Channel 4 is taking the “Married at First Sight” scandal “very seriously,” says a senior exec, although she declined to comment on the prospect of the hit reality show being axed for good.
“‘MAFS’ is something that we’re taking very seriously at the channel,” said Kiran Nataraja director of content strategy, speaking at the Edinburgh TV Festival during a panel about the network. “We’ve got two reviews ongoing.” Until those reviews are concluded she said she couldn’t comment on the outcome.
“Married at First Sight” U.K. — also known as “MAFS” — was rocked earlier this year after a “Panorama” investigation alleged two contestants were raped and another subjected to a non-consensual sex act on the show, which sees single people “marry” strangers after being matched by experts.
When pushed on the fact that losing the show — one of the Channel’s most popular — would potentially impact the network’s viewing figures for both linear and on demand, Nataraja replied: “We’re always looking for big shows, and it’s really important to have a range of shows across the channel slate.”
Shaminder Nahal, head of specialist factual at the public service broadcaster, was also questioned about duty of care on shows such as “Virgin Island,” which follows 12 adult virgin as they anticipate having sex for the first time.
“Those conversations never end,” Nahal said of contributor welfare. “We review everything all the time. We’ve got a whole team of experts there. Nobody’s ever unsupervised, and there’s endless conversation about it. But in the end, what you have to remember is that those people who go on the show really want to do something about their issues, and they are very much in control of what steps they take in terms of, you know, will they want to try and have sex, or will they just want to go so far as holding someone’s hand?”
Inevitably, the conversation also turned to streaming competitors, with Alisa Pomeroy, head of documentaries and factual entertainment at Channel 4, suggesting it was a tortoise and hare situation.
“The streamers are like the hare, racing ahead with their beautifully marketed, glossy documentaries, often celebby, not always, but really brilliant pieces,” she said. “And meanwhile, we have to do something strategically different. We can’t compete over the same territory.”
Channel is still searching for a new director of programs, after Ian Katz said he planned to step down from the role in October. “It’s going to be someone that will be setting the creative editorial vision and direction of the channel, which is what we’re all here for,” said Nataraja. “The brilliant, brilliant shows. So that feels really exciting.”