Channel 4 cancels Married at First Sight UK after rape claims

It follows a BBC Panorama investigation into the programme earlier this year, which revealed rape allegations from two female cast members on the show, while a third woman alleged a non-consensual sex act. The men involved have denied all the allegations against them.

According to Channel 4, the show’s budget will be reinvested in "distinctive new programming". Priya Dogra, CEO, Channel 4, repeated her apology to the women involved in the investigation, for the "distress they have clearly felt".

Channel 4 commissioned the review shortly after the BBC first contacted the broadcaster with its allegations of wrongdoing against a number of past contributors.

The review had two elements. The first, conducted by law firm Clyde & Co, examined the welfare protocols in place when the claims were initially raised.

It found that Channel 4 and production company CPL’s welfare protocols were compliant with the Ofcom Broadcasting Code.

The Clyde & Co review also noted that, separately, there were isolated incidents where the welfare framework was not fully implemented, and that Channel 4 and CPL could have undertaken a more structured, longer-term review over multiple series. It also found areas where the contributor welfare framework could be strengthened.

Former BBC One Controller Lorraine Heggessey led the second element of the review and examined whether MAFS UK protocols should be changed to strengthen contributor welfare.

The Heggessey review found that the welfare protocols for MAFS UK were “extensive, extremely thorough, and of a high standard” and made a series of recommendations.

It concluded that it would be reasonable to continue to produce future series of MAFS UK with the recommendations in place.

However, Dogra concluded that the review’s recommendations “would entail a materially greater level of intervention, monitoring, and supervision that would fundamentally alter the format and editorial proposition of the programme” and has ended the show on C4 in the UK.

She also confirmed that series 6 of MAFS UK, which was in production when the review was commissioned, would not be broadcast.

Dogra said: “Whilst the review praised the welfare protocols in place and made no findings that Channel 4 breached the Ofcom Code or that the format is inherently unsafe, I have to consider when is the right time for Channel 4 to move on from a format.

“The recommendations are eminently sensible and feasible, but considering their wholesale implementation provoked fundamental questions about the editorial proposition of a show that, I believe, has now run its course over 10 years. Channel 4 has always thrived on reinvention, and this is a moment to kickstart a new era of creative renewal, using the considerable budget to find the next generation of distinctive and disruptive British television.

“This review did not have the authority to adjudicate on the very serious allegations made by three women in the Panorama programme, but I would like to repeat that I am very sorry for the distress those women have clearly felt. I hope our actions – in swiftly commissioning the review and taking clear, decisive steps – demonstrate our commitment to the wellbeing of all contributors and our desire to relentlessly strengthen industry standards.”

Married at First Sight UK was recently shortlisted at the RTS Programme Awards 2026. Discover more here. Discover more here.