The rape allegations that made the reality show about couples become a police case

The British government has classified as "serious" the allegations of rape involving the reality show Married at First Sight UK, shown on Channel 4
BBC/PA
Warning: this report contains reports of alleged sexual crimes and misconduct
The accusations of rape involving the British version of the show Married at First Sight ("Marriage at First Sight", in free translation), shown on Channel 4, are "serious" and there must be consequences in cases of "crimes or irregularities", the Department said of Culture, Media and Sport of the United Kingdom (DCMS).
An investigation by the BBC's Panorama program revealed complaints from two women who claim to have been raped during the recording of Married at First Sight UK. A third reported being the victim of a sexual act without consent.
Regulator Ofcom said that TV broadcasters need to take "due care" for the well-being of participants.
Tourism group TUI told BBC News that it had suspended sponsorship of the show.
Channel 4 withdrew all episodes of the reality show from its streaming platforms and TV channels, as well as Married at First Sight UK's social media.
In a statement released shortly after BBC News published the report, on Monday (18/5), Channel 4 stated that it had commissioned, last month, an external review of the program's welfare protocols "after receiving serious allegations of irregularities".
Lawyers for CPL Productions, the independent producer responsible for the British version of the program, stated that the participant protection system was an "industry benchmark" and followed standards of excellence. They also said the company acted appropriately in all cases.
Channel 4 CEO Priya Dogra expressed solidarity with contestants who "clearly were distressed after taking part in Married at First Sight UK." If she would like to apologize to the women involved, she declined to comment and returned to Channel 4 headquarters in London.
UK Security Minister Dan Jarvis said he was "extremely concerned" about the allegations revealed by the BBC investigation and called on Channel 4 and the CPL to fully establish the facts. was CEO of Channel 4 between 2017 and 2025, answered questions from MPs during a previously scheduled meeting of the UK Culture, Media and Sport Committee on Tuesday (19/5).
"I watched the program and there were very serious and worrying allegations in it," Mahon said.
Commenting on the review announced by Channel 4, she said: "I think the right decision is to open an investigation. We then need to see what conclusions these investigations come to and act on the results."
When asked about the need for additional measures, Mahon told the committee: "The industry is always trying to evolve and take reports or incidents very seriously."
"Protocols to protect participants are constantly evolving, but it is always worth re-evaluating them, especially in a case like this, which involves quite serious allegations, to ensure that sufficient measures have been taken and continue to be taken, and that the protocols are evolving appropriately."
Committee chair Caroline Dinenage told BBC News that Married at First Sight UK "involved an element of risk" as a TV show. It almost feels like a tragedy foretold," said Dinenage.
In an interview with BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Dinenage said that the reality show needed to ensure protective measures before, during and after filming, because the women portrayed in the Panorama documentary "didn't fully understand what had happened to them until later". staged wedding.
The three women who made the allegations claim that Channel 4 did not do enough to protect them.
Channel 4 was already aware of part of the accusations before the program aired, and all episodes featuring the women were available on the broadcaster's streaming platform until they were taken off the air on Monday (18/5).
Channel 4 had previously told the Panorama program that all the accusations were unproven and disputed by the involved.
The "marriages" shown on the reality show have no legal validity, but the public follows the couples on a "honeymoon" before moving in together and dealing with their relationship, all of this being filmed almost daily.
CEO of Channel 4 speaks out on allegations involving Married at First Sight UK
BBC
The three women interviewed by the BBC make accusations against the men with whom they formed a couple on the program and say they decided to speak out because they believe they should have received more protection.
One said she wanted CPL Productions to stop "allowing people to be hurt."
One woman claimed that the man portrayed as her husband in the program raped her and threatened to attack her with acid. She now intends to take legal action against CPL.
Another woman reported to Channel 4 and CPL, before the program aired, that she had allegedly been raped by the man she had formed a couple with. Still, the episodes in which she appears were shown.
A. The third woman, Shona Manderson, the only one of the three publicly identified, accused the man presented as her husband in the reality show, Bradley Skelly, of ejaculating inside her without her consent.
The lawyers for the man presented as the husband of the first woman in the reality show stated that he denies the accusation of rape and maintains that all sexual relations were completely consensual. According to them, he also denied having been violent or making threats against her.
The lawyers for the man who formed a couple with the second woman said that he disputed parts of the report presented by her. According to the defense, the sexual relationship began consensually, but she demonstrated, through body language, that she no longer consented, and he stopped the act immediately.
Bradley Skelly stated that he understood that Shona Manderson had consented to him ejaculating inside her that night. In a statement, he categorically denied "any accusations of sexual misconduct" and also rejected the allegation that he was "controlling".
According to Skelly, their relationship "was based on mutual consent, care and affection".
Meanwhile, the Film and TV Charity, an organization that provides support to professionals in the audiovisual industry, published a message of support for people who may have been affected by Monday's (18/5) edition of Panorama.
Married at First Sight is an internationally successful television franchise. Many participants say they enter the program looking for a romantic relationship. Others seek projection on social networks. The British version of the program has been shown for ten seasons.
Audiences frequently exceed 3 million viewers, making the reality show one of Channel 4's most successful programs.
The most recent season has already been recorded and is due to be shown later this year.
Jess Phillips told BBC News, after watching Panorama, that it seemed "very likely" that problems of this kind would arise on a program like Married at First Sight UK.
"The production should have had experts in domestic violence and sexual violence were available to guide the team," he said.
"Any sign of a problem like this should have led to the filming being stopped immediately, rather than putting the onus on the victim to make that decision while they feel pressured."
Farah Nazeer, CEO of Women's Aid, told the BBC: "At the time some of these reports came to light, they should have put protective measures in place much more proactively.
"Anyone who has experienced this kind of abuse takes time to get through. talk about what happened. There is a lot of trauma involved and, often, also shame."
Nazeer, from Women's Aid, stated that everyone involved in reality TV should receive training on preventing domestic violence and sexual assault. She added that independent organizations, with no financial ties to the producer, should also participate in this monitoring.
"If broadcasters want to produce programs centered on intimacy, they need to put protection and care at the center of production in the same way," said Nazeer. "I think the reports show that, in the moments when these women reported bruises, assaults and other serious allegations, they were not immediately removed from these relationships."
In a statement sent to BBC News, a spokesperson for the UK Department for Culture, Media and Sport said: "All reports must be referred to the appropriate authorities and investigated with the full co-operation of those involved, with measures put in place to ensure the highest standards and consequences for crime or wrongdoing."
A spokesperson for Ofcom said: "Our rules state that broadcasters must take appropriate action. care for the well-being of people who may be at risk of significant harm as a result of participating in a program."
"We are aware that Channel 4 has opened an external review into the care provided to Married at First Sight UK participants and we await the conclusions," he added. "We will review this and all other evidence made available."
* Married at First Sight UK is not shown in Brazil
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