Producer Demands Safety Changes After Rape Allegations

A welfare producer who worked on under-fire Married At First Sight has called for changes to safety protocols as she branded allegations from former stars of rape as a ‘disastrous’ situation.

Emma Pringle, who worked in a senior role on the welfare team for four out of the 10 series, has said she feels abandoned by production company CPL.

Ms Pringle was comforted by other freelance workers as she declared on social media: ‘What a messy, awful industry this has become. I deffo feel I’ve learnt this the hard way too.’

She added: ‘It’s been a horrible couple of days. Like a smack without any armour on. Let’s hope for some much needed changes from this disastrous situation.’

Her comments come as prepares to release their annual report today, where execs will likely be quizzed on the controversy.

The world of has been shaken following claims aired by Panorama that two women had been raped during filming of Married At First Sight (MAFS). A third woman had said she was the victim of a non-consensual sex act.

An external review into the show’s protocols has now been commissioned, while all episodes of MAFS have now been removed from Channel 4’s streaming service.

In her social media video, Ms Pringle, who departed MAFS in 2023, added: ‘A wide word for all the other freelancers out here, just do your job. Just do enough to do a good job.

‘But don’t constantly go above and beyond for companies that you freelance at, because, take it from me, when things go really wrong, and bodies of work that you worked on become legal matter, you really realise how freelance you are because it goes real quiet, real quick.

‘No one is coming to help you figure it out. You won’t even get a text.

‘So my advice for anyone that freelances, because there is a lot of us in this industry, in this community, keep something back, protect yourself, because it is real lonesome out here.'

She was supported by other freelancers from the television industry, including one who said they were just ‘collateral’.

A fourth 'bride' who appeared on MAFS said she .

The woman – who wishes to remain anonymous but appeared on the Channel 4 series within the past five years – says she was devastated by what she witnessed during filming, claiming that fellow contestants suffered psychologically from taking part.

In an exclusive interview with the Mail, another former bride claims there were lax background checks and failures of 'duty of care' towards those taking part.

She said: 'I chose to leave early because I wasn't comfortable contributing to someone else's mental health problems when they clearly had issues already. What's right for your wellbeing at the end of the day, that was more important than anything.'

CPL has described its welfare measures as robust and 'gold standard', and says it had acted appropriately in all the cases discussed in the Panorama investigation.

Yet the latest whistleblower continues to have serious concerns.

She says she signed up to MAFS hoping to find true love. 'I genuinely didn't go on the show for Instagram followers. I genuinely didn't go on for fame. I went in there to meet somebody.

But, criticising what she claimed was the 'lax' vetting of contestants, the woman revealed that her 'groom' (the fellow contestant she was due to 'marry') had declared he had no interest in finding love. 'He was there for the 'experience', so what was the point of me staying?' she said.

The marriages on the show are a 'social experiment' and are not legally binding, but cameras follow the couples as they go on 'honeymoon' and move in together.

Meanwhile, Scotland Yard last night urged potential victims of sexual assault on the reality show to come forward.

A spokesperson for the force said: 'We are aware of media reporting relating to allegations of rape and sexual assault following the airing of a television programme on Monday, 18 May.

'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.Yesterday, the Prime Minister's spokesman called for 'appropriate action' to be taken as Channel 4 bosses met with media minister Ian Murray, for crisis talks.

Daily Mail previously revealed how CPL had contacted staffers from across the show’s 10 series urging them to be cautious about posting on social media.

They warned them about identifying the males who have been accused of rape by their on-screen spouses and offered a support email to contact, which is available until late into the night this week.

Separately, the Mail also told how past contestants were tipped off about the damning allegations prior to them coming out, warning how they may find them ‘upsetting’.

The dating show was set to return to screens for its eleventh series in September, but plans to air the episodes, which wrapped last month, have now reportedly been scrapped.

However, insiders told the Mail its recently announced spin-off series Second Marriage At First Sight, is to continue in pre-production while an external review is carried out.

The BBC's Panorama initially revealed the allegations from three women on Monday.

One participant of the show, who did not wish to be identified, accused her 'husband' of raping her and threatening her with an acid attack. She is now looking to pursue legal action against CPL. 'Lizzie', not her real name, said her TV partner lost his temper when the cameras were not on them.

Sex, she said, soon became violent and would leave her bruised even after she 'kept saying stop'.

'Chloe', a second unnamed woman, alleges she was raped by her 'husband', though Channel 4 aired her episodes despite her telling the channel and producers before it was broadcast.

'He smirked and climbed on top of me, moved my leg… By that time, I'd really given up and I just didn't want him to be angry at me when the cameras came,' she said. 'I just lay there, and I stared out the window.'

After filming finished, she told the show's psychiatrist, alerting CPL, who then went to Channel 4.

When Chloe complained to the broadcaster, she only received a response once the series was on air. Lawyers for CPL told the BBC it followed welfare protocols.

Shona Manderson decided to waive her anonymity on Panorama and speak out about her experience on MAFS in 2023.

She alleges her partner, Bradley Skelly, sexually assaulted her.

Mr Skelly told the BBC in reply that he understood Ms Manderson had consented to the act and categorically denied 'any allegations of sexual misconduct' or that he was 'controlling' and their relationship 'was based on mutual consent, care and affection'.