Channel 4 CEO apologises over rape allegations on Married at First Sight UK

The chief executive of Channel 4 has said she is "deeply sorry" over the rape allegations from cast members on Married at First Sight UK, adding that the women's distress was "clear".

An investigation by BBC Panorama heard from two women who said they were raped by their on-screen husbands, and a third who alleged a non-consensual sex act.

Channel 4 boss Priya Dogra previously declined to apologise when asked by a reporter following the broadcast of Panorama on Monday, although she did express her "sympathy" for those who had spoken up.

But speaking at a press briefing on Wednesday to mark the release of the network's annual report, she apologised and said she had found the women's accounts "very troubling" to watch.

Dogra also clarified that the latest season of MAFS UK – which has already been filmed – has not been axed, despite media reports to the contrary.

"I have watched the programme, and heard the women's accounts, which are very troubling," she said. "Their distress is clear, and for that, I am of course deeply sorry."

But she said Channel 4 can't investigate the women's allegations, which the men have denied, adding: "We are a broadcaster, not an adjudicator."

Dogra said the review was commissioned "just days" after first being contacted by the BBC in April.

That review is under way, she said, and is expected to be completed later this summer.

"I do believe that our handling of concerns at the time was appropriate but as I only took this role up recently, I wanted this looked at again," she said.

Dogra explained this decision was made prior to the Panorama broadcast, as she "didn't want to run the risk of stoking speculation that might lead to jigsaw identification of the women" in the film.

"No decision has been made on the broadcast of MAFS UK series six. Any decision we do take, will be made only after the review has concluded," she said.

When asked by BBC News why Channel 4 has now commissioned two investigations, when it said as recently as last week that the allegations are, in its view, "wholly uncorroborated", Dogra responded: "Our job is to look at our actions, our job is to look at our protocols and how we applied them."

"It is for other people to look into allegations that the women have made, our job is to look at allegations of a duty of care failure. That's the distinction between the two."

Ian Katz, the outgoing chief content officer, added that he was "very confident" that based on the knowledge Channel 4 had at the time, it had made "the right decisions".

BBC News also asked Channel 4 whether, as a public service broadcaster, it would have been more transparent to make the review public when it started it last month – and whether it waited until it was clear the Panorama broadcast was going ahead before announcing it.

Dogra responded by saying Channel 4 was always going to publish the outcome of the review, adding: "I don't know that we needed to say anything about it in advance. I don't think we were waiting for the Panorama to conduct the work."

Meanwhile, a group of MPs has written to Channel 4 to ask for answers about what they say are "horrifying" allegations aired by Panorama.

The House of Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee has written to both Channel 4 and broadcast regulator Ofcom with questions about their actions and responses to the claims.

"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," the committee's chairwoman Caroline Dinenage MP said.

The letter to Channel 4 asks the network about the complaints process for contestants on the programme, the steps taken to ensure the allegations were fully investigated, and the review announced by the broadcaster.

The committee's letter to Ofcom, meanwhile, asks about the regulator's role in the complaints process, its powers to investigate potential breaches of the broadcasting code, and the timeline for launching its own investigation into the Married at First Sight allegations.

Channel 4 has commissioned an external review of welfare on the show "after being presented with serious allegations of wrongdoing".

The channel's chief executive Priya Dogra has said she believes the broadcaster "acted quickly, appropriately, sensitively and with well-being front and centre" when concerns were raised.

Lawyers for CPL, the independent production company that makes the UK version of the show, said its welfare system was "gold standard" and industry-leading, and that it acted appropriately in all these cases.

"At this time, we have not received any criminal reports in relation to this matter.

"We will be making approaches to the relevant production teams to ensure that anyone they have spoken to is aware of how to report any criminal allegations to police.

"We continue to encourage anyone who believes they have been a victim of sexual assault, no matter how long ago it happened, to get in touch with us."