Channel 4 will not air future global editions of MAFS

Channel 4 will not broadcast future international versions of Married At First Sight (MAFS), Broadcast has learned.

The news follows the broadcaster’s publication of the findings of the external review into the welfare protocols of MAFS UK, in which it confirmed it was cancelling the domestic version and its spin-off Second Marriage At First Sight.

C4 is the UK home of the international versions of MAFS, where it airs the US, New Zealand and Australian editions: the latter series is one of the PSB’s most popular shows in the UK, and served as the template for the local revamp of the format in 2020.

The latest series of MAFS Australia, which is made by Endemol Shine Australia, averaged 690,000 (6.1%) on overnights when it aired on E4 from March to May earlier this year, according to Barb data from overnights.tv.

All existing series of the US, New Zealand and Australian series remain on C4 streaming. The finished tape of these versions, alongside the format and various spin-offs are distributed by German outfit Seven.One Studios International, the sales arm of Seven.One Studios, which owns MAFS UK producer CPL Productions.

A C4 spokesperson told Broadcast: “We have no intention to broadcast future international productions of the format.”

C4 kicked off a review into MAFS UK as the result of a Panorama investigation, which contained allegations of rape and sexual assault from three former participants on the show against their on-screen partners. All men have denied the allegations. In July, a male participant in MAFS UK was arrested on suspicion of rape in relation to an “ongoing investigation” by the Metropolitan Police.

The review by law firm Clyde & Co found that C4 and CPL did not breach the Ofcom Broadcasting Code. A separate review by former BBC1 controller Lorraine Heggessey examined the welfare protocols of the CPL-produced show, which she concluded were “extensive, extremely thorough and of a high standard”. She recommended that with adjustments to the format and welfare framework, MAFS UK could continue to be produced.

However, C4 chief executive Priya Dogra axed the show and its spin-off, stating that while such changes to the show were feasible, they would “fundamentally” alter the format, and confirmed that the already filmed sixth series of MAFS UK would not be broadcast, nor would the show return to C4 streaming.