Ofcom opens investigation into Married at First Sight UK

Separately, in a letter to MPs in June, Ofcom said it would examine the findings of Channel 4’s review into welfare on the show, and would “urgently” consider whether any further action is required.

At the time, the watchdog called the allegations exposed by Panorama “shocking and deeply disturbing”.

Earlier this month, BBC News revealed that a cast member from the show had been arrested on suspicion of rape following the Panorama programme.

The individual is not being named; nor is the alleged victim. Anyone who makes an allegation of rape is entitled to anonymity by law.

Billed as a “bold social experiment”, Married at First Sight UK – known to many as MAFS – sees single people agree to “marry” total strangers, after meeting for the first time at their mock weddings.

The UK version, which has been running for 10 seasons, is one of Channel 4’s biggest shows, with audience figures often topping three million.

In May, Channel 4 pulled all episodes of the show from its streaming service just hours ahead of the transmission of the Panorama investigation.

No decision has yet been made on whether to broadcast the latest series of the show, which has already been filmed.

The broadcaster has commissioned a review into contributor welfare on the show, which is due to be finished later this summer. However, it only intends to publish “a summary of findings”, rather than the full report.

Lawyers for CPL, the independent production company that makes the UK version of the show, have previously said its welfare system is “gold standard” and industry-leading.

If you have more information about this story, you can reach Noor by email at noor.nanji@bbc.co.uk