Married at First Sight rape allegations 'serious', says DCMS

In a statement released shortly after BBC News broke the story on Monday, Channel 4 said it had commissioned an external review last month of welfare on the show "after being presented with serious allegations of wrongdoing". Lawyers for CPL, an independent production company which makes the UK version of the show, said its welfare system was "gold standard" and industry-leading, and that it had acted appropriately in all these cases. Later on Tuesday, Alex Mahon, who was chief executive of Channel 4 from 2017 to 2025, is due to face questions from MPs in a pre-scheduled meeting of the Culture, Media and Sport Committee. The chair of the committee, Caroline Dineage, told BBC News that MAFS UK did "involve an element of risk" as a show. "It's a TV show that almost expects and anticipates people that have only just met each other will have to become really quite intimate with each other," she said. "They're expected to share a bed and a life together within minutes of meeting - it almost feels like an accident waiting to happen." Billed as a "bold social experiment", MAFS sees single people agree to "marry" total strangers, after meeting for the first time at their mock weddings. A DCMS spokesperson told BBC News: "All allegations must be referred to the appropriate authorities and investigated with the full co-operation of those involved, with action taken to ensure that the highest standards are upheld and there are consequences for criminality or wrongdoing." An Ofcom spokesperson said: "Under our rules, broadcasters are required to take due care over the welfare of people who might be at risk of significant harm as a result of taking part in a programme." "We note that Channel 4 has launched an external review into contributor care on MAFS UK and we await its findings," they added. "We will review this and all other evidence made available to us." That was echoed by former safeguarding minister Jess Phillips, who told BBC News after watching Panorama it felt "so likely" that issues like this might arise on the show. "The production should have had specialists in domestic abuse and sexual violence on hand to advise," she said. "Literally any sign of trouble such as this should have been met with immediate plug pulling, not putting it on the victim to make that decision when she feels beholden." Channel 4's chief executive Priya Dogra expressed sympathy to contributors who had "clearly been distressed after taking part in Married at First Sight". She said the allegations were disputed by those accused, adding that she believed the broadcaster had "acted quickly, appropriately, sensitively and with wellbeing front and centre" when concerns were raised. However, when asked by a reporter if she wanted to apologise to the women involved, she declined to comment and walked off. Lawyers for the first woman's onscreen husband said he denied rape and said that all sexual contact had been entirely consensual. He also denied being violent towards her or making violent threats to her, they said. Lawyers for the second woman's onscreen husband said he had challenged details of her account. They said the sex had started consensually but that she had communicated through her body language that she was no longer consenting and he had then stopped immediately. Skelly said he had understood Manderson had consented to him ejaculating inside her that night. In a statement he said he categorically denied "any allegations of sexual misconduct" or that he was "controlling". Their relationship "was based on mutual consent, care and affection", he said. MAFS is a highly successful global TV franchise. Many couples say they enter the show with the aim of finding love. Others are seeking social media fame. The UK version, which has been running for 10 seasons, is broadcast at prime time on Channel 4's sister channel E4. All episodes had been available on the streaming service All4. Audience figures often top three million, making the show one of the jewels in Channel 4's crown. The latest season has already been filmed and is expected to air this year.