Channel 4 shelves new Married at First Sight UK series and spin-off

Channel 4 will not broadcast a series of Married at First Sight UK that was already in production, and will not resume work on a planned spin-off, as it brings the show to an end on the channel.

The broadcaster said series six had not been made under the stronger welfare measures recommended by an external review. The spin-off, Second Married at First Sight, was in pre-production before work was paused during the review. The original show’s budget will be redirected to new programmes.

The review followed a BBC Panorama investigation in which two women alleged they had been raped during production of the reality show, which pairs strangers. A third woman alleged a non-consensual sexual act. All three said the programme had not done enough to protect them; the men involved deny the allegations.

Channel 4 said the review did not decide on the allegations. It said law firm Clyde & Co found that its welfare protocols and those of production company CPL complied with the broadcasting code, although there were isolated incidents in which the welfare framework was not fully implemented.

A separate review led by former BBC One controller Lorraine Heggessey concluded that future series could reasonably be made with stronger welfare measures and changes to the format. Channel 4 chief executive Priya Dogra said implementing the recommendations in full would fundamentally alter the show, which she believed had run its course.