Committee publication · Correspondence · 2 June 2026
Letter from Cristina Nicolotti Squires, Group Director, Broadcast and Media at Ofcom relating to Married at First Sight, 28 May 2026
Summary
Cristina Nicolotti Squires, Group Director at Ofcom, responds to the Culture, Media and Sport Committee's questions about Ofcom's regulatory powers and actions following BBC Panorama's investigation into participant welfare on Channel 4's Married at First Sight UK. She details Ofcom's statutory framework under the Communications Act 2003 and Broadcasting Act 1996, explains protections introduced in 2021 (including Practice 7.15 requiring broadcasters to take due care of at-risk contributors), and confirms Ofcom is monitoring Channel 4's commissioned external reviews while maintaining strict confidentiality over participant complaints.
Key findings
- Ofcom operates under the Communications Act 2003 and Broadcasting Act 1996, with powers to investigate complaints of unfair treatment and privacy infringement, and to impose sanctions including financial penalties on broadcasters found in serious breach
- In 2021, Ofcom strengthened participant protections by introducing Practice 7.15, requiring broadcasters to identify and mitigate risks of significant harm to contributors, and amended Practice 7.3 to ensure participants receive information about potential risks before agreeing to participate
- Ofcom has received standards complaints from viewers about Married at First Sight UK since 2015 but determined none warranted investigation after careful assessment against the Code and audience expectations
- Ofcom maintains strict confidentiality over participant complaints to protect complainants' privacy and encourage people to come forward, and cannot publicly confirm whether specific complaints have been received
- Ofcom is conducting its own review of rules and guidance to assess whether the current framework provides adequate protection and commits to writing back to the Committee if additional legislative powers are needed
Tone
ProceduralTopics
Key actors
Cristina Nicolotti Squires, Dame Caroline Dinenage, Dame Melanie Dawes, BBC Panorama, Channel 4, Ofcom, Aston University
Notable line
“… we treat such complaints in strict confidence and do not publicly confirm whether we have received a complaint from participants in a particular programme.”
Key Quotes
“… the allegations raised by Panorama are shocking and deeply disturbing. They underline the importance of ensuring that all those who take part in television programmes are treated with care and properly supported.”
“Broadcasters should take due care over the welfare of a contributor who might be at risk of significant harm as a result of taking part in a programme, except where the subject matter is trivial or their participation minor.”
“… we treat such complaints in strict confidence and do not publicly confirm whether we have received a complaint from participants in a particular programme. This approach protects those involved, helps ensure that people feel able to come forward, and ensures that our processes remain fair and independent.”
“If the evidence shows that more needs to be done to protect people, we will strengthen our approach and will keep the Committee informed.”
“… need to. We commit to writing back to the Committee to make clear if following our review, any additional legislative powers are required to ensure participants are protected. .”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