Two Married At First Sight UK brides 'raped by onscreen husbands' in fresh claim

Two women have alleged they were raped by their husbands during the filming of the Channel 4 show, Married at First Sight UK, a BBC Panorama investigation claims. Another MAFS bride has alleged that she was also a victim of sexual misconduct by an on-screen spouse while filming the Channel 4 hit show.

The three women, who have not been named, have raised concerns about the welfare and safety of female participants on the TV experiment. The show which sees experts put strangers together as a married couple is a huge hit in both the US and Australia.

One woman claimed her onscreen husband raped her and threatened her with acid. The men accused of sex attacks deny all the allegations against them set to be broadcast in the documentary: The Dark Side of Married at First Sight, which will be shown tonight at 8pm on BBC One.

In a BBC investigation for Panorama called The Dark Side of Married at First Sight, the women claim they should have had more protection. Channel 4 said all the allegations are "wholly uncorroborated and disputed".

Channel 4 and CPL – the production company that makes the series – have said that the welfare protocols are robust and comprehensive.

In a statement, Channel 4 said: “We have not seen the programme and will comment when we know more.”

In a statement sent to the Mirror, Priya Dogra, Chief Executive of Channel 4 said: “I want to express my sympathy to contributors who have clearly been distressed after taking part in Married at First Sight UK. The wellbeing of our contributors is always of paramount importance.

“It would be wholly inappropriate for me to comment on what are very serious allegations made against some MAFS UK contributors. Those allegations – which I understand are disputed by the contributors accused – are not something that Channel 4 is in a position to adjudicate on. We are also mindful of our ongoing duty of care to all contributors, and the need to preserve the anonymity and privacy of all involved

“On the claims that Channel 4 may have failed in its duty of care, I believe that when concerns about contributor welfare were raised, and based on the information available at the time, Channel 4 acted quickly, appropriately, sensitively and with wellbeing front and centre.

“Nevertheless, because we aspire to the highest standards of contributor welfare, I felt strongly as Channel 4’s new CEO that it was right that we look again at how we handled issues raised at the time and ask whether changes should be made to further strengthen contributor welfare.

“That’s why last month I commissioned an external review of contributor welfare on MAFS UK. That review will report to me in the coming months. We take these issues very seriously and are committed to ensuring that we continue to lead the industry in our duty of care for contributors.”

Channel 4 has also now removed all the series from its streaming platform.