Article #33562

The Married at First Sight rape allegations have again highlighted the ethics of reality TV. For things to change, better welfare provision is crucial

When I joined the cast of Love Island in 2021, I already semi-knew that reality TV wasn’t “real”. I grew up with parents who constantly reminded me not to believe everything I saw on TV or online. But I was not fully prepared for just how constructed reality TV actually is: producers shape narratives, conflict drives engagement and contestants ultimately become part of a product designed for entertainment, rather than simply living their “reality” in the moment.

After watching the BBC Panorama investigation into Channel 4’s Married at First Sight, I found myself asking a much bigger question: at what point does “good TV” come at the expense of basic human safety?