Channel 4 has confirmed that Married at First Sight UK will not return, bringing the reality television programme to an end following a BBC investigation into allegations of sexual violence and misconduct involving former cast members.
The decision comes after a Panorama investigation in May featured allegations from three women about men they were paired with on the show. The men involved have denied the allegations.
One woman alleged that her on-screen husband raped her and threatened her with an acid attack. Another said she had reported an alleged rape to Channel 4 and production company CPL before her episodes were broadcast.
A third woman, Shona Manderson, publicly accused her on-screen husband of sexual misconduct.
The women also raised concerns about how the programme's producers handled their complaints and whether adequate measures had been taken to protect cast members.
Following the revelations, Channel 4 commissioned an independent review of the show's safeguarding arrangements. The completed review, released on Thursday, recommended additional protections for participants.
However, the broadcaster said the programme had “run its course” and confirmed that it would not commission another series.
Channel 4 Chief Executive Priya Dogra apologised to the women who featured in the investigation, saying she was “very sorry for the distress those women have clearly felt”.
She added that the budget previously allocated to the show would be redirected towards developing “distinctive new programming”.
