Married at First Sight UK has officially been cancelled by Channel 4 following an external review into contestant welfare, with the broadcaster confirming that the popular reality dating show will not return. The decision comes after a BBC Panorama investigation earlier this year raised serious concerns about the treatment and safety of participants, prompting Channel 4 to review the programme’s welfare procedures.

Channel 4 chief executive Priya Dogra announced the decision on Thursday 5 November, bringing the long-running reality series to an end after ten years. A new series, which had already been filmed earlier this year, will also not be broadcast, while plans for the spin-off Second Married at First Sight have been abandoned.

Why Has Married at First Sight UK Been Cancelled?

The cancellation follows a BBC Panorama investigation broadcast in May, in which two former female contestants alleged they had been raped by their on-screen husbands, while a third woman alleged a non-consensual sexual act. All three men involved have denied the allegations, and the women accused the programme of failing to adequately protect them.

Following the investigation, Channel 4 commissioned two independent reviews examining the show’s welfare procedures and the handling of concerns raised by participants. One review, conducted by law firm Clyde & Co, found that Channel 4 and production company CPL had complied with Ofcom’s Broadcasting Code, with no findings of a breach in their handling of the allegations. However, it identified isolated instances where welfare procedures had not been fully followed and recommended improvements.

A second review, led by former BBC One controller Lorraine Heggessey, concluded that the programme could continue with stronger safeguards and changes to its format. However, Channel 4 ultimately decided that implementing those recommendations would fundamentally change the nature of the show.

Explaining the decision, Channel 4 chief executive Priya Dogra said: “The recommendations are eminently sensible and feasible, but considering their wholesale implementation provoked fundamental questions about the editorial proposition of a show that, I believe, has now run its course over ten years.” She also repeated her apology to the women who came forward, saying: “I would like to repeat that I am very sorry for the distress those women have clearly felt.”

Channel 4 confirmed that the money previously allocated to Married at First Sight UK will instead be invested in developing new British television programmes. The broadcaster also stressed that neither independent review was tasked with determining whether the allegations themselves were true, with those matters remaining for the relevant authorities.

For CultureCues, it’s a significant decision for Channel 4, especially considering how popular Married at First Sight UK has been over the years. The programme attracted millions of viewers and became one of the broadcaster’s biggest reality shows, but the allegations raised serious concerns that needed to be addressed. Ultimately, the welfare and safety of everyone taking part in these programmes must come first, and hopefully the findings of the reviews will help improve protections for reality TV contestants across the industry.

Married at First Sight UK will not return to Channel 4.