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Married At First Sight sex shock casts doubt on future of all reality TV says MP

MPs have written to Channel 4 over their duty of care to all reality TV contestants following Married At First Sight allegations

[Married At First Sight logo]

MPs want to know how the horrifying allegations were being investigated(Image: Channel 4)

MPs have raised concerns about the wider reality telly genre in the wake of the allegations of sexual misconduct and rape made by Married At First Sight contestants.

Dame Caroline Dinenage, chair of the Culture, Media and Sport Committee, wrote to both Ofcom and Channel 4 demanding to know how the horrifying allegations were being investigated, and also queried their wider duty of care policy across all reality shows.

It potentially throws the future of many other programmes into uncertainty.

Dame Caroline said: The horrifying allegations about Married At First Sight raise serious concerns over whether enough is being done to protect people taking part in reality television.

[Channel 4]

Channel 4 has issued a statement following the allegations (Image: PA)

She added that it raises issues about the duty of care to participants in reality TV more generally then asked the broadcaster, what are you doing to assure yourself that the duty of care has been met on other reality programmes commissioned by Channel 4?

Dame Caroline also contacted Ofcom to inquire what powers they have to investigate complaints about the treatment of participants on reality TV.

What steps do you take to make reality TV participants aware of what Ofcom can and cannot do in relation to complaints, wrote Dinenage asking whether they required additional powers.

[Ofcom logo]

Ofcom queried over what powers they have to investigate complaints(Image: Getty Images)

Channel 4 chief content officer Ian Katz responded with a statement yesterday saying the broadcaster ensured that women involved were kept safe when any issues were raised to us and were given appropriate support.

An Ofcom spokesperson added it had launched an external review into contributor care on MAFS UK and we await its findings.

So far no decision has been made on future series of Married At First Sight, but Channel 4 has removed all previous seasons from its streaming platforms.

On Tuesday, police urged potential victims on Married At First Sight UK to get in touch.

Domestic abuse charity Women's Aid said the allegations made for "disturbing and sobering" viewing.

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