UK broadcasting regulator Ofcom is launching an official investigation into the Channel 4 dating series Married at First Sight UK following a “fairness and privacy” complaint.
The series, in which single people are matched and married to complete strangers, was the subject of a Panorama investigation earlier this year.
Panorama’s report, which aired on the BBC in May, included allegations from two female contestants that they had been raped by their assigned partner during production of the show. A third woman also alleged a non-consensual sexual act. All three men have denied the allegations.
Earlier this month, a former cast member on Married at First Sight UK was arrested on suspicion of rape; the individual, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, is currently out on bail while the Met Police’s investigation is ongoing.
It is not known who lodged the “fairness and privacy complaint” against the series; these complaints are filed to Ofcom by participants in radio or TV programmes, and typically concern allegations of unfair treatment or infringements on personal privacy.
A cast member on Married at First Sight UK had previously complained to Ofcom, with the watchdog dismissing the complaint following an investigation.
Ofcom confirmed in a statement to the BBC that it was investigating the new complaint. Channel 4 is meanwhile conducting its own welfare review, the findings of which will be published in the coming weeks.
Dame Melanie Dawes, Ofcom’s chief executive, previously said that the allegations made in the Panorama report had raised “really serious concerns”.
Speaking on the ITV talk show Good Morning Britain, she said: “What we always try to avoid is being really specific about ‘you can do this and you can’t do that’, because fundamentally the responsibility is with Channel 4 and its production company, or with ITV or BBC or whoever is producing these shows, to get this right.
“If they have not got right, this is going to be a serious issue. It’s very live, but it does raise really serious concerns. If we need to tighten our guidance then we absolutely will.”
Married at First Sight UK is one of Channel 4’s most popular TV series, and has been running for 10 series.
Ahead of the Panorama report in May, the broadcaster removed all episodes of the programme from its streaming service. An already-filmed 11th series is currently being held, with its future still undecided.
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