MAFS UK stars speak out after revealing they filmed series before it was axed by Channel 4
Two Married At First Sight UK contestants have broken their silence after revealing they took part in a series of the reality show which will never make it to our television screens.
Rebecca Burgess and Tom Byatt have both confirmed they were cast in the latest instalment of the Channel 4 dating experiment, which was filmed before the broadcaster made the decision to axe the show following a series of allegations.
And while fans have been left wondering what happened behind the scenes of the unaired series, the former contestants have now shared their own experiences of being part of what Rebecca has described as the 'lost cast' of 'one of television's biggest franchises'.
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It comes after Channel 4 confirmed last week that MAFS UK would not return for another series, following an external review into contestant welfare.
The review was commissioned after three former female contestants came forward with allegations of sexual misconduct, which were featured in a BBC Panorama investigation. Two women made allegations of rape, while a third described an alleged non-consensual sexual act.
The allegations remain matters for the relevant authorities to investigate, and those accused have denied the claims.
Channel 4's review examined the broadcaster and production company CPL Productions' welfare procedures, with findings identifying some isolated incidents where the framework had not been fully implemented.
However, the broadcaster ultimately decided that implementing the recommended changes would require a level of intervention that would fundamentally alter the programme's format.
Channel 4 chief executive Priya Dogra confirmed that no future series would be released, with the budget instead being reinvested into new programming.
Now, two people who were actually part of the unaired series have started sharing their experiences.
Rebecca Burgess speaks about her MAFS experience
One contestant, Rebecca Burgess, took to Instagram this week to reveal that her Married At First Sight contract had officially come to an end.
In a video shared with followers, she explained that she had been scouted by Channel 4 and had spent the past 16 months unable to openly discuss her experience.
"Married At First Sight contract is over!" she began. "Oh, my God, if you know, you know about the chains that I have been in for 16 months.
"I can't even express - I am free to talk about it. I am free to say I have been married, divorced, in this year. Oh, my God. I'm just dead free."
Rebecca admitted that being able to talk about her experience felt strange, particularly given the circumstances surrounding the show's cancellation.
"This feels so strange. Obviously, we're talking about it under different circumstances. Obviously, I'm going to be the only cast member okay with the decision as well, which is a bit mad. But I am free, and yeah. Wow."
And while Rebecca has confirmed her own involvement, she's been keen to stress that she won't be revealing the identities of her fellow contestants without their permission.
In a subsequent video, she explained that she's been receiving plenty of questions about the rest of the cast, given that the series is now unlikely to ever be seen by viewers.
"I'm being hounded for the rest of the cast because, let's be honest, it's f*****g the most interesting thing ever. We're literally the lost cast of one of the biggest TV franchises ever, it's insane," she said.
"However, it's not my place to speak on anyone else, and out of respect for everyone else, I wouldn't even dream of revealing anyone's identity. Not only that, but everyone's in a very personal situation at the minute.
"Everyone's dealing with it differently, everyone's in different mental spaces and it's everyone's own journey. I don't actually know if anyone's publicly revealed themselves."
Rebecca also revealed that she'd recently suggested to two other female cast members that they could come together for a 'lost cast reveal', or alternatively share their own 'story times' using still images from the production.
And she even joked that she'd be willing to reunite with her former on-screen husband if it meant giving viewers some insight into the series.
Tom Byatt shares his MAFS wedding pictures and opens up about living with HIV
Rebecca isn't the only former contestant to have confirmed their involvement, with Tom Byatt also taking to Instagram to share several behind-the-scenes pictures from filming.
The photographs included one of Tom alongside another male contestant, with the pair holding up their left hands to show off their wedding rings.
In the caption, Tom wrote: "WELL… THE SECRET IS FINALLY OUT! Yes, it's true… I was a groom on Married at First Sight UK!
"I'm absolutely gutted that our series won't be aired, but I'm so grateful for an experience that has genuinely changed my life.
"I'm now finally able to openly talk about taking part, my personal journey and the impact the experiment has had on me. However, there are still contractual obligations in place, so I won't be sharing specific storylines or details of what happened during filming.
"Swipe across to read my full statement, including my thoughts on the cancellation, my experience and why this journey meant so much to me. On to the next chapter… whatever that may be!"
Tom also took the opportunity to acknowledge the women who have come forward with allegations against former contestants, making clear that he wanted their experiences to be recognised.
"Before anything else, I want to acknowledge those who have come forward with allegations and shared their experiences. My heart goes out to anyone who has experienced distress or hurt, and I sincerely hope they are receiving the support, care and understanding they deserve," he wrote.
"It takes courage to speak openly about difficult experiences, and I believe everyone deserves to be listened to with compassion and respect."
Reflecting on his own time filming the programme, Tom described it as 'one of the most phenomenal experiences of my life'.
He explained that he'd entered the experiment with an "open heart, a big personality" and a genuine hope of finding love.
However, there was another incredibly personal reason behind his decision to take part.
"But I also went in wanting to share something incredibly personal to me... My journey living with HIV," he continued.
"I wanted to show people that a diagnosis doesn't define you, that you are still worthy of love, and that there is absolutely no shame in being HIV positive."
Tom went on to say that taking part had taught him a great deal about himself, his confidence and relationships, adding that he came away feeling like a stronger and happier person.
He also thanked the production and welfare teams who had been available throughout filming.
And while Tom admitted he was disappointed that viewers wouldn't get to see the series, he insisted that the experience had still been worthwhile.
"Would it [the series] have made brilliant television? ABSOLUTELY! But some experiences are so much more than what makes it on a television screen," he wrote. "No regrets, just memories, lessons and a whole lot of personal growth."
As for whether the experiment resulted in a lasting relationship, Tom revealed that things hadn't quite worked out as he'd originally imagined.
He confirmed that he's 'still very much single and still on the lookout for love'.
Why was Married At First Sight UK cancelled?
The contestants' latest revelations come after Channel 4 confirmed that MAFS UK had officially been axed following an external review.
The decision followed serious allegations made by three former female participants, who claimed they had experienced sexual misconduct involving fellow cast members and that the welfare procedures in place had failed to protect them.
The allegations were explored in a BBC Panorama investigation broadcast in May 2026, with the Metropolitan Police subsequently confirming that a cast member had been arrested on suspicion of rape in June. The individual has not been named.
Channel 4 commissioned an independent review into its contestant welfare procedures, with the investigation examining more than 31,000 documents and 20 hours of broadcast and unbroadcast footage.
While the review found that the broadcaster and production company had welfare protocols that were compliant with the Ofcom Broadcasting Code, it also identified isolated incidents where the framework had not been fully implemented.
A second review, led by former BBC One Controller Lorraine Heggessey, also made recommendations for changes to strengthen contestant welfare.
However, Channel 4 ultimately concluded that implementing all of the recommendations would require a significant change to the show's format.
In a statement, Priya Dogra said the broadcaster was grateful to everyone who had worked on the programme, while also expressing regret over the distress experienced by the women who had come forward.
She added that the review had not been tasked with investigating or determining the truth of the serious allegations, which remain a matter for the relevant authorities.
Tyla contacted Channel 4 for comment.
Topics: Married At First Sight, Married at First Sight UK, Reality TV, Channel 4, TV And Film
Rhianna Benson
