Committee publication · Correspondence · 22 May 2026

Letter from the Chief Executive of Ofcom, regarding Married at First Sight, 21 May 2026

From: Culture, Media and Sport Committee

Summary

Dame Melanie Dawes, Ofcom Chief Executive, responds to the Culture, Media and Sport Committee following a BBC Panorama investigation into welfare issues on Channel 4's Married at First Sight UK. Ofcom acknowledges the allegations are shocking, confirms Channel 4 has commissioned two external reviews, and commits to examining their findings and potentially strengthening broadcast rules on participant protection.

Key findings

Ofcom characterises the Panorama allegations as 'shocking and deeply disturbing' and recognises participant protection as a fundamental broadcaster responsibility
Channel 4 has commissioned two external reviews—one on welfare protocols during production and one on future protocol changes
Ofcom will remain closely involved in Channel 4's reviews, examine their findings, and conduct a timely review of its own rules and guidance, strengthening them if necessary
Ofcom maintains longstanding policy of keeping fairness and privacy complaints confidential during investigation to protect complainants' privacy, but will investigate any complaints of harm as a priority
Ofcom strengthened rules and guidance on reality television participant safeguarding in 2021 to reflect high-risk pressured situations

Tone

Procedural

Topics

broadcastingsafeguardingtelevision-regulationreality-television

Key actors

Dame Melanie Dawes, Dame Caroline Dinenage, Ofcom, Channel 4, BBC Panorama

Notable line

“Protecting those who take part in television programmes is a fundamental responsibility for programme makers.”

Key Quotes

“The allegations set out by Panorama are shocking and deeply disturbing.”
— Dame Melanie Dawes · Opening acknowledgment of the investigation's findings

“Protecting those who take part in television programmes is a fundamental responsibility for programme makers.”
— Dame Melanie Dawes · Stating Ofcom's core principle on participant welfare

“We have been in touch over the past few days with Channel 4 management to be clear that we expect to be kept closely involved in these reviews and for them to be expedited as a matter of priority.”
— Dame Melanie Dawes · Outlining Ofcom's oversight of Channel 4's external reviews

“We will conduct a timely review of our rules and guidance and will not hesitate to strengthen these if we need to.”
— Dame Melanie Dawes · Committing to potential regulatory strengthening

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Source · parliament.uk record ↗