Who is regulating reality TV? Lessons from MAFS UK
Electoral Dysfunction
Sky News
4.4 • 764 Ratings
🗓️ 22 May 2026
⏱️ 50 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Reality show Married At First Sight UK on Channel 4 is facing serious allegations this week, so Beth Rigby, Ruth Davidson, and Harriet Harman discuss whether more should be done to make reality TV safer – and if MPs ought to get involved.
Plus, with three by-elections coming up, has Andy Burnham’s bid to return to Westminster thrown the constituency of Makerfield into chaos? And why might the North Sea oil reserves become a hot button issue for voters in Aberdeen South?
For a full list of candidates standing in your area, visit the Electoral Commission website.
Channel 4 was approached for comment.
Got a question for the burner phone? WhatsApp 07934 200 444 or email electoraldysfunction@sky.uk.
And if you didn't know, you can also watch Beth, Ruth, and Harriet on YouTube.
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Gary knows that if Friday starts right, you're already winning. |
| 0:03.6 | 5am alarm set, clothes laid out and making a quick stop at his nearest service station. |
| 0:08.4 | He grabs a quasson to go and presses the button on a Costa Express coffee machine. |
| 0:13.0 | As the aroma of our signature Mocca Italia blend fills the air, his favourite Americano fills the cup, |
| 0:19.1 | made with real beans and fresh milk. |
| 0:22.2 | Oh, that's quality. |
| 0:24.4 | Start as you mean to go on with Costa Express. |
| 0:29.8 | Shine Nightwalk London is a 10K, half marathon or full marathon supported walk around the city at night |
| 0:35.7 | on the 19th of September to raise |
| 0:37.9 | vital money for cancer research UK it's also everyone walking with all their |
| 0:42.4 | colours twinkling away we can actually see how nice London is and London is |
| 0:46.9 | different at night time celebration of life and it gives hope being able to |
| 0:51.4 | raise money for cancer research UK step towards a brighter future and sign up at shinewark.org. Together, we are beating cancer. |
| 1:02.7 | Sky News, the full story first. |
| 1:17.4 | Very upsetting when you've watched these programmes and enjoyed it as some light reality television |
| 1:19.5 | and then there's this sort of underside to it which is really dark. |
| 1:25.4 | Political communication is one of the failings of number 10 operation, and they've failed again. |
| 1:32.3 | They should lean in to a bit more of understanding of the challenge here, not just go into complete defensive mode. |
| 1:40.8 | Hello and welcome to electoral dysfunction with me, Beth Rigby. |
| 1:44.9 | Me Ruth Davidson and me Harriet Harmon. |
| 1:47.1 | And it's been a historic week, ladies. |
| 1:49.0 | It really has been a historic week. |
... |
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