MAFS spin-off Second Marriage at First Sight on hold amid Channel 4 investigation into sexual assault claims
Casting for the show has been called offMAFS spin-off Second Marriage At First Sight has been put on hold after several show brides made allegations of sexual assault.
A BBC Panorama investigation revealed the claims, prompting Channel 4 to launch its own investigation.
Two women who appeared on MAFS UK have alleged that they were ‘raped’ by their on-screen husbands.
Second Marriage At First Sight is on hold amid an ongoing investigation (Credit: Channel 4)
Shona Manderson, who appeared in the 2023 series, also made claims she was victim of ‘sexual misconduct’ during her time on the show.
All three husbands deny the allegations.
Second Marriage At First Sight is now on hold, producers have confirmed. Cast alumni from MAFS UK and MAFS Australia were due to join forces for the all-stars spin-off.
But an insider told The Sun: “Casting for potential bride and grooms for the all-star cast has been closed and the crew has been stood down for the planned July filming.”
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Channel 4 has now confirmed to TVGuide: “We will decide how to proceed once we have seen findings of the external review into contributor welfare on MAFS UK.”
What is Second Marriage at First Sight?
Channel 4 confirmed Second Marriage At First Sight in February this year. At the time, MAFS Australia was in full swing, and fans were delighted to learn that a spin-off was in the works.
The brand-new experiment would see eight legendary MAFS cast members return with the hopes of finding love again. And this time they would have to consider the possibility of moving to the other side of the world.
The show was expected to begin in the UK before the newlyweds jetted to Australia to meet each other’s family and friends. But they would have a big decision to make – would they uproot their life permanently for love?
‘Greatest love story yet’
Steve Handley, Head of Reality Entertainment at Channel 4 revealed, shared his high hopes for Second Marriage At First Sight.
He said at the time: “These eight well-loved MAFS singles didn’t find lasting love the first time. But they haven’t given up – and neither have we.
“Everyone deserves a second chance at love and this time they are saying ‘I do’ to a stranger on the other side of the world, risking absolutely everything for another shot at getting it right. I think it will be our greatest love story yet.”
However, in May the BBC dropped a bombshell with Panorama: The Dark Side of Married At First Sight. The investigation probed into multiple allegations of rape and sexual misconduct by women featured on the show.
Channel 4 CEO Pryia Dogra has since told the women she is “deeply sorry”. The outcome of an external investigation into the welfare procedures on the show is expected in the coming months.
Until then, the new series of MAFS UK is also hanging in the balance.
