A Married At First Sight Australia star claimed today that she witnessed fellow contestants suffering abuse on her country's version of the TV reality show.Jacqui Burfoot, a bride on series 12 of the show last year, spoke out after women in Britain made allegations of rape and sexual misconduct against the UK programme.The 31-year-old model, who is also a lawyer and yoga teacher, claimed some brides were domestic abuse victims and selected men on the show had criminal records.It comes on the same day that MPs on the Culture, Media and Sport Committee wrote to Channel 4 and Ofcom about their response to the allegations over MAFS UK. In Australia, Ms Burfoot was matched with fellow contestant Ryan Donnelly during her series but ended up leaving with Clint Rice, whom she later married in New Zealand.Now, she has posted a three-minute Facebook video about her experiences on the show, which is produced by Endemol Shine Australia, and is threatening to sue.Ms Burfoot said: 'I know for a fact that they cast outgoing, outrageous individuals who are going to cause drama. There's a tendency to cast men in particular with domestic violence backgrounds, even like histories of criminal records and things like that.'It is quite alarming when you're married to a stranger, when you find out that a lot of these men are actually really dangerous or do have propensity to commit acts of domestic violence and things like that. 'Now in my season in particular, this did happen and there were men cast with criminal records and histories of domestic violence. There were women that became victims too. These behaviours, a lot of it never went to air because it's not suitable for primetime TV.'Married At First Sight Australia star Jacqui Burfoot was a bride on series 12 last yearShe added: 'I also feel for the women over there because it's really hard to call out behaviour which never went to air because people think they know you, but they don't know what happened behind the scenes.'You're up against people saying 'stop complaining about your edit, it's just bad behaviour'. So a lot of the times the victims of these crimes, it's worse, because not only are you not getting a fair edit, but they give you a crazy edit or they make you look like the villain so that you're silenced and it's really, really, really horrible.'It's worse than what it sounds like on the surface – you're not just a victim of sexual assault, you're then also the victim of a bad edit to discredit your name, so if you ever try and speak out, no one's going to believe you, no one's going to listen to you.'Ms Burfoot, who has a double degree in law and finance with first-class honours in law, pleaded for help to take a case to the Australian Human Rights Commission.She also wrote in an accompanying caption: 'This really isn't easy to post. I hate that I have. I have a business, a brand, and a public profile that depends on staying in good standing - and staying silent. 'But when woman are getting grap*d [sic], participants committing suicide and I've first hand experienced and witnessed similar, it's just way too much to ask for me to stay silent. 'I've spoken out since day one and I will continue to do so because morally, I wouldn't be able to sleep at night.'Ms Burfoot did not mention anyone by name in the video or caption. The show, which is broadcast in Australia on Channel 9, sees single people matched by experts and then 'marry', with couples meeting for the first time on their wedding day.The 'marriages' on the show – which also airs in the UK on E4, separately to the British version - are not legally binding but the couples go on a 'honeymoon' and move in together after their weddings.The Daily Mail has contacted Channel 9 and Endemol Shine Australia for comment.Meanwhile in Britain, police have urged potential victims of sexual assault on the UK's version of the show, which airs on Channel 4, to get in touch.And Culture, Media and Sport Committee chair Dame Caroline Dinenage has written to Channel 4 and Ofcom today to express 'serious concerns' about their response to 'the horrifying allegations' about the UK show.She wrote: 'The horrifying allegations about Married At First Sight raise serious concerns over whether enough is being done to protect people taking part in reality television.'Both Channel 4 and Ofcom, as the broadcasting regulator, have urgent questions to answer.'A letter to Channel 4 asks about its complaints process for contestants on the programme and the steps taken to ensure the allegations were fully investigated, along with the review announced by the broadcaster.It also questions the broadcaster about its approach to duty of care to participants on its other reality TV programmes. Jacqui Burfoot has posted a three-minute Facebook video about her experiences on the showA Committee message to Ofcom asks it about the role of the broadcasting regulator in the complaints process, its powers to investigate potential breaches of the broadcasting code, and the timeline for launching its own investigation into the Married At First Sight allegations.Dame Caroline said earlier this week that the premise of the dating show was 'horrifying' and she was 'unsurprised' by the sexual assault allegations.It comes after Shona Manderson accused her on-screen partner of sexual misconduct while on the UK programme, while two other women alleged they were raped by their on-screen husbands, while speaking in a BBC Panorama documentary.Also today, a Channel 4 boss said the broadcaster 'ensured that women involved were kept safe when any issues were raised to us' after allegations of rape and sexual misconduct were made by participants of the UK show.The broadcaster's chief content officer, Ian Katz said women who appeared on the show were given 'appropriate support' after allegations were first raised.Senior figures at Channel 4 were speaking at a briefing for the broadcaster's annual report at an event in London this morning.Among them was Mr Katz, who said he was aware of 'some' of the allegations included in the Panorama episode when they were initially raised and had been involved in decision-making surrounding these.He added: 'I would just say I was obviously here and making decisions relating to some of the issues that you raised in the Panorama and I am very confident that based on the knowledge that we had at the time that we made the right decisions – that we ensured that women involved were kept safe when any issues were raised to us, that we gave them the appropriate support and that we took the right decisions through the production process and beyond that.'Mr Katz went on to say that it was 'clearly right to take a second look' at the allegations and whether the channel 'got it right at the time' or could do anything to improve welfare.Separately today, Channel 4 chief executive Priya Dogra said she was 'deeply sorry' for the distress caused to Married At First