UK reality show axed after female participants accuse on-screen husbands of rape, sexual misconduct

Britain's Channel 4 on Thursday announced that its hit reality show "Married at First Sight UK" would not return for another season, following a review triggered by allegations of rape and sexual misconduct made by female participants against their on-screen husbands.According to the broadcaster, a review conducted by law firm Clyde & Co found that the series' welfare protocols complied with broadcasting codes, although there were "isolated incidents" in which the framework was not fully implemented.A second review, led by former BBC executive Lorraine Heggessey, found that the show's welfare protocols were "extensive, extremely thorough and of a high standard".Channel 4 chief executive Priya Dogra described the welfare of participants across its programmes as a "primary concern"."Whilst the review praised the welfare protocols in place and made no findings that Channel 4 breached the Ofcom Code or that the format is inherently unsafe, I have to consider when is the right time for Channel 4 to move on from a format," Reuters quoted her as saying.Dogra added that implementing all the recommendations made in the review would fundamentally change the format of "Married At First Sight UK", which she believed had "run its course" after 10 years.The show, in which strangers are matched by experts and "marry" when they first meet, is part of an international franchise with versions in several countries, including the United States and Australia.Channel 4 removed all previous seasons of "Married at First Sight UK" in May after a BBC report detailed allegations of rape by two women during filming.The BBC reported in July that a cast member of the show had been arrested on suspicion of rape following its investigation.You use AI every day. Now get your AI Quotient. Take the AIQ test.