I was a contestant on Channel 4's biggest show - here's why you should never go on it

Luke Worley has hit out at Channel 4's hit E4 show Married at First Sight, warning potential contestants to think twice before signing up. The reality star appeared on the programme in 2023, but was removed during the experiment after a physical altercation with another contestant. Luke returned to screens last month when he appeared on Rylan Clark's Paramount+ show, Dating Naked. The controversial show features fully unclothed participants as they search for love - and compete for a £50,000 prize. In an interview with Express Online, Luke had nothing but praise when he reflected on his time on Dating Naked, saying that the entire cast were well looked after by the production team and the company behind the show.

Unfortunately, the same can't be said for his time on Married at First Sight. The Channel 4 programme is a social experiment in which single people are matched to marry complete strangers. Luke declared: "MAFS is hectic. Although the welfare team were great, it's above them where the problems start. I wouldn't recommend MAFS to my worst enemy."

While acknowledging the popularity of Married at First Sight, Luke noted that story producers are under pressure to make the show as entertaining as possible. However, it appears this comes at the expense of the participants themselves.

Luke explained: "The worst part of the show is definitely the editing team. The way they edit that show should be illegal. It is so bad."

He went on to reveal the extent of the production process, claiming that the editing team took audio clips from earlier scenes and inserted them into different moments to fit a predetermined narrative.

"The way that was edited was not right. They subbed words out from previous conversations and added them into other conversations to make me say things I didn't actually say," the TV star revealed.

"I noticed it in one scene because the sound was so different. It was like they pulled it from one clip and put it into another. That sort of thing is really bad."

Luke, from Clacton-on-Sea, Essex, also claimed that footage was edited to make it appear as though he said he would cheat if he could get away with it - a statement he insists was completely taken out of context and does not reflect what he actually said.

"That is so wrong because it goes fully against everything I believe in. I've never cheated and I never would," he insisted.

Upon receiving death threats following his appearance on MAFS, Luke highlighted how detrimental the show can be to someone's mental health.

He said: "When they're not showing someone in their true light, especially when it's something so dramatic, that should be against the law. TV shows shouldn't be allowed to edit it as much as they do. It harms people's mental health.

"I was getting genuine death threats. Shows like this put people at risk and I get it, they have to make it entertaining, but when you're putting someone at risk, that should be illegal."

While psychologists are available to participants, Luke believes nothing is done to prevent contestants from needing them.

"They have psychologists on set but they don't prevent them from needing them. It's like they've got them there because they know we're going to need them because of what they are going to put us through," he said.

The Channel 4 star went on to criticise CPL Productions, describing them as one of the "worst" production companies he's encountered, and said he would not recommend them to anyone.

He continued: "I spoke about this on a podcast and CPL said they will make sure I won't work with any other TV production again. They tried to threaten me because I was speaking the truth."

But this didn't deter Luke, who explained that he would never feel the need to speak up if he is treated well by production companies.

He went on: "As long as companies look after me and they do things right, which other companies have, especially Nest, they were unbelievable and so were Paramount. If it goes right then I won't have the need to speak up."

While Luke is adamant that no one should sign up for Married at First Sight, he offers some advice for those who still choose to take part.

The star declared: "I wouldn't recommend MAFS to anyone, and if I was going to recommend it, I'd say don't go on there for love; go on there to get your 15 minutes of fame. Get as many followers as you can, and make as much money as you can, because ultimately, it's a load of c**p."

In contrast to his experience on Married at First Sight, Luke spoke very highly of everyone involved with Dating Naked.

The TV personality told us: "Everyone at Dating Naked was unbelievable. All of the welfare team, I could name all of them, they were so good. If you ever needed anything, they would help you because they want to keep you at ease.

"They don't want to make you feel uncomfortable. If you wanted something specific, it would be there the next day because they want to make you feel like you're at home.

"It was a really really good experience from the back end side of it to what you see on TV, it is what you saw and everyone was so comfortable."

While Luke has closed the door on reality dating shows for now, he has two more TV projects lined up for the future. He also expressed interest in joining Big Brother, admitting it's a show he has wanted to be part of since he was young.

Alongside his TV career, which Luke describes more as a hobby, he has transitioned into business and currently runs his own telecoms company.