In brief
A BBC investigation has uncovered that several star contestants of Married at First Sight Australia were not informed about the on‑screen partners’ prior drug convictions and violent offences. The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has called the findings “serious and disturbing”, while UK regulator Ofcom calls the claims “deeply concerning”. Channel 9 and production company Endemol Shine Australia insist they have rigorous screening protocols, but they also acknowledge the need for improvement. The controversy comes after a similar scandal on the UK version of the show, prompting further reviews by Channel 4.
A BBC investigation, published Saturday, has found that several contestants on the Australian version of the reality‑TV show Married at First Sight (MAFS) were not told about the prior drug convictions or violent allegations that some on‑screen partners faced.
The claims have been described by Australian media watchdog ACMA as "serious and disturbing" and by UK regulator Ofcom as "deeply concerning". Both bodies are urging broadcasters to take an immediate look at the safety and wellbeing protocols for participants.
Channel 9 and the Australian production company Endemol Shine Australia, which make the series, stated that they have a "structured, multi‑stage checking process" that includes police and criminal‑history checks, independent psychological assessments, medical screening, statutory declarations and digital due diligence. Nonetheless, nine former MAFS Australia stars have said the show should improve background checks and stop allowing people with known convictions to participate.
The controversy echoes a similar incident on the UK's version of the show, where a BBC Panorama report in March 2024 detailed rape allegations against men who later denied involvement. Channel 4, which broadcasts the UK series but does not produce it, has removed all UK episodes of MAFS from its streaming service All 4 and is commissioning an external review into contributor welfare expected to be released later this summer.
While Chan 4 says it has no editorial control over MAFS Australia, it insists that any acquired programmes are transmitted in compliance with Ofcom’s Broadcasting Code and that it will consider the findings of the ongoing review together with other evidence.
In a joint statement responding to the investigation, Channel 9 and Endemol Shine Australia reiterated that they take the health, wellbeing and safety of participants "extremely seriously" and that the show’s eligibility processes are designed to safeguard contestants. They also said Channel 4, as a distributor, has no involvement in production decisions for the Australian version.
The show’s format—where singles agree to marry strangers after meeting for the first time at a staged wedding—has been popular worldwide, but the new revelations raise questions about the adequacy of screening processes in the highly commercialized reality‑TV market.
- ACMA acknowledges the serious nature of the allegations and emphasizes its focus on broadcast content compliance.
- Ofcom says it awaits the review’s findings on UK contestant care before making further decisions.
- Channel 9 claims a comprehensive due‑diligence pipeline for each participant.
- Channel 4 has removed UK episodes but not the Australian version from its platform.
More complete details can be found in the BBC article "Married at First Sight Australia stars not told partners had drug and violence convictions".
