Future of under-fire Married At First Sight’s next series revealed after ex-stars’ rape claims

UNDER-FIRE dating show Married At First Sight remains on hold “indefinitely” and will not return next month as planned, I can reveal. The eleventh series, which was filmed in February, will stay in the can as Channel 4 awaits the results of an external review into welfare following a string of accusations of rape and sexual assault by three former stars. Married At First Sight remains on hold ‘indefinitely’ Credit: Channel 4 Series 11 of the show will stay in the can as Channel 4 awaits the results of an external review into welfare following a string of accusations (stock still from show) Credit: Channel 4 The Met Police have arrested a man on suspicion of rape and launched a formal investigation, whilst Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has slammed C4 over its handling of the scandal. But bosses at the channel had vowed to stand by the beleaguered show and press on with the forthcoming run. Sign up for the TV newsletter Thank you! A source said: “MAFS series 11 was due to air in September — as it has the last three years — but will not return any time soon. Channel 4 is confirming air dates for shows including Bake Off and Tempting Fortune for September but there’s no MAFS. “It’s on ice til execs can navigate what — if anything — is salvageable when the report is returned.” Commenting on whether the next series will be broadcast, a spokesperson for Channel 4 said: “Earlier this year we commissioned an external review into contributor welfare on MAFS UK. That review is underway. “As we have previously stated, no decision has been made on the broadcast of MAFS UK series six [11] and any decision we do take will be made after the review has concluded.” It is thought the external report will suggest measures including 24/7 cameras and even separate male and female dwellings in future episodes. Experts on the long-running show match strangers who meet for the first time on their wedding day then go on to honeymoon and live together. Most read in TV The Sun first reported in May that insiders felt that the pre-recorded series was unlikely to ever air. I told last month how work on an all-stars spin-off, Married At Second Sight, has already been paused. It comes after The Dark Side of Married At First Sight aired on BBC One last month. Two women in the documentary accused their “grooms” of rape, whilst a third, Shona Manderson, waived her anonymity to share her experience of sexual assault. All three men deny the claims against them.