Married At First Sight UK contestant says show’s cancellation is ‘significant’

Former Married at First Sight UK (Mafs) contestant Shona Manderson has said the show being cancelled is a “very significant moment for reality TV”.

Channel 4 axed the reality dating show following an external review that was triggered by “serious allegations of wrongdoing”.

Manderson appeared in a BBC Panorama documentary that aired in May, accusing her on-screen partner of sexual misconduct while filming the Channel 4 show. Two other anonymous women who participated in the show alleged they were raped by their on-screen husbands.

In June, a Mafs UK cast member was arrested on suspicion of rape.

All three men deny the claims.

Channel 4 has confirmed on Thursday that the series, which was a big hit for the broadcaster, will not return, with the show’s budget to be “reinvested in distinctive new programming”.

In a video shared on Instagram on Friday, Manderson said the outcome is a “step in the right direction” and she feels really “proud” that she spoke up along with other women.

She said: “As a person who contributed to the BBC Panorama around welfare on the show, and also contributed to the external review, I wanted to come in here and acknowledge it.

“I feel pleased that our voices have been heard. It was incredibly difficult speaking up about our experiences, and in doing so, I always hoped that it would contribute to meaningful change.

“I think this outcome is a very significant moment for reality TV and a step in the right direction.

“I believe this sends an important message about truly listening to people when they come forward and taking their experiences seriously, and I will always be so proud that we spoke up.”

Channel 4 chief executive Priya Dogra confirmed that season six of the show, which was filmed earlier this year, will not be broadcast.

Second Married At First Sight, a spin-off set to bring contestants from the UK and Australian versions of the show for a second chance at love, was in pre-production before being paused during the review.

It will not resume production.

The review was commissioned by Ms Dogra earlier this year following the allegations made on Panorama.

The review had two elements: law firm Clyde & Co examined the welfare protocols in place at the time the claims were initially raised, and how Channel 4 and production company CPL handled them, while former BBC One controller Lorraine Heggessey examined if any changes should be made to current protocols for Mafs UK to further strengthen contributor welfare.

Channel 4 said neither element of the review “sought to adjudicate” on the serious allegations of wrongdoing highlighted by Panorama, which it said, “remain a matter for the relevant authorities”.

The Clyde & Co review, which reviewed 31,172 documents and 20 hours of broadcast and unbroadcast footage, found that Channel 4 and production company CPL’s welfare protocols were compliant with the Ofcom Broadcasting Code.

It also found there was no breach of the Code in regard to the handling of issues raised.

However, the review noted there were isolated incidents where the welfare framework was not fully implemented.

It cited an instance when some contributors contravened the code of conduct relating to “prohibited substances” but were given a first and final warning rather than being removed from the programme.

In addition, Heggessey’s report cited that some elements of the show could “implicitly put pressure on contributors to be intimate” and that contributors could “become dependent on production and lose touch with reality”, which could affect their “decision-making”.

It found certain areas where it considered that the contributor welfare framework could be further strengthened.

The Heggessey review found the welfare protocols for Mafs UK were “extensive, extremely thorough and of a high standard”, adding that with enhancements to the existing contributor welfare framework and adjustments to the format, it would be reasonable to continue to produce future seasons of the show.

Ms Dogra said while implementation of the review’s recommendations would be feasible, it would entail a “materially greater level of intervention, monitoring and supervision that would fundamentally alter the format and editorial proposition of the programme”.

The broadcaster said “taken together with the maturity of the programme”, Ms Dogra determined the “right course was to bring Mafs UK on Channel 4 to an end”.

Addressing the three women who made the allegations on Panorama, Ms Dogra said she was “very sorry for the distress those women have clearly felt”.

A statement from CPL said: “CPL has always put contributor welfare at the heart of its programme making and will continue to do so.

“CPL have worked closely with Channel 4 for many years and throughout the review process, and we look forward to working with them again in the future.”