Sight UK participants.Speaking to reporters today, Ms Dogra added that a review was under way into the allegations.She said: 'While I attempt to do my best to answer questions, I'll ask their forbearance because there are limitations on what I can say before this review is complete late in the summer.'That 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. Welfare across all our programmes is hugely important to us, and is a primary concern.'However, I'm sure you'll appreciate that Channel 4 cannot investigate the specific allegations against the men, which they have denied, nor can I comment on them in any way.'We are a broadcaster, not an adjudicator, and allegations of this type are investigated by other bodies, including when complaints are raised by the police. What I can do, and have done, as you have heard, is to commission an external review, which I did just days after being first contacted by the BBC back in April.'A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said: 'We are aware of media reporting relating to allegations of rape and sexual assault following the airing of a television programme on Monday, May 18.'At this time, we have not received any criminal reports in relation to this matter. We will be making approaches to the relevant production teams to ensure that anyone they have spoken to is aware of how to report any criminal allegations to police. Jacqui Burfoot was matched with fellow contestant Ryan Donnelly during series 12 last year'We continue to encourage anyone who believes they have been a victim of sexual assault, no matter how long ago it happened, to get in touch with us.'The UK show is produced for Channel 4 by independent production company CPL. Ms Manderson's on-screen partner Bradley Skelly told Panorama he categorically denies 'any allegations of sexual misconduct, or that he was controlling'.Channel 4 said in a statement on Monday: 'In April, Channel 4 was presented with serious allegations of wrongdoing against a small number of past contributors, allegations that we understand those contributors have denied.'Ms Manderson, the only woman of the three who is identified, appeared on the programme in 2023.Talking to Panorama on camera, Manderson said she deserved better welfare from production company CPL after she alleged her partner, Bradley Skelly, took things too far during sex.In a video shared on Instagram, Ms Manderson claimed that a meeting about welfare with the show's production team 'wasn't honoured'.Ms Manderson claimed the couple were using the pull-out method of contraception, but added: 'One day, my boundary was crossed and he finished inside me without my consent.'She added she found out she was pregnant shortly afterwards, but said she did not know if this was from the alleged incident.Ms Manderson said in a post on Instagram that she was 'grateful' for the 'care and support' she received from domestic abuse charity Women's Aid following the alleged incident.Women's Aid said the allegations made for 'disturbing and sobering' viewing.Farah Nazeer, the chief executive of Women's Aid, said: 'For years, Women's Aid, and countless viewers, have been calling out abusive behaviours aired on Married At First Sight UK and other dating and entertainment programmes.'She added: 'Panorama has exposed some troubling and incredibly worrying allegations. We are told that these programmes are about finding love, yet abuse and control are not love.'Producers have a duty of care to contestants and a responsibility to younger viewers – it is time they take it seriously. We stand ready to help all involved get this right.'One woman alleged to Panorama that her onscreen husband raped her and threatened her with an acid attack.A second said she told both Channel 4 and CPL about being allegedly raped by her on-screen husband, but that her episodes were still aired.Jacqui Burfoot ended up leaving with Clint Rice whom she married in New Zealand last month Luke Worley, a former Married At First Sight groom, told The Sun he is 'proud' of Ms Manderson for coming forward, and alleged that a couple on his series of the show performed a sex act in front of a female cast member in a holding room, and said some cast members used cocaine in the show's apartments.Mr Worley went on to claim that the show's welfare system was not up to standard, and added it was 'about time' the show was held to account.He said: 'I had confidential conversations with welfare that were leaked to the producers and cameramen who would encourage me to bring my concerns on-screen for a storyline.'Welfare should be totally independent. It's like they were using that as a way of getting storylines and be able to get an insight into what was going on.'They knew using our weaknesses could be used to their advantage and you are twisted into someone you're not. It's a toxic environment.'During his time on the show in 2023, Mr Worley was ejected from the programme after an altercation with co-star Jordan Gayle.In response to Mr Worley's claims, Channel 4 said: 'Each individual agrees to a standard of behaviour before commencing filming and we take appropriate action on a case-by-case basis if contributors fall below that standard.'Channel 4 has removed all previous seasons of the show from its streaming platforms.A spokesperson for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport told the BBC: 'All allegations must be referred to the appropriate authorities and investigated with the full co-operation of those involved, with action taken to ensure that the highest standards are upheld and there are consequences for criminality or wrongdoing.'Security minister Dan Jarvis told BBC Breakfast that the 'very serious nature' of the allegations means there will likely be a police investigation.Shortly before the Panorama episode aired, Channel 4 announced it had commissioned an external review into contributor welfare last month, which it expects to report in the coming months.Channel 4 said it was 'presented with serious allegations of wrongdoing against a small number of past contributors, allegations that we understand those contributors have denied', and added that it is 'mindful of the privacy and continuing duty of care towards all contributors'.The broadcaster said it cannot comment on or disclose details of the allegations.Lawyers for CPL reportedly told the BBC its welfare system is 'gold standard' and it acted appropriately.Channel 4 said Married At First Sight UK is produced under 'some of the most comprehensive and robust welfare protocols in the industry', including background checks, a code of conduct setting out behavioural standards and 'daily contributor check-ins with a specialist welfare team'.An Ofcom spokesperson said it had 'launched an external review into contributor care on MAFS UK and we await its findings'.It is understood that no decision has been made on future series of Married At First Sight.