ByNoor NanjiCulture correspondent
A cast member from Married at First Sight UK has been arrested on suspicion of rape after a BBC Panorama investigation into the hit reality TV show.
The individual is not being named. The alleged victim is also not being named; anyone who makes an allegation of rape is entitled to anonymity by law.
The Panorama programme, broadcast in May, revealed rape allegations from two female cast members on the show, while a third woman alleged a non-consensual sex act. The men involved have denied all the allegations against them.
Channel 4 has commissioned a review into contributor welfare on the show.
The Dark Side of Married at First Sight
Panorama investigates allegations that raise serious concerns that welfare procedures on Married at First Sight UK have failed contributors, leaving them at risk of harm.
Watch on iPlayer now
Following the broadcast of the Panorama episode, the Metropolitan Police encouraged “anyone who believes they have been a victim of sexual assault” after participating on Married at First Sight UK to contact them.
In a new 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.”
Billed as a “bold social experiment”, Married at First Sight UK – known to many as MAFS – sees single people agree to “marry” total strangers, after meeting for the first time at their mock weddings.
The UK version, which has been running for 10 seasons, is one of Channel 4’s biggest shows, with audience figures often topping three million.
In May, Channel 4 pulled all episodes of the show from its streaming service just hours ahead of the transmission of the Panorama investigation.
No decision has yet been made on whether to broadcast the latest series of the show, which has already been filmed.
The broadcaster has said its review into MAFS UK is due to be finished later this summer. However, it only intends to publish “a summary of findings”, rather than the full report.
Lawyers for CPL, the independent production company that makes the UK version of the show, have previously said its welfare system is “gold standard” and industry-leading.
If you have more information about this story, you can reach Noor by email at noor.nanji@bbc.co.uk
