Married At First Sight’s foul behaviour a headache for TV execs

Married At First Sight’s foul-mouthed contestants may have blown ratings sky high but its popularity is at a new low with outraged Nine boss Hugh Marks.

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Married At First Sight’s foul-mouthed contestants may have blown ratings sky high but its popularity is at a new low with outraged Nine boss Hugh Marks.

The behaviour on the hit show has been so controversial that Mr Marks is understood to have demanded episodes be re-edited to tone down some of the outrageous conduct for fear it will damage the network’s broader reputation.

Ines has been abusive toward her ‘husband’, while Bronson has sworn at her in return.

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“All reality TV pushes limits but I am concerned they are going one step too far and it is going to all collapse and that’s not good for the industry,” a highly placed television executive said.

“We have never seen conduct like this on Australian television before.”

The Channel 9 show matches up couples who then meet for the first time at the altar.

Mr Marks is understood to have called a meeting of key executives, including director of television Michael Healy, following an episode in which “husband and wife” Ines Basic and Bronson Norrish engaged in an ugly screaming match.

On Sunday night, they were embroiled in another altercation during which Mr Norrish deployed an extreme profanity when his on-screen wife abused him.

“It is true we have decided to pull back some editing, mostly though to do with Sunday night because of the PG rating,” Married At First Sight executive producer John Walsh said.

Ines has been called out by fans for her abusive behaviour. Picture: Channel 9

“There has been a lot of discussion around the (swearing) and how we deal with that. There was a lot of thought given to how much of that we showed. There was a robust internal discussion about that.”

Starting at 7pm, Sunday episodes have the lower PG rating than the Monday to Wednesday instalments that begin at 7.30pm and carry an M rating.

Broadcasting regulatory body, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), confirmed it had received Married At First Sight complaints.

“The ACMA has recently received complaints about the program,” a spokesman said.

“Complaints about broadcasts are referred in the first instance to the licensee for consideration.”

Nine produced the first four seasons of Married At First Sight but outsourced it last year, with the current series made by Endemol Shine.

Previously, professional experts paired the contestants based on compatibility whereas this year they appear to have been put together by producers looking for drama and conflict.

“How could they seriously put a 29-year-old virgin together with a sexually experienced and adventurous partner?” one producer asked.

Controversial couple Ines and Bronson on their wedding day. Picture: Channel 9

A Nine representative said the network would keep monitoring.

“This show is still in post-­production, and any production company who works with us know we are very hands on and are continuing to evolve storylines until the show goes to air,” the spokeswoman said.

“We also take into account the feedback and our duty of care to participants in all our shows, so there has been in past series and will continue to be input from all of us.”

But Mr Walsh conceded the season was hitting new highs in terms of scandal.

“We haven’t had a season with such heightened drama and the response to it so we take all of those things on board,” he said.

“It is fair to say there have been a lot of different views on how much we show and what we should show and … that has been defined by the censorship.”

Nine is also aware of the longer term impact of this season’s antics.

“There is no doubt we are conscious of the brand as a long-term brand, not just as another one-season wonder,” Mr Walsh said.

“This is a brand we want to see have a good long run.”