"I'm delighted and so relieved no-one else will have to go through the same again." That's what one woman - who alleged she was raped on Married at First Sight UK - texted to me, as the news broke that the show was being cancelled. Another woman, who also says her on-screen husband raped her, was in tears at the news. She told us she felt "great, consuming relief", but added she was "astounded" it had taken an external review for Channel 4 to finally pull the plug on the show.
Commenting on the review, she said: "Suggesting the programme could reasonably continue with the implementation of a 'safe word', 'panic button' or 'lockable bathroom with an extra bolt inside' is absolute insanity to me." The Channel 4 show was plunged into crisis in May this year, after the BBC's Panorama revealed rape allegations from two female cast members on the show, while a third woman - Shona Manderson, the only woman who was identified - alleged a non-consensual sex act. The men involved have denied all the allegations against them. As the news emerged on Thursday morning that Married at First Sight UK - better known as MAFS UK - was being axed, my colleagues and I reached out to the three women who had contributed to our investigation.
None of them had been informed in advance of the decision to cancel the show, they said, although two had contributed to the review. Shona Manderson told me by telephone her main feeling was relief that their voices had been heard. "Speaking out wasn't easy, but knowing that our voices have helped bring about change makes it all worthwhile," she said.
Over the day, more MAFS UK cast members were in touch with us. Several were pleased by the decision to scrap the series, but others said it did not go far enough and called for more accountability. One cast member, who asked to remain anonymous, said people watching at home do not always appreciate this "isn't simply a television show" for those taking part.
Others we spoke to felt the show should have been taken off-air sooner. They include April Banbury, who took part in the 2022 series and whose on-screen husband was subsequently arrested on suspicion of controlling and coercive behaviour. The police investigation against him was later dropped, and her partner called the allegations against him "false".
"I'm glad MAFS has been cancelled. It should have happened years ago," Banbury told us. "Cancelling the show does not make what happened go away," added another cast member, who asked to remain anonymous.
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