His comments came after an investigation by BBC Panorama revealed that two women who appeared on MAFS UK said they were raped by their on-screen husbands, and a third alleged a non-consensual sex act.
Channel 4 chief executive Priya Dogra said the women’s accounts were “very troubling”, adding: “Their distress is clear, and for that, I am of course deeply sorry.”
The broadcaster has launched an external review of welfare on the show, while holiday company Tui has ended its sponsorship of the UK, Australian and US versions of the hit reality franchise.
Lawyers for CPL, the independent production company that makes the UK version of the show, said its welfare system was “gold standard” and industry-leading, and that it acted appropriately in all these cases.
Dogra also said Channel 4 can’t investigate the women’s allegations, which the men have denied, adding: “We are a broadcaster, not an adjudicator.”
On Tuesday, police urged potential victims of sexual assault on reality the UK TV show to get in touch.