Married At First Sight UK contestant says show’s cancellation is ‘significant’
asserted
cancellation → say → Sight
Former Married at First Sight UK (Mafs) contestant Shona Manderson has said the show being cancelled is a “very significant moment for reality TV”.
asserted
cancelled → say → TV
Channel 4 axed the reality dating show following an external review that was triggered by “serious allegations of wrongdoing”.
asserted
that → ax → wrongdoing
In June, a Mafs UK cast member was arrested on suspicion of rape.
asserted
member → arrest → rape
All three men deny the claims.
uncertain
men → deny → 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”.
asserted
budget → confirm → 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.
asserted
she → share → 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.
asserted
I → say → it
“I feel pleased that our voices have been heard.
asserted
voices → feel → ?
It was incredibly difficult speaking up about our experiences, and in doing so, I always hoped that it would contribute to meaningful change.
asserted
it → speak → change
“I think this outcome is a very significant moment for reality TV and a step in the right direction.
asserted
outcome → think → 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.”
asserted
we → believe → experiences
Channel 4 chief executive Priya Dogra confirmed that season six of the show, which was filmed earlier this year, will not be broadcast.
asserted
which → confirm → show
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.
asserted
Married → set → review
It will not resume production.
asserted
It → resume → production
The review was commissioned by Ms Dogra earlier this year following the allegations made on Panorama.
asserted
review → commission → 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.
uncertain
changes → have → 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”.
asserted
it → say → 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.
asserted
protocols → review → Code
It also found there was no breach of the Code in regard to the handling of issues raised.
asserted
It → find → issues
However, the review noted there were isolated incidents where the welfare framework was not fully implemented.
asserted
framework → note → ?
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.
asserted
contributors → cite → 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”.
uncertain
which → cite → making
It found certain areas where it considered that the contributor welfare framework could be further strengthened.
uncertain
framework → find → areas
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.
asserted
it → find → 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”.
asserted
that → say → 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”.
asserted
course → say → 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”.
asserted
women → address → distress
A statement from CPL said: “CPL has always put contributor welfare at the heart of its programme making and will continue to do so.
asserted
CPL → put → making
“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.”
asserted
we → work → future
The Aporia
