'I shouldn't have been in that position': MAFS UK's Shona Manderson calls for show to be scrapped amid 'rape and sexual misconduct' allegations
Shona appeared on Panorama: The Dark Side of Married At First SightMAFS UK‘s Shona Manderson has warned the show “shouldn’t be on air” following allegations of ‘rape’ and ‘sexual misconduct.
Shona appeared on BBC documentary Panorama: The Dark Side of Married At First Sight last night.
She told the BBC’s Noor Nanji that a “boundary was crossed completely” during her 2023 on-screen relationship with Bradley Skelly.
Shona explained an alleged incident that happened in the bedroom that she insists she didn’t consent to.
Two other MAFS UK brides, who kept their identities hidden, both accused their on-screen husbands of ‘raping’ them during their time on the show.
Their grooms, who have also not been named, have denied this.
MAFS UK’s Shona Manderson calls for show to be axed
Shona told Panorama viewers last night: “I want to share my story so it can start a serious conversation about moving forward and putting more things in place. At the end of the day, I shouldn’t have been in that situation.”
The former performing arts teacher gave her version of an incident she says happened while in bed with ‘husband’ Bradley. The couple were living in a London apartment at the time, with the other MAFS UK 2023 couples in the same block.
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Shona explained: “In bed we were being intimate. Consensual, completely. We were having sex and a boundary was crossed completely. My partner came inside me without my consent.
“We had agreed we were pulling out. I was shocked, I was confused. We said that we weren’t doing that.”
Baroness Kennedy, Chair of Creative Industries Independent Standards Authority, told Panorama that she believes the act could be considered as ‘sexual misconduct’.
She said: “If someone has made it clear, ‘I’m not going to have sex with you if you ejaculate into me and I do not want any risk of pregnancy’ then I think that can amount to a sexual violation.”
Shona said a member of the welfare team took her to get a morning after pill.
Shona and Bradley were later removed from MAFS UK to “safeguard the couple’s welfare”. The experts were not happy with the “controlling” language Bradley was using towards Shona.
Looking at the future of MAFS, Shona said she “does not think it should be on air at all”.
Bradley Skelly responds to Shona’s claims
Bradley, a barber, has not referenced last night’s Panorama on social media today.
In a statement to the BBC’s Panorama, Bradley said “he understood Shona consented that night”. He also “categorically denies any allegations of sexual misconduct or that he was controlling”.
Bradley said his and Shona’s relationship was “based on mutual consent, care and affection”.
MAFS UK is made by production company CPL. The company’s lawyers told the BBC “it took appropriate measures to safeguard Shona’s wellbeing”.
Channel 4, which airs the show, added that “Shona was clear at the time that all sexual contact was consensual”.
The broadcaster has, however, confirmed an external investigation has been launched into the welfare procedures on the show.
Speaking on Instagram today, Shona said: “I chose to speak because I hoped that sharing my experience could contribute to a wider conversation about welfare and positive change.”
She said she left the MAFS experiment with “a lot of self blame”. Shona added: “I believe there is room for accountability and change.
“And I hope moving forward more women feel empowered to trust themselves, speak up and know that they matter.”
