The producers of Married At First Sight UK have said contestants were not "pressured in any way or expected to be intimate" amid claims by a former production worker that showrunners placed an "unhealthy" emphasis on sex.
Soraya Spiers, who said she worked on the Channel 4 programme on a five-week contract, told the BBC that the show had a "toxic" culture.
The show, produced for Channel 4 by independent production company CPL, sees single people matched by experts "marry" strangers who they meet for the first time on their wedding day.
Channel 4 removed all previous seasons of Married At First Sight UK from its streaming platforms after two women told BBC Panorama they were raped during filming, while another alleged sexual misconduct by her on-screen partner.
CPL has denied claims that contestants were pressured to have sex or share a bed on the first night, adding that alternative sleeping arrangements could be made.
In response to the claims about the production culture, CPL said: "These accounts do not reflect the vast majority of positive experiences of the more than 1,200 production team members who have worked across all series.
"Contributors are not pressured in any way or expected to be intimate.
"Contributors are clearly informed there is no expectation to share a bed, and alternative solo sleeping arrangements have always been available throughout the process.
"It is incorrect to say that cast are allowed as much alcohol as they want. CPL has an 'Alcohol Protocol', giving clear guidance on alcohol consumption, as part of its robust welfare policies.
"Team members are required to familiarise themselves with this and adhere to it. Alcohol intake during dinner parties, including reunions, is limited and overseen by executive producers and the welfare team."
Former worker alleges "toxic" culture
Ms Spiers told the BBC the show was "toxic from the top down".
"You could argue that’s the same in real life, but if you meet someone on a date, you can leave if you need," she said.
"Putting it in the framework of a TV show makes it much harder to just walk away."
Speaking about the pressure surrounding the show’s wedding nights, Ms Spiers said: "On the wedding night, there’s an expectation, for those of us who were working on the show, that you should get some sort of hint if the couples are going to sleep together.
"Even though they've only known each other for two seconds by that point."
Ahead of the Panorama episode airing last week, CPL sent an email to current and past crew and contributors asking them to be "mindful of commenting publicly or privately".
Ms Spiers replied to the email accusing CPL of "a spectacular lack of duty of care to both cast and crew".
CPL said the email was intended to provide support to those affected by the Panorama programme and to prevent the identification of the female cast members in it.
The comments come amid continuing scrutiny of the programme after former participant Shona Manderson accused her on-screen partner of a non-consensual sex act, while two other women, who have not been named, alleged they were raped by their on-screen husbands.
All three men deny the allegations.
Channel 4 launched a review into contributor welfare last month, shortly after being contacted by the BBC regarding the accusations featured in the Panorama documentary.
Lawyers for CPL previously told Panorama its welfare system was "the gold standard" and that it acted appropriately in all these cases.
Channel 4 has said its Married At First Sight spin-off show remains in pre-production.
The broadcaster announced the launch of Second Marriage At First Sight in February, which hopes to bring together contestants from the UK and Australian versions of the show for a second chance at love.
Source: Press Association
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