MAFS UK star April Banbury reveals the show left her needing therapy

MAFS UK star April Banbury has revealed she’s been left needing therapy after appearing on the show.

The former Miss Great Britain, 33, said the ‘traumas’ she is now experiencing are ‘ruining her life’ and claims the show needs to do more background checks on those taking part.

Her on-screen husband George Roberts was arrested last week on suspicion of controlling and coercive behaviour, the couple are no longer in a relationship. 

His appearance on the E4 show came despite three women who had previous relationships with Mr Roberts reportedly raising concerns about him. Others are reported to have now come forward. 

April has now told The Sun: ‘The traumas I have from being on Married At First Sight are ruining my life.

‘I was given six therapy sessions and basically told to try and move on. People say Love Island is brutal but MAFS is 100 per cent worse.

‘No one should apply to take part until they put in place more stringent background checks.’

‘I’m just trying to get through each day. If I slip down that dark hole I don’t think I’ll ever get out.’

Difficult: Her on-screen husband George Roberts was arrested last week on suspicion of controlling and coercive behaviour, the couple are no longer in a relationship

A Channel 4 spokesperson said: ‘It’s categorically untrue to suggest that April was asked to take a position against her wishes, nor would we seek to silence her.

‘All cast have access to appropriate support before, during and after filming and broadcast, including access to an independent psychologist.

‘This support is proactively offered at every stage and, where requested, ongoing. April has been offered and continues to access such support.

‘All contributors are subject to thorough background and psychological checks, including the most rigorous police checks a production is able to undertake.’

Emotions: The former Miss Great Britain, 33, said the ‘traumas’ she is now experiencing are ‘ruining her life’ and claims the show needs to do more background checks on those taking part 

George, 40, and April married in a non-legally binding ceremony after they met at the altar for the first time on the hit E4 show. 

April recently returned to her £750,000 apartment in south London – without ‘husband’ George. 

Before news of his arrest was reported, MailOnline exclusively revealed that April is in therapy following the end of her marriage to the divorced father-of-four. 

His appearance on the E4 show came despite three women who had previous relationships with Mr Roberts reportedly raising concerns about him. Others are reported to have now come forward. 

TV wedding: George, 40, and April married in a non-legally binding ceremony after they met at the altar for the first time on the hit E4 show

E4 are still broadcasting the pre-recorded programme featuring him and his TV wife April after he was arrested. 

Father-of-four Roberts, a financial adviser, denies any wrongdoing and has been bailed by Scotland Yard.

A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said: ‘A 40-year-old man was arrested in Worcestershire on Thursday, September 29, on suspicion of controlling and coercive behaviour. He was taken to a police station and bailed pending further enquiries.’ 

Meanwhile viewers of last Tuesday’s episode of Married At First Sight UK saw April continue to express concern about her husband’s ‘trust issues’ while claiming he could be ‘the one’. 

Ex: George was arrested on suspicion of controlling and coercive behaviour on September 29 – but E4 will reportedly still broadcast pre-recorded shows 

The former Miss GB brought George to London during home stay week on the show, where they met up with April’s best friend Jose. 

While out for a few drinks, April told her pal: ‘It’s been a massive rollercoaster, it’s been a journey I thought I would never go on. It hasn’t been plain sailing. I got an insight into George’s life, what it was like, it’s peacefully, very different. We do have very different lives. I think that’s what we have to see if we can integrate together.’

Speaking to the camera alone, Jose said: ‘The April that I know I don’t think she wants to go to the countryside, she still has a lot to achieve in the city.’

‘In terms of compromising I don’t want to see April doing all the work. He also needs to add a little bit of compromise. Like ok the children are very important in my life but so are you.’

April told him: ‘My main concern is the fact he hasn’t trusted me throughout this and I haven’t done anything for him to not trust me. 

‘Things have happened, things have been said and I have felt like I have to defend myself all of the time to the point now where I don’t know what more I can do to make him believe me I would never do that.’

Jose responded: ‘This is George’s issue, it’s not your issue. He’s the one that has to find a solution for his trust issues.

Issues: E4 are still broadcasting the pre-recorded programme featuring him and his TV wife April after he was arrested

Speaking to the camera alone, April said: ‘My biggest concern I expressed to Jose is that George has trust issues. 

‘I’m hoping that he can overcome it because I do want to see a future with him and that’s the only thing I can see stopping it from happening. That’s the biggest thing moving forward.’

‘I really hope that he can get there without sabotaging something that can be so amazing. That’s what I’m holding on to. I guess only time will tell.’

While George was at the bathroom, Jose asked April: ‘Do you think George is the one?’

April replied: ‘I don’t know, I think George could be the one. I literally adore George, the feelings I have towards him is not like a feeling I’ve ever had towards anyone ever in the past.’

At the weekend, April suggested that the relationship was over. A source close to April told The Sun that she is ‘having a very difficult time’ and ‘doesn’t want to ever see him again’.

A show source said that they were not aware of allegations against George before he married April on the television show.

But one of his ex-girlfriends claimed otherwise. ‘I’m so shocked to see he has been given a platform on a TV show. I messaged Married at First Sight. I said I reported him to the police,’ she told The Sun.

Behind-the-scenes: The former Miss Great Britain recently admitted she felt like she was ‘losing herself’ as she shared a snap of the show’s cast and members of the crew, George was notably absent