MAFS UK could face a police probe after two brides claimed they were raped by their on-screen husbands.
Channel 4 bosses are locked in crisis talks after the BBC Panorama investigation aired last night .
MAFS contestant Shona Manderson, who appeared on the show in 2023, was one of the other brides who bravely opened up about her experience Credit: BBC
The bombshell claims are made in the documentary The Dark Side of Married at First Sight Credit: Channel 9
In the doc, woman – speaking anonymously as “Lizzie” – claimed her on-screen husband raped her, then “threatened to get someone to throw acid at” her if she told anyone.
A second woman – portrayed by an actress and using the name “Chloe” – said she had suicidal thoughts when her series aired after she told show bosses she was raped.
A third contestant Shona Manderson spoke out to accuse her on-screen partner Bradley Skelly of sexual misconduct, claiming he ejaculated inside her without permission.
Speaking on BBC Breakfast today, Security minister Dan Jarvis said the show could face a police investigation.
‘Lizzie’, portrayed by an actress, alleges her on-screen husband raped her and threatened to throw acid at her Credit: BBC
Channel 4 has since pulled all episodes of MAFS UK Credit: E4
He said: “I’m extremely concerned to hear about these allegations.”
He said Channel 4, which airs the programme, and independent production company CPL, which produces it, have a “hugely important responsibility” to “look very carefully” at the allegations and make sure they are fully investigated.
The “very serious nature” of the allegations means there will likely be a police investigation, he added.
“These are shocking and deeply concerning allegations, and of course they must be very thoroughly investigated.”
The allegations were made in the Panorama documentary The Dark Side of , which aired last night at 8pm on One.
The entire MAFS library was last night pulled from Channel 4’s streaming service after the BBC doc aired.
Several Channel 4 departments held emergency talks yesterday while an email from production company CPL told staff not to speak in the aftermath of the Panorama report, The Daily Mail reports.
If you or anyone you know needs help with mental health problems, contact the Samaritans on 116 123, http://www.samaritans.org
- News broke that on BBC Panorama The Dark Side of Married at First Sight
- Two MAFS UK brides have – while a third ‘had to get abortion’
- Future of Married at First Sight UK offline
- Former groom
- One victim reveals when her series aired
- Channel 4 said to be
Producers who have worked on any of the show’s ten series have reportedly been told not to speak out or post on social media.
Bravely speaking out, Lizzie told how she “froze with fear” during the alleged attack, which left her with visible fingerprints where her on-screen partner had grabbed her.
Lawyers for Lizzie’s on-screen husband deny all claims against him.
Channel 4 and CPL have said that the welfare protocols are robust and comprehensive.
The broadcaster said the claims are “wholly uncorroborated and disputed.”
contestant Shona Manderson, who appeared on the show in 2023, was one of the brides who bravely opened up on her experiences.
Shona said she had an abortion after claiming her on-screen partner Bradley Skelly ejaculated inside her without permission.
She claims experts had separately picked up on her partner’s controlling way of speaking to her at the time of the incident.
Chloe, a third victim, told bosses she was raped before her was aired.
How to get help
EVERY 90 minutes in the UK a life is lost to suicide
It doesn’t discriminate, touching the lives of people in every corner of society – from the homeless and unemployed to builders and doctors, reality stars and footballers.
It’s the biggest killer of people under the age of 35, more deadly than cancer and car crashes.
And men are three times more likely to take their own life than women.
Yet it’s rarely spoken of, a taboo that threatens to continue its deadly rampage unless we all stop and take notice, now.
If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support:
- CALM, www.thecalmzone.net , 0800 585 858
- Heads Together, www.headstogether.org.uk
- HUMEN www.wearehumen.org
- Mind, www.mind.org.uk , 0300 123 3393
- Papyrus, www.papyrus-uk.org , 0800 068 41 41
- Samaritans, www.samaritans.org , 116 123
She told how both she and her on-screen husband had been engaging in consensual sex, but he had proceeded on one occasion after she said no.
Chloe told the programme he then chillingly said to her, “you’re making me feel like a rapist”.
“Chloe”, portrayed by an actress, told Panorama: “After I left I felt I had completely lost my grip and I had intrusive thoughts of my own death.
“And then when the show went out that really intensified into suicidal thoughts, which is not something I had ever thought of before. It was frightening.”
Chloe’s “husband” challenges details of her account, his lawyers told the BBC.
In a statement, Channel 4 said: “We have not seen the programme and will comment when we know more.”
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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