Senior staff on 'Married at First Sight UK' had an "unhealthy" focus on whether cast members were having sex. Former workers told BBC News that producers deliberately tried to make contestants angry or upset for drama. These claims follow a Panorama investigation into the show.
Two former cast members say they were raped by their on-screen partners. A third alleged a non-consensual sex act. Their on-screen partners deny all accusations. Lawyers for CPL, the production company, stated these allegations come from a small minority. They also suggested some former workers had "an axe to grind." The broadcast union Bectu called this suggestion "preposterous." Channel 4 says contributor welfare is its "primary concern." All episodes of the show were temporarily removed from Channel 4's streaming service. A major sponsor has also withdrawn support. The future of the latest filmed series remains uncertain.
One former worker, Soraya Spiers, described the culture as "toxic from the top down." She stated there was an expectation for staff to gauge if couples would sleep together on their wedding night. This happened even though couples had just met. Another former worker raised concerns about couples sharing a bed on the first night. A senior producer reportedly told her: "Don't you get it? We want them to sleep together." This worker claims crew members made bets on who would sleep together first. CPL's lawyers deny this betting allegation.
The focus on intimacy continued throughout filming. Senior producers allegedly worried if couples were not having sex. One worker noted: "It wasn't good for storylines." Spiers described the sex emphasis as "unhealthy." She contrasted this with real-life dating, where an individual can leave. The show's format makes it harder to walk away, she added. CPL's lawyers state contributors are not pressured and have no expectation to have sex. They also mention that alternative sleeping arrangements can be provided.
Some former workers felt cast members were "manipulated." The show's focus is on sensitive topics like sex and intimacy. Spiers commented that viewers want "fireworks, clashes and drama," not just love stories. Other former workers claim producers manufactured confrontations. They would allegedly feed cast members information to provoke anger. When friction was high, many crew members would gather to watch. One worker stated this behaviour was "sickening." Production staff were also told to "ramp up trigger points." At one dinner party, a former worker claimed cast members were plied with alcohol. CPL's lawyers said alcohol intake is limited and overseen. They refute any suggestion that entertainment is prioritised over contributor welfare.