Channel 4 Faces Criticism over Casting Decision on ‘Married at First Sight’

Channel 4‘s reality show ‘Married at First Sight UK‘ is under scrutiny following allegations of domestic abuse against one of its participants, Alexander Henry. Despite criticism, the broadcaster has decided to retain Mr. Henry in the program. The decision has sparked a debate, especially among commenters on E4‘s Instagram, which promoted the upcoming series.

Channel 4 stated that a criminal record check, the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, came back clear. Moreover, Mr. Henry, who is a personal trainer from Birmingham, was recently sentenced to 34 days in a military prison for deserting his post in the Royal Air Force (RAF) to participate in the show, though he served only 24 days.

A statement from Mr. Henry’s representative indicated that he left his position at RAF Spadeadam after his request for leave to join the show was denied. Following filming, he voluntarily returned to military authorities. Earlier, he participated in another Channel 4 dating show, ‘Let's Make a Love Scene,’ but his episode was not broadcast due to complaints from a former partner regarding his behavior.

The decision to feature Mr. Henry on ‘Married at First Sight UK’ drew criticism from charity Women's Aid. The organization expressed concern about the potential normalization of abusive behavior on a widely viewed platform. The charity emphasized the need for the protection of partners involved in such shows and underscored the gravity of tolerating behaviors associated with past allegations of abuse.

In response to the concerns, Channel 4 reaffirmed its commitment to rigorous background checks, including psychological evaluations, which all participants undergo. The broadcaster noted that the show was filmed several months ago and that Mr. Henry would appear in the pre-recorded episodes scheduled for broadcast.

While the controversy continues, the show, based on a Danish series, is slated to premiere on Monday. Despite objections, Channel 4 maintains that the necessary vetting procedures are in place to ensure participant safety and transparency.