Gosport MP Caroline Dinenage writes to Channel 4 over allegations of rape and sexual assault on MAFS UK

Gosport’s MP has spoken out about allegations of rape and sexual assault on a much-watched dating reality show.

Caroline Dinenage is the chairwoman of the Culture, Media and Sport Committee in the House of Commons. The committee has written to Channel 4 and Ofcom about their response to allegations of rape and sexual assault on Married At First Sight UK.

It comes after Shona Manderson accused her on-screen partner of sexual misconduct while on the Channel 4 show on 2023, while two other anonymous women alleged they were raped by their on-screen husbands, while speaking in a BBC Panorama documentary.

Dame Caroline said: “The horrifying allegations about Married At First Sight raise serious concerns over whether enough is being done to protect people taking part in reality television. Both Channel 4 and Ofcom, as the broadcasting regulator, have urgent questions to answer.”

A letter to Channel 4 asks about its complaints process for contestants on the programme and the steps taken to ensure the allegations were fully investigated, along with the review announced by the broadcaster.

It also questions the broadcaster about its approach to duty of care to participants on its other reality TV programmes.

A CMS Committee message to Ofcom asks it about the role of the broadcasting regulator in the complaints process, its powers to investigate potential breaches of the broadcasting code, and the timeline for launching its own investigation into the Married At First Sight allegations.

A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said the force had not received any criminal reports on the matter, but urged any victims to come forward, regardless of when the incident occurred. It said it would contact the production teams.

The show, which is produced for Channel 4 by independent production company CPL, sees single people matched by experts and then “marry”, with couples meeting for the first time on their wedding day. The “marriages” on the show are not legally binding but the couples go on a “honeymoon” and move in together after their weddings.

Ms Manderson’s on-screen partner Bradley Skelly told Panorama he categorically denies “any allegations of sexual misconduct, or that he was controlling”.

Channel 4 said in a statement released on Monday: “In April, Channel 4 was presented with serious allegations of wrongdoing against a small number of past contributors, allegations that we understand those contributors have denied.”

Domestic abuse charity Women’s Aid said the allegations made for “disturbing and sobering” viewing.

Priya Dogra, chief executive of Channel 4, said she wanted to “express my sympathy to contributors who have clearly been distressed” after taking part in the show, and added that contributors’ wellbeing is “always of paramount importance”.

Among the litany of problems surrounding reality and other TV show contestants is the case of Steve Dymond, of Portsmouth, who died by suicide seven days after appearing on The Jeremy Kyle Show in May 2019. The show was cancelled after the death of Mr Dymond, who had taken a lie detector test after being accused of cheating on his partner, Jane Callaghan, from Gosport. At an inquest, a coroner ruled that the show’s treatment of Mr Dymond was not a “contributory factor” to his death.