The Panorama investigation into MAFS UK revealed allegations that two women had been raped during filming on the reality TV show, while a third said she had been the victim of a non-consensual sex act. All three men deny the allegations.

    The women making the allegations all say Channel 4 did not do enough to protect them.

    Following the broadcast in May, Channel 4 has faced questions over the claims made about the hit show.

    At the time, the prime minister’s official spokesperson called the claims “extremely serious” and said they must be investigated – while the media regulator Ofcom said broadcasters needed to take “due care” over the welfare of show participants.

    The Metropolitan Police encouraged “anyone who believes they have been a victim of sexual assault” after participating on the show to contact them.

    Holiday company Tui has also ended its sponsorship of the show, as well as its Australian spin-off.

    Channel 4 had previously told Panorama that all the allegations were “wholly uncorroborated and disputed”.

    Its boss Priya Dogra initially declined to apologise when asked by a reporter following the broadcast of Panorama, although she did express her “sympathy” for those who had spoken up.

    Two days later, she went further, saying she was “deeply sorry” over the rape allegations, adding that the women’s distress was “clear”.

    “I do believe that our handling of concerns at the time was appropriate but as I only took this role up recently, I wanted this looked at again,” she told a press briefing to mark the release of the network’s annual report.

    Lawyers for CPL, an independent production company which makes the UK version of the show, have said its welfare system is “gold standard” and industry-leading, and that it had acted appropriately in all these cases.

    MAFS UK is broadcast at prime time on Channel 4’s sister channel E4.

    Audience figures often top three million, making the show one of the jewels in Channel 4’s crown.

    The network has said no decision has been made on the broadcast of the latest series of MAFS UK.

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