Why Indian-Origin Channel 4 Chief Priya Dogra Is Under Pressure Over Reality Show Allegations

Last Updated:May 20, 2026, 19:21 IST

Priya Dogra stressed that Channel 4 could not act as an investigative body into criminal allegations.

Channel 4 chief executive Priya Dogra said she is “deeply sorry" for the distress of female contestants on Married at First Sight UK who have made allegations of rape and sexual misconduct. Priya Dogra, who is of Indian origin and took up the role in March, told MPs and stakeholders that she believed the broadcaster had acted appropriately at the time complaints were raised. However, she has now commissioned an external review into how the programme dealt with safeguarding issues, saying she wanted a “second look" given her relatively recent appointment.

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Her comments come as MPs and the media regulator Ofcom face growing pressure over what they described as “horrifying allegations" linked to the hit reality show, which matches single contestants who “marry" after meeting for the first time at the altar. The controversy intensified after a BBC Panorama investigation aired claims from two unnamed women who alleged they were raped by their on-screen husbands during the show. A third contestant, identified as Shona Manderson, alleged she was subjected to a non-consensual sexual act. All of the men involved deny the allegations.

Speaking at Channel 4’s annual report, Priya Dogra said she had watched the programme and heard the women’s accounts. She said, “I have watched the programme and heard the women’s accounts, which are very troubling. Their distress is clear, and for that I am, of course, deeply sorry." However, she also defended the broadcaster’s actions at the time of the complaints, saying, “I do believe that handling of concerns raised at the time was appropriate."

Priya Dogra stressed that Channel 4 could not act as an investigative body into criminal allegations.

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“We are a broadcaster, not an adjudicator," she said, adding that such matters were for the police and other authorities. She also said welfare remained a “primary concern" across all Channel 4 productions, but confirmed she had ordered external scrutiny of how complaints were handled.

Channel 4 chief content officer Ian Katz said the broadcaster was confident it had acted correctly based on what was known at the time.

“I am very confident that, based on the knowledge that we had at the time, that we made the right decisions," he said, adding that contestants were supported when concerns were raised. However, he also acknowledged the seriousness of the allegations and said it was “right to take a second look" to ensure lessons are learned for future production.

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