there and looked out the window.’

After filming finished, she told the show’s psychiatrist and alerted CPL, who then went to Channel 4. When Chloe complained to the broadcaster, she only received a response after the series went on air. Lawyers for CPL told the BBC that the organization followed outreach protocols.

Panorama added that both men involved denied the allegations.

The Daily Mail can reveal that producers of the under-fire dating series have sent a letter to all staff who have worked on any of the ten series, urging them not to speak or post on social media.

In the letter seen by the Mail, CPL, the production company that produces the series, explained the accusations to staff and urged them not to speak openly to journalists who approached them.

They also warned against posting on social media or identifying any of the accused men.

It read: ‘Please be careful when commenting publicly or privately. In particular, it would be prudent not to speculate on anything reported or commented on on social media, or to name any cast members in any post, as there may be legal reasons preventing anyone from doing so.

‘Please remember that anything you say or share may be taken and shared on social media or used in the press now or later.’

The company has also created a dedicated email address for employees to email, and this email is monitored nightly for staff to contact.

Following the accusations, Channel 4 announced that they had commissioned an external review into the allegations, carried out by law firm Clyde & Co, to examine the existing outreach protocols in place at the time the allegations were made, as well as the proceedings carried out by Channel 4 and CPL.

A spokesperson for the broadcaster said in a statement that it has “the most comprehensive and robust wellbeing protocols in the industry.”

They said: ‘Serious criminal allegations were made against a small number of past contributors to Channel 4 in April, allegations which we understand these contributors deny.

‘The channel is aware of its duty of confidentiality and ongoing care to all contributors and cannot comment on or disclose the details of these allegations.

‘In relation to these allegations, Channel 4 has been asked to respond to allegations of failures in its outreach protocols. Channel 4 believes that when concerns were raised about the welfare of contributors through existing welfare and production protocols, prompt and appropriate action was taken based on the information available at the time. Channel 4 strongly denies any claims to the contrary.

‘Despite the actions taken at the time, Channel 4’s recently appointed chief executive Priya Dogra ordered an external review of the welfare of MAFS UK contributors last month.’

Ms Dogra last night said she wanted to express her ‘condolences to the contributors who are clearly suffering’ after appearing on the programme, but pushed back on claims Channel 4 had failed in its duty of care.

He said: ‘It would be completely inappropriate for me to comment on the very serious allegations made against some MAFS UK participants. These allegations, which I understand have been discussed by the defendants and the contributors, are not in a position for Channel 4 to decide. We are also conscious of our ongoing duty of care to all contributors and the need to protect the anonymity and privacy of everyone who participates.’

The Daily Mail has contacted CPL for comment.