Tui Pulls Sponsorship from Married at First Sight Following Sexual Misconduct Allegations

Travel company Tui has dropped its sponsorship of both the UK and Australian versions of Married at First Sight on Channel 4, after contestants on the show came forward with allegations of rape and sexual misconduct. The decision follows a recent BBC Panorama investigation in which two anonymous women said they were raped by their on-screen husbands, and a third participant, Shona Manderson, accused her TV spouse of sexual misconduct. All three men deny the claims.

The reality show pairs singles chosen by experts, who meet for the first time at their televised wedding. A Tui UK and Ireland spokesperson said the company decided to end the sponsorship after discussing the Panorama findings with Channel 4. Channel 4 thanked Tui for its support and said it looks forward to future partnerships.

Meanwhile, the broadcaster confirmed that a spin-off, Second Marriage at First Sight—announced in February and intended to reunite contestants from both versions—remains in pre-production. A Channel 4 spokesperson said any findings from an internal review will be incorporated into the show’s production.

Ofcom chief executive Melanie Dawes called the allegations “really serious concerns” and said the regulator is prepared to tighten guidance for reality TV if necessary. Speaking on Good Morning Britain, she emphasized that the primary responsibility lies with broadcasters and production companies, but added that Ofcom will act if standards aren’t met.

Channel 4 chief executive Priya Dogra expressed deep regret over the women’s distress, saying their accounts were troubling. She noted that the channel cannot investigate the specific allegations but confirmed that welfare remains a top priority.