“I’m delighted and so relieved no-one else will have to go through the same again.”

That’s what one woman – who alleged she was raped on Married at First Sight UK – texted to me, as the news broke that the show was being cancelled.

Another woman, who also says her on-screen husband raped her, was in tears at the news. She told us she felt “great, consuming relief”, but added she was “astounded” it had taken an external review for Channel 4 to finally pull the plug on the show.

Commenting on the review, she said: “Suggesting the programme could reasonably continue with the implementation of a ‘safe word’, ‘panic button’ or ‘lockable bathroom with an extra bolt inside’ is absolute insanity to me.”

The Channel 4 show was plunged into crisis in May this year, after the BBC’s Panorama revealed rape allegations from two female cast members on the show, while a third woman – Shona Manderson, the only woman who was identified – alleged a non-consensual sex act.

The men involved have denied all the allegations against them.

As the news emerged on Thursday morning that Married at First Sight UK – better known as MAFS UK – was being axed, my colleagues and I reached out to the three women who had contributed to our investigation.

None of them had been informed in advance of the decision to cancel the show, they said, although two had contributed to the review.

Shona Manderson told me by telephone her main feeling was relief that their voices had been heard.

“Speaking out wasn’t easy, but knowing that our voices have helped bring about change makes it all worthwhile,” she said.

Over the day, more MAFS UK cast members were in touch with us.

Several were pleased by the decision to scrap the series, but others said it did not go far enough and called for more accountability.

One cast member, who asked to remain anonymous, said people watching at home do not always appreciate this “isn’t simply a television show” for those taking part.

“These are real people, real emotions.”

Others we spoke to felt the show should have been taken off-air sooner.

They include April Banbury, who took part in the 2022 series and whose on-screen husband was subsequently arrested on suspicion of controlling and coercive behaviour. The police investigation against him was later dropped, and her partner called the allegations against him “false”.

“I’m glad MAFS has been cancelled. It should have happened years ago,” Banbury told us.

“Cancelling the show does not make what happened go away,” added another cast member, who asked to remain anonymous. “We want answers, we want those responsible to be held accountable, and we want to know how this was allowed to happen in the first place.”

Others writing on social media said their experiences had been more positive, and that they were sad to see it go.

Jay Howard, from the 2023 series, external, said the show had brought her friendships and opportunities, while Marilyse Corrigan, a 2021 bride, external, said it was a chapter of her life she looked back on “with fond memories”.

A number of cast members we spoke to also expressed concern for staff who had been working on the show, as well as sorrow for fans.

Lara Eyre, who appeared on the 2022 series, told me she felt we were now “on the edge of a curb on how we treat reality TV stars and safeguarding”, adding it was a “real shame” for those who filmed this year’s series, which will never be aired, as well as a shame for fans of the show.

“I know a lot of people loved it, I loved it,” she said. “Yes, I know it was traumatic, for sure, and there was a lot of bad things that went with the good. But it was a big part of a lot of people’s lives, so it’s sad it’s not going to be on any more, but I also think this could’ve been avoided.”

As the dust settles, there are still many questions.

Only “a summary of findings” from Channel 4’s review has been released, rather than the full report.

We still do not know what the broadcaster did when it was first warned about the serious allegations by the production company.

Why did it take them so long to investigate? And why did they only do so once BBC Panorama raised the alarm?

We put some of these questions to Channel 4’s boss Priya Dogra on Thursday. She said the broadcaster’s handling of incidents as they arose was appropriate, and that the review had borne that out.

In a statement to BBC News on Friday, Channel 4 said its review “did not seek to adjudicate on the serious allegations of wrongdoing against a small number of past contributors highlighted by Panorama, as those allegations remain a matter for the relevant authorities”.

It said the review found that in Channel 4 and production company CPL’s handling of the issues raised at the time, there was no breach of Ofcom’s broadcasting code.

Channel 4 bosses are due to appear in front of the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport committee on 17 November, so we may hear more then.

Either way, this is not the end of the story. There is an ongoing Ofcom investigation into the show – and in June, a male cast member was arrested on suspicion of rape.

The decision to scrap MAFS UK will also inevitably raise questions about what happens with the wider Married at First Sight format.

If one broadcaster says the show has “run its course” – then those global versions may also come under the spotlight.

Channel 4 has already said it will not be showing international editions like MAFS Australia again.

And for the TV industry more broadly, questions will once again be asked about reality TV – and whether shows like this can ever keep their contributors safe.

If you have more information about this story, you can reach Noor by email at noor.nanji@bbc.co.uk