Married at First Sight UK: Relief, tears and sadness - how cast reacted to Channel 4 show being axed

Cast members welcome cancellation

One woman, who asked not to be named, said taking part was not simply a television experience. Another woman, who also said her on-screen husband raped her, described feeling “great, consuming relief,” and said she was astounded that an external review preceded Channel 4’s decision to end the show.

Banbury said the programme should have been cancelled years earlier. Some former cast members, however, said their experiences were positive and felt sad to see the series end.

Concern for staff and fans

Some contributors also expressed sympathy for the programme’s staff and its viewers. One cast member said the show had been important to many people, despite the trauma and other harmful experiences associated with it. She said the cancellation was sad for fans, while also arguing the outcome might have been avoidable.

Questions remain over response

The BBC reported in May that two female cast members had made rape allegations and that Manderson had alleged a non-consensual sex act. The reporting prompted a crisis for the Channel 4 programme.

Channel 4 boss Priya Dogra said the broadcaster had handled incidents appropriately as they arose, and that the review supported that view. The review found no breach of Ofcom’s broadcasting code in how Channel 4 and production company CPL dealt with issues raised at the time.

It remains unclear what Channel 4 did when the production company first raised the serious allegations. Ofcom is continuing its investigation, and a male cast member was arrested in June on suspicion of rape.

Scrutiny extends beyond programme

The programme’s cancellation is not the end of the matter, with the Ofcom inquiry still under way. The decision may also draw attention to other international versions of the format. The case has renewed wider questions about reality television and whether programmes can ensure contributors’ safety.