Channel 4 cancels Married at First Sight UK

Channel 4 has cancelled Married at First Sight UK, shelved a filmed sixth season and halted a planned spin-off, ending the programme after a review of its welfare practices and allegations involving former participants. The broadcaster said the show would not return and its budget would be redirected to new programming. The decision followed two reviews commissioned by Channel 4 after three former participants made allegations of sexual misconduct in a BBC Panorama investigation broadcast in May. Two women alleged they had been raped by their onscreen husbands, while a third alleged sexual misconduct. The men accused deny the allegations. The reviews did not assess whether the allegations were true, which Channel 4 said remained a matter for relevant authorities. A review by law firm Clyde & Co found that Channel 4 and production company CPL’s welfare protocols complied with the Ofcom Broadcasting Code and found no breach in the handling of concerns. It also identified isolated occasions when the framework was not fully followed. In one instance, participants who breached rules on prohibited substances received warnings rather than being removed, according to the review...