MARRIED AT FIRST SIGHT UK AXED BY CHANNEL 4 FOLLOWING EXTERNAL REVIEW PROCESS

Channel 4 shared a summary of the findings of an external review of contributor welfare on Married at First Sight UK (MAFS UK) and Chief Executive Priya Dogra stated the series will not return to Channel 4, with the show’s budget reinvested in distinctive new programming.

Dogra commissioned the external review in April after being presented with serious allegations of wrongdoing against a small number of past contributors by Panorama - allegations that those contributors have denied. 

The review had two elements. The first was a legally privileged and confidential review conducted by law firm Clyde & Co, examining whether the welfare protocols in place at the time the claims were initially raised, and the handling by Channel 4 and CPL of those claims, fulfilled Channel 4’s duty of care obligations under the Ofcom Broadcasting Code.

The Clyde & Co review found that, based on the evidence available and the balance of probabilities, Channel 4 and production company CPL’s welfare protocols were compliant with the Ofcom Broadcasting Code. Further, with respect to the handling of issues raised at the relevant times, there were no findings of a breach of the Code.

The Clyde & Co review also noted that, separately, there were isolated incidents where the welfare framework was not fully implemented; that Channel 4 and CPL could have undertaken a more structured longer-term review over multiple series; and found certain areas where it considered that the contributor welfare framework could be further strengthened, and made recommendations in this regard. 

The Clyde & Co team reviewed 31,172 documents and 20 hours of broadcast and unbroadcast footage and conducted interviews with relevant individuals from Channel 4, CPL and contributors. 

The second element of the review was led by former BBC One Controller Lorraine Heggessey and examined if any changes should be made to current protocols for MAFS UK to further strengthen contributor welfare. 

Lorraine Heggessey reviewed extensive documentation and conducted confidential interviews with individuals involved in MAFS UK production, welfare processes, commissioning and compliance in line with the terms of reference.

The Heggessey review found that the welfare protocols for MAFS UK were extensive, extremely thorough and of a high standard from which other productions in the industry have learnt. It also offered observations on the specific challenges associated with the MAFS UK format and made comprehensive future-facing recommendations. 

The Heggessey review concluded that, with enhancements to the existing contributor welfare framework and adjustments to the format, it would be reasonable to continue to produce future series of MAFS UK. 

Neither element sought to adjudicate on the serious allegations of wrongdoing highlighted by Panorama. Those allegations remain a matter for the relevant authorities. 

Channel 4 Chief Executive Priya Dogra thanked the external reviewers for their comprehensive analysis and welcomed the review and its recommendations. 

She noted that MAFS UK’s format is based on the development of contributors’ relationships both on and off camera over a number of weeks.

The wholesale implementation of the review’s recommendations, whilst feasible, would entail a materially greater level of intervention, monitoring and supervision that would fundamentally alter the format and editorial proposition of the programme. Taken together with the maturity of the programme, she decided that the right course was to bring MAFS UK on Channel 4 to an end.

She highlighted Channel 4’s responsibility to deliver groundbreaking new programmes and formats and said that the budget previously allocated to MAFS UK will be used to commission bold, innovative new programmes from the UK independent production community.

She also confirmed that series 6 of MAFS UK, which was in production when the review was commissioned, would not be broadcast as it was not made under the recommended strengthened protocols. Second Married at First Sight (SMAFS), which was in pre-production with CPL before being paused during the review, will not resume production. 

Priya Dogra said: “I want to thank Lorraine Heggessey and Clyde & Co for their thorough and incisive work over the last few months. Welfare across all our programmes is a primary concern, so we welcome the review, its findings and recommendations. 

“MAFS UK has been enjoyed by millions of viewers, made possible by the willingness of its contributors to embrace the social experiment at the heart of the show and the many talented people involved in its production. I am grateful to everyone at Channel 4 and CPL Productions who has worked on the show and want to thank them for their significant efforts to protect the welfare of contributors, something which was recognised in both reviews.

“Whilst the review praised the welfare protocols in place and made no findings that Channel 4 breached the Ofcom Code or that the format is inherently unsafe, I have to consider when is the right time for Channel 4 to move on from a format. The recommendations are eminently sensible and feasible, but considering their wholesale implementation provoked fundamental questions about the editorial proposition of a show that, I believe, has now run its course over ten years.

Channel 4 has always thrived on reinvention and this is a moment to kickstart a new era of creative renewal, using the considerable budget to find the next generation of distinctive and disruptive British television.

“This review did not have the authority to adjudicate on the very serious allegations made by three women in the Panorama programme, but I would like to repeat that I am very sorry for the distress those women have clearly felt. I hope our actions – in swiftly commissioning the review and taking clear, decisive steps - demonstrate our commitment to the wellbeing of all contributors and our desire to relentlessly strengthen industry standards.” 

Channel 4 intends to share the review’s learnings and recommendations on contributor welfare with other broadcasters and encourage the industry to work together to reinforce welfare protocols across reality TV and drive sector-wide progress. 

The recommendations from both Clyde & Co and Lorraine Heggessey have been brought together in a summary of the review which has also been published today. The summary was approved by Clyde & Co and Lorraine Heggessey prior to publication.