Brad Skelly has announced he is engaged, a month after his Married At First Sight ex-wife Shona Manderson accused him of sexual misconduct.
The reality star took to Instagram on Friday to mark the ‘next chapter’ with his girlfriend Toni, who has stood by him in the wake of the allegations.
Brad shared pictures and videos from the proposal and wrote: ‘The next chapter 26.06.26’.
Brad and Toni, who went public with their relationship in 2024, posed for photos afterwards with the beauty therapist showing off her diamond ring.
The engagement comes after Shona appeared in a BBC Panorama documentary where she accused Brad of a non-consensual sex act on the show.
The star was one of three women to claim they were assaulted during their time on the programme, and said she got an abortion after Brad took things ‘too far’ during sex, and ‘a boundary was crossed’ when he ejaculated inside her without permission. Brad denies the claim.
Brad Skelly has announced he is engaged, a month after his Married At First Sight ex-wife Shona Manderson accused him of sexual misconduct
The engagement comes after Shona appeared in a BBC Panorama documentary where she accused Brad of a non-consensual sex act on the show. He denies the claim
He has said he understood she was consenting and denies any sexual misconduct.
Waiving her anonymity, Shona described how she ‘completely lost her light’ during filming, which saw experts raise concerns about Brad’s alleged ‘controlling’ manner towards her that saw them ultimately be asked to leave the show.
When questioned about her experience on Good Morning Britain earlier this month, Shona said: ‘At first it felt incredible. He told me he loved me in the Maldives, it started to rain, it just felt like I was in a movie.
‘So this ultimate high, and then it was a week later, it kind of came out of nowhere, it was like a switch, just really harsh criticism towards me, and that’s how it started. And then from there it just progressed, it just got darker.’
She further stated that stronger intervention would have been appropriate and that while she was there, many people appeared concerned about her, noting that she was losing her spark and walking on eggshells.
Shona explained that people generally seemed worried about her, but that, to her knowledge, there had been no interventions regarding his behaviour towards her.
According to Shona, warnings had been issued about his behaviour and decisions in other contexts, but not about the way he treated her.
The lack of intervention, she said, left her feeling isolated and questioning whether what she believed she was seeing and experiencing was actually happening.
The reality star took to Instagram on Friday to mark the ‘next chapter’ with his girlfriend Toni, who has stood by him in the wake of the allegations
Brad shared pictures and videos from the proposal and wrote: ‘The next chapter 26.06.26’
According to Panorama, Channel 4 and CPL removed the couple from the show shortly after the incident amid concerns that the relationship could be unhealthy.
Production company lawyers said appropriate safeguarding measures were taken to protect her wellbeing.
About a week after leaving the programme, Shona discovered she was pregnant.
She and Brad remained together for around six weeks after leaving the show before separating.
She told Panorama: ‘I don’t think that because you’re going on reality TV, you deserve in any way for things like this to happen to you.’
Channel 4 has removed all episodes of Married At First Sight UK from its streaming and linear services while allegations are reviewed.
The broadcaster has commissioned an external review of welfare procedures on the programme.
Channel 4 said Shona had been clear at the time that all sexual contact was consensual.
The star was one of three women to claim that they were assaulted during their time on the programme, and said she got an abortion after Brad took things ‘too far’. He denies the claim
The broadcaster said contributors had repeatedly assured producers that they felt safe, happy and wanted to continue participating.
A spokesperson for Channel 4 said: ‘In April we commissioned an external review into contributor welfare on MAFS UK, which is underway and has two elements. The first part is examining the welfare protocols in place on the programme at the time claims were raised, as well as the handling by Channel 4 and CPL of those claims.
‘The second part, led by former BBC One Controller Lorraine Heggessey, will examine if any changes should be made to current protocols for MAFS UK to further strengthen contributor welfare. The review now needs to run its course.’
Bradley’s lawyers told Good Morning Britain: ‘I categorically deny any allegations of sexual misconduct against my former partner on the show and any similar wrongdoing. Any suggestions that I was violent, controlling or that I threatened her are false. I would never behave in such a way.
‘The relationship had its ups and downs like many others but was based on mutual consent, care and affection. We did love and support one another during our time together, but sadly, it came to an end shortly after the show. I wish her nothing but the best for the future.’
The Daily Mail contacted CPL Productions and Brad for comment.
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