- Published
Married at First Sight UK will not return, Channel 4 has said, following a BBC Panorama investigation into the hit reality TV show.
asserted
Channel → publish → show
The show's budget will be reinvested in "distinctive new programming", the broadcaster's chief executive Priya Dogra said on Thursday, and she repeated her apology to the women involved in the investigation, for the "distress they have clearly felt".
asserted
they → reinveste → distress
The Channel 4 show was plunged into crisis earlier this year, after a Panorama programme which revealed rape allegations from two female cast members on the show, while a third woman alleged a non-consensual sex act.
asserted
woman → plunge → act
The men involved have denied all the allegations against them.
asserted
men → involve → them
A review was commissioned by Channel 4 shortly after the BBC first contacted the broadcaster, with details of the allegations we had heard.
asserted
we → commission → allegations
It was divided into two parts: one led by a legal firm into how Channel 4 handled the allegations, and a second one into welfare protocols on MAFS UK.
asserted
Channel → divide → UK
Only "a summary of findings and recommendations" has been released, rather than the full report.
asserted
summary → release → report
The first part of the review, by law firm Clyde & Co, found the following:
Based on the evidence available and the balance of probabilities, Channel 4 and CPL's welfare protocols were compliant with Ofcom's broadcasting code.
asserted
protocols → find → code
However the review did note:
There were isolated incidents where the welfare framework was not fully implemented.
asserted
framework → note → ?
Channel 4 and CPL could have undertaken a more structured longer-term review over multiple series.
uncertain
Channel → undertake → series
There were certain areas where it considered that the contributor welfare framework could be further strengthened, and made recommendations in this regard.
uncertain
framework → be → regard
The second part of the review, led by former BBC One Controller Lorraine Heggessey, found:
The welfare protocols for MAFS UK were extremely thorough and of a high standard, from which other productions in the industry have learned.
It offered observations on "the specific challenges associated with the MAFS UK format" and made "future-facing recommendations".
asserted
It → lead → recommendations
It concluded that, with enhancements to the existing contributor welfare framework and adjustments to the format, it would be reasonable to continue to produce future series of MAFS UK.
asserted
it → conclude → UK
Dogra said welfare across all of their programmes is "a primary concern".
asserted
welfare → say → programmes
She said that considering the "wholesale implementation" of the recommendations "provoked fundamental questions about the editorial proposition of a show that, I believe, has now run its course over 10 years".
asserted
I → say → years
She added that the review "did not have the authority to adjudicate on the very serious allegations made by three women in the Panorama programme".
asserted
review → add → programme
Women's accusations
Billed as a "bold social experiment", Married at First Sight UK - known to many as MAFS - sees single people agree to "marry" total strangers, after meeting for the first time at their mock weddings.
asserted
people → bill → weddings
The marriages are not legally binding, but viewers see the couples go on honeymoon, before moving in together and navigating their relationships - all while being filmed, almost every day.
asserted
couples → bind → relationships
The UK version, which had been running for 10 seasons, is one of Channel 4's biggest shows, with audience figures often topping three million.
But the show was left reeling after the Panorama investigation in May, in which three women made allegations about the men they were partnered with - claims the men deny.
uncertain
men → run → men
One woman said her onscreen husband raped her and threatened her with an acid attack.
asserted
husband → say → attack
A second woman told both Channel 4 and CPL, before broadcast, about being allegedly raped by her onscreen husband.
uncertain
woman → tell → husband
Her episodes were still aired.
asserted
episodes → air → ?
A third woman - Shona Manderson, the only woman who was identified - accused her onscreen husband of sexual misconduct.
asserted
who → identify → misconduct
All three women accused the show of not doing enough to protect them.
asserted
women → accuse → them
Lawyers for CPL, the independent production company that makes the UK version of the show, previously said its welfare system is "gold standard" and industry-leading, and that it acted appropriately in all these cases.
asserted
it → make → cases
Channel 4 had initially told Panorama that all the allegations were "wholly uncorroborated".
asserted
allegations → tell → Panorama
Following the Panorama broadcast, Channel 4's chief executive Priya Dogra initially didn't apologise, although she did express her "sympathy" for those who had spoken up.
asserted
who → follow → those
Less than 48 hours later, she changed position, telling reporters she was "deeply sorry" over the women's distress.
asserted
she → change → distress
Channel 4 launched its external review, all the episodes were taken down from its streaming service, and a major sponsor pulled out.
Married at First Sight UK usually starts airing in September, but the new series was put on hold following the revelations in the Panorama.
Ofcom has since launched an investigation, and in June, a male cast member was arrested on suspicion of rape.
asserted
member → launch → rape
The individual is not being named.
asserted
individual → name → ?
The alleged victim is also not being named; anyone who makes an allegation of rape is entitled to anonymity by law.
asserted
who → name → law
If you have more information about this story, you can reach Noor by email at noor.nanji@bbc.co.uk
asserted
you → have → noor.nanji@bbc.co.uk
The Aporia
