Love Is Blind contestant says she felt she had to speak out after watching Panorama investigation into MAFS15:24, 27 May 2026Updated 15:25, 27 May 2026Contestants from Love Is Blind in the UK have joined Married At First Sight stars in hitting out at their treatment on reality romance series. Catherine Richards and Jake Singleton-Hill, who both featured in Season 1 of Love is Blind: UK, have voiced concerns that the Netflix series had a welfare team who were not sufficiently independent from producers.They say this may make them unable to always act in the best interests of participants. The allegations, made to industry magazine Deadline, come days after a BBC Panorama programme raised significant concerns and serious allegations about MAFS UK.The was criticism of its treatment of couples and allegations two women were raped by their on-screen husbands. Both men deny the claims. In the new criticism of Love Is Blind UK, Richards alleged that welfare workers divulged confidential details about her experience to the show’s producers.These details she claims were uses as part of a storyline on the Netflix series against her wishes.After watching the Panorama on MAFS she says she felt compelled to to speak out and she told Deadline: “We’re puppets to them. They say [there is] welfare, but it’s not welfare. They work for production, and they need storylines.”Singleton-Hill, another Love is Blind Season 1 star, who is now in a relationship with Richards, also spoke of his time on the show. He added: “My experience of welfare was that they make you feel like it’s a safe space, but they use it as ammunition.“It’s a really toxic environment … they don’t have your best interests at heart, they just want to make the best dramatic show they can.”Both Love Is Blind UK and MAFS UK are made by the same production company CPL. Netflix and CPL say that Love is Blind participants are told before filming begins that the welfare team will flag issues to producers.Therapy is also available to participants during production, and this provides a confidential space to reflect on their experience if they need it.A CPL spokesman said: “Our rigorous welfare and psychological care processes were clearly communicated to all contributors in advance and adhered to rigorously throughout the production. A strict distinction was maintained between production welfare, which escalates concerns when necessary, and fully confidential, independent psychological support.”Asked if Netflix would re-examine welfare procedures on Love is Blind , a spokesperson said: “The physical and psychological well-being of all contributors is paramount. We are confident that the most robust and comprehensive protocols are in place and that we act promptly and appropriately whenever concerns are raised.Article continues below“On any new or returning series, we constantly review and, where necessary, improve the procedures we have in place to ensure the utmost care is being taken of our contributors.”Channel 4 and CPL have defended welfare standards on MAFS, but has ordered an independent review into the programme and paused their original plans for a new series to air in September, with the future of the show looking uncertain.Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Threads.