❚ We may earn commission from links on this page. Our editorial is always independent (learn more).
A former Married at First Sight UK cast member has been arrested on suspicion of rape.
In a BBC Panorama investigation, which aired on Monday 18 May, one woman accused her on-screen partner of sexual misconduct while on the show, while two other anonymous women alleged they were raped.
All three men have denied the allegations.
In a statement to BBC News, the Metropolitan Police said: “This relates to an ongoing investigation, being led by the Met Police. He has since been bailed while enquiries remain ongoing.”
Following the broadcast of the episode on BBC One, the Met Police encouraged “anyone who believes they have been a victim of sexual assault” after appearing on the show to contact them.
In the days after the Panorama episode aired, Channel 4 boss Priya Dogra said that the women’s accounts in the investigation were “very troubling”.
“Their distress is clear, and for that, I am of course deeply sorry,” she said.
She noted that welfare across all Channel 4 programmes is “hugely important” and a “primary concern”, but said the broadcaster couldn’t investigate the specific allegations.
“We are a broadcaster, not an adjudicator, and allegations of this type are investigated by other bodies, including when complaints are raised by the police,” she said.
Channel 4 commissioned an external review into contributor welfare on the show in April following “very serious allegations of wrongdoing against a small number of past contributors”.
In addition to the review, Channel 4 announced it had pulled all previous episodes of Married at First Sight UK from its streaming and linear services in light of the allegations.
Dogra said this decision was made in part through an “abundance of caution” to avoid “stoking speculation that might lead to the jigsaw identification of the women in the Panorama programme or indeed any other contributors”.
She added: “That is why the programme was taken down and I believe that it is the responsible thing to do in the circumstances.”
Want to see this content?
This page contains content provided by Google reCAPTCHA. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as Google reCAPTCHA may use cookies and other technologies. To view this content, choose ‘Accept and continue’ to allow Google reCAPTCHA and its required purposes.
Check out more of our Entertainment coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what’s on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Authors
Katelyn Mensah is the Senior Entertainment Writer for Radio Times, covering all major entertainment programmes, reality TV shows and the latest hard-hitting documentaries. She previously worked at The Tab, with a focus on reality TV and showbiz news and has obtained a BA (Hons) in Journalism.
