DR has cut one couple from the upcoming season of “Gift ved første blik” after receiving new information about one of the participants. The season will now feature four couples instead of five.
The public broadcaster confirmed the decision on Tuesday, August 11, in an email from DR Kommunikation. DR reports that the production found itself in what it called an extraordinary situation, and that the removal follows “new information” about one participant.
Anne Garlichs, head of external television at DR, said the broadcaster had a process with one of the participants after filming had ended. During that process, DR became aware of information that had not previously been shared with it. Per Garlichs, DR would not have continued with the participant had the information been known before filming.
The decision was taken after an overall editorial assessment, and both the participant and that person’s partner will not appear in this season. Garlichs stated that the matter does not concern criminal offenses. DR says it will not go into detail about the process or the decision itself.
What DR will not say
It remains unclear what the new information consists of. DR Nyheder sought a further comment, but the broadcaster’s press department said it did not wish to say anything more. No other outlet has offered a competing explanation for the edit, so the specific reason is unconfirmed.
The format was created in Denmark and has since been sold to more than 25 countries. As reported by B.T., the removal of the participant follows earlier criticism of the program, including debate over how contestants’ backgrounds are checked.
DR’s announcement also comes after problems in foreign versions of the show. In the British edition, both British television and DR pulled a season after two female participants accused their television spouses of rape. A third participant described inappropriate sexual behavior from her television partner during filming.
The Australian version has more recently been accused by several female participants of failing to inform them about their male television partners’ criminal records. Berlingske has reported that participants in the Australian edition felt let down after being matched with people convicted of drug crimes. In connection with that case, Garlichs said DR obtains criminal record certificates for Danish participants.
The dating experiment pairs strangers who meet for the first time at their own wedding. The new Danish season premieres on September 3, roughly a month after the edit was announced.
