2 weeks ago
The erstwhile CEO of Channel 4 has expressed interest astir nan rape allegations made by 2 women who participated successful Married astatine First Sight UK (MAFS).
Alex Mahon was successful complaint of Channel 4 during nan play erstwhile the MAFS allegations originated. She said nan matter was “very superior and concerning,” adding that it was correct that Channel 4 had launched reviews into nan allegations, which were revealed successful a BBC Panorama documentary.
Mahon was speaking successful UK Parliament connected Tuesday, giving grounds to nan Culture, Media and Sport Committee astir nan early of nan BBC. She near Channel 4 past twelvemonth to go nan CEO of Superstruct Entertainment, a show and unrecorded intermezo group.
Asked if location were due protections for reality TV contestants, Mahon responded: “The manufacture is ever trying to germinate and return allegations of incidents reasonably seriously, and nan work of attraction protocols, therefore, do beforehand each nan time. But it’s ever worthy different look.”
BBC Panorama reported connected Monday that 2 anonymous women had alleged that they were raped by their partners connected MAFS. A 3rd woman, Shona Manderson, accused her onscreen husband, Bradley Skelly, of a non-consensual intersexual act.
The 3 men accused of wrongdoing denied nan allegations, nary of which person been reported to nan police. Channel 4 and CPL Productions, nan shaper of MAFS, said use protocols were followed, but nan UK web has opted to analyse nan claims successful much detail.
Channel 4 CEO Priya Dogra said it commissioned an outer reappraisal successful April. The activity is comprised of 2 elements: One being overseen by rule patient Clyde & Co, which is “examining nan use protocols successful spot connected this programme astatine nan clip claims were raised, arsenic good arsenic nan handling by Channel 4 and CPL of those claims.”
The 2nd constituent is being led by erstwhile BBC executive Lorraine Heggessey, who is probing whether “any changes should beryllium made to existent protocols for MAFS UK to further fortify contributor welfare.”
While noting “it would beryllium wholly inappropriate for maine to remark connected what are very serious allegations made against some MAFS UK contributors,” Dogra said she believes Channel 4 “acted quickly, appropriately, sensitively and pinch wellbeing beforehand and centre” erstwhile “concerns astir contributor use were raised.”
“Nevertheless, because we aspire to nan highest standards of contributor welfare, I felt powerfully arsenic Channel 4’s caller CEO that it was correct that we look again astatine really we handled issues raised astatine nan clip and inquire whether changes should beryllium made to further fortify contributor welfare,” she added. “We return these issues very earnestly and are committed to ensuring that we proceed to lead nan manufacture successful our work of care for contributors.”
A Department for Culture, Media and Sport spokesperson weighed successful connected nan matter. They said: “All allegations must beryllium referred to nan due authorities and investigated pinch nan afloat co-operation of those involved, pinch action taken to guarantee that nan highest standards are upheld and location are consequences for criminality aliases wrongdoing.”
Married astatine First Sight UK is 1 of Channel 4’s biggest hits and has been airing for much than a decade. As of now, each episodes person been removed from Channel 4’s streaming service. The show airs successful aggregate territories astir nan world, including successful nan U.S. connected Peacock.
