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Jeremy Kyle: ITV urged to ditch show after guest kills himself Jeremy Kyle: ITV says it acted to protect show after guest's death
(32 minutes later)
ITV has been urged to permanently pull the Jeremy Kyle Show after a guest who failed a lie-detector test on the programme killed himself. Jeremy Kyle’s programme was taken off air to “protect the show” from adverse reaction, ITV’s chief executive has said as the broadcaster faced pressure from MPs to drop the programme permanently following the death of a guest who failed a lie-detector test.
The talkshow was suspended indefinitely by the broadcaster after a guest, named by the Sun as 63-year-old Steve Dymond, died a week after filming. ITV suspended the show indefinitely after a guest, named as 63-year-old Steve Dymond from Portsmouth, died a week after filming. Hampshire police said the death was not being treated as suspicious.
Dymond took a lie-detector test to convince fiancee Jane Callaghan he had not been unfaithful but they split after he failed the test. ITV’s chief executive, Carolyn McCall, told staff in an internal email that the decision to halt production was “not in any way a reflection on the show”. She said it was the “best way we think we can protect the show and the production team from the reaction we expect to this death”.
ITV said staff at the broadcaster and the show’s production team were “shocked and saddened” at the death and the episode would be reviewed. McCall said the programme’s production team would be offered counselling.
The Conservative MP Charles Walker, a vice-chairman of the all-party parliamentary group on suicide and self-harm prevention, called for the show to be pulled. Dymond took a lie-detector test to convince his fiancee, Jane Callaghan, that he had not been unfaithful. They split after it concluded he was lying.
He said: “The Jeremy Kyle show has run its course. It ran its course a long time ago. As it is Mental Health Awareness Week, the best thing ITV can do is announce it is no longer commissioning the show.” ITV said staff at the broadcaster and the show’s production team were “shocked and saddened” at his death, and the programme’s production would be reviewed.
Walker described it as “an unattractive form of television, based on the bullying of the weak and vulnerable”, adding the show’s format is “not compatible with a responsible society and a responsible broadcaster”. The Conservative MP Charles Walker, a vice-chair of the all-party parliamentary group on suicide and self-harm prevention, called for the show to be pulled.
He added: “I do think the Jeremy Kyle show and those involved will feel a sense of responsibility and a sense of grief, clearly not on the same scale as this man’s family. As human beings with their own family, perhaps now they will decide this too can’t continue.”. He said: “The Jeremy Kyle Show has run its course. It ran its course a long time ago. As it is Mental Health Awareness Week, the best thing ITV can do is announce it is no longer commissioning the show.”
Damian Collins, the chairman of the Commons digital, culture, media and sport committee, said TV companies “have a duty to care for the people who take part in their programmes”, while the Conservative MP Simon Hart, who also sits on the committee, described the show as “car-crash TV which revels in people’s terrible misfortune and sometimes their vulnerabilities”. Walker described it as “an unattractive form of television, based on the bullying of the weak and vulnerable”. He said the show’s format was “not compatible with a responsible society and a responsible broadcaster”.
Honey Langcaster-James, a TV psychologist who has worked on ITV shows including Love Island, said: “I think that the format of the Jeremy Kyle Show is one that we could and should be moving away from.” He added: “I do think the Jeremy Kyle Show and those involved will feel a sense of responsibility and a sense of grief, clearly not on the same scale as this man’s family. As human beings with their own family, perhaps now they will decide this too can’t continue.”.
She added: “It is possible to make entertaining TV that does not revolve around the potential humiliation of guests who are suffering from a variety of difficulties, such as addiction.” Damian Collins, the chair of the Commons digital, culture, media and sport committee, said TV companies “have a duty to care for the people who take part in their programmes”. The Conservative MP Simon Hart, who also sits on the committee, described the show as “car-crash TV which revels in people’s terrible misfortune and sometimes their vulnerabilities”.
The behavioural psychologist Jo Hemmings, who has worked for shows including Big Brother, said it was time for ITV to decommission the programme. “It’s an archaic kind of show, it probably was when it was first commissioned, but now it seems very out of step with our attitude with mental health issues.” Honey Langcaster-James, a TV psychologist who has worked on ITV shows including Love Island, said: “I think that the format of the Jeremy Kyle Show is one that we could and should be moving away from. It is possible to make entertaining TV that does not revolve around the potential humiliation of guests who are suffering from a variety of difficulties, such as addiction.”
Callaghan said Dymond had been “quietly struggling”, but praised the show’s team for their after-care efforts. She told the Sun: “They were brilliant. They were there when he needed help. They were really persistent in offering him help.” Jo Hemmings, a behavioural psychologist who has worked for shows including Big Brother, said it was time for ITV to decommission the programme. “It’s an archaic kind of show. It probably was when it was first commissioned, but now it seems very out of step with our attitude with mental health issues.”
Callaghan said that shortly before they went on the show, Dymond had convinced her he had not cheated, but the pair split up afterwards. Callaghan said Dymond had been “quietly struggling”, but she praised the show’s team for their after-care efforts. She told the Sun: “They were brilliant. They were there when he needed help. They were really persistent in offering him help.”
Callaghan said that shortly before they went on the show, Dymond convinced her he had not cheated, but the pair split up following the test.
A Hampshire police spokeswoman said: “I can confirm that we were called at 1.24pm on Thursday 9 May following the discovery of a body of a man in his 60s at an address in Grafton St, Portsmouth. The death is not being treated as suspicious and a file is being prepared for the coroner.”A Hampshire police spokeswoman said: “I can confirm that we were called at 1.24pm on Thursday 9 May following the discovery of a body of a man in his 60s at an address in Grafton St, Portsmouth. The death is not being treated as suspicious and a file is being prepared for the coroner.”
ITV did not show Monday morning’s episode and has wiped all previous episodes from its on-demand service, the ITV Hub. They will also not be shown on ITV2. ITV did not show Monday morning’s episode and has wiped all previous episodes from its on-demand service, ITV Hub. They will also not be shown on ITV2.
A celebrity edition starring the former X Factor contestant Christopher Maloney and ex-EastEnders actor Danniella Westbrook was due to air on Tuesday, but will be rescheduled, according to both.
The broadcaster said the episode featuring the participant who died would be submitted for a review due to the “seriousness of this event”.
In the talkshow, which has had a regular daytime morning slot on ITV since 2005, host Kyle and psychotherapist Graham Stanier help the guests talk through their personal issues in front of a studio audience.In the talkshow, which has had a regular daytime morning slot on ITV since 2005, host Kyle and psychotherapist Graham Stanier help the guests talk through their personal issues in front of a studio audience.
In 2014, the regulator Ofcom criticised the show for not doing enough to prevent the distress and humiliation of a 17-year-old guest who was called a “crackhead” and a “silly anorexic slapper” by her older sister.
• In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org. In the US, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-8255. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. Other international suicide helplines can be found at www.befrienders.org.• In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org. In the US, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-8255. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. Other international suicide helplines can be found at www.befrienders.org.
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