A cast member from the reality television programme Married at First Sight UK has been arrested on suspicion of rape, following allegations of sexual misconduct linked to the show. The Metropolitan Police confirmed the arrest, which is part of an ongoing investigation.
The individual and the alleged victim have not been named, as alleged victims of rape are entitled to lifelong anonymity under UK law. The suspect has been released on bail while inquiries continue.
Police appeal after Panorama investigation
In May, the Metropolitan Police issued a public appeal for anyone who believed they may have been a victim of sexual assault during their time on the show to come forward. This followed a BBC Panorama investigation in which two women alleged they had been raped by their on-screen husbands, and a third woman accused her on-screen husband of subjecting her to a non-consensual sex act. All the men involved have denied the claims.
Since the Panorama programme aired, the BBC reported that it had been contacted by former Married at First Sight UK participants raising further concerns. In a statement to BBC News, the Met said: “This [arrest] relates to an ongoing investigation being led by the Met police. He has since been bailed while inquiries remain ongoing.”
Channel 4 and production company response
The Metropolitan Police has been in contact with Channel 4, which broadcasts the show, and CPL Productions, the independent production company that makes the programme. Channel 4’s chief executive, Priya Dogra, has defended the broadcaster’s handling of concerns raised by contestants but also expressed being “deeply sorry” for the distress experienced by female participants who have made allegations of rape and sexual misconduct.
Channel 4 has commissioned two separate investigations. One will examine how the broadcaster handled complaints from contestants, and the second will assess whether safeguarding protocols need to be revised for future series.
Show format and welfare claims
In Married at First Sight (often abbreviated as MAFS), strangers are matched by relationship experts and meet for the first time at a mock wedding ceremony. They are then housed together during filming and must decide whether to remain in the relationship.
Lawyers for CPL Productions have previously described the show’s welfare system as “gold standard” and industry-leading. They also stated that criticisms from former crew members “do not reflect the vast majority of positive experiences of the more than 1,200 production team members who have worked across all series”. The company added: “Contributors are not pressured in any way or expected to be intimate.”
