Lisa Nandy says abuse in media industry is probably still happening as women face barriers to speaking out

Nandy raises ongoing concerns

Nandy was asked whether exploitation and abuse persisted in the media industry after Brand’s trial and the cancellation of Channel 4’s Married at First Sight. The programme was cancelled after the BBC revealed rape allegations.

She said she would wager that abuse was still happening. Nandy also said people from within the industry had approached her since she entered government to allege that things had happened to them.

Those who contacted her included people from the BBC, she said. Nandy warned that women who speak up in media and politics can face a very heavy cost.

Barriers to reporting abuse

Nandy said workers in the industry often had no protection when raising concerns. She cited power imbalances and short-term contracts as issues that can make it harder for staff to speak out.

Brand conviction prompts responses

A BBC spokesperson said there could be no place for abuse of power. The spokesperson said the industry should work together so people feel able to report harm and have their concerns taken seriously and heard. Channel 4, which aired Big Brother and its spin-off programmes while Brand was a presenter, said it recognised the profound impact of the crimes.