Morbidly obese and unable to work, Jonathan Kingston was at rock bottom when he went on the Jeremy Kyle show in 2017 - a move he says saved his life
WEIGHING 30 stone and unable to work because of his weight, Jonathan Kingston had hit the lowest point of his life when he desperately turned to the Jeremy Kyle Show for help in 2017.
And now the dad-of-one has spoken out in defence of the show - which was cancelled this week - saying it saved his life.
Jeremy Kyle helped him lose seven stone by sending him to a bootcamp, giving him a second chance at life.
And while other guests have come out and said that the show took advantage of them and there was no support following broadcast, Jonathan says got monthly texts from a member of the production team for over a year afterwards checking to see how he was.
He says: "If I hadn't gone on the Jeremy Kyle Show I'd probably have been dead within a few months because of my weight- it was a lifeline for some.
"I was shocked to hear the show had been cancelled. I felt it did more good than anything. It's a show that's needed.
Jonathan, who lives in Dolton, Devon, went on the Jeremy Kyle show in 2017 with his mum Sue, who begged him to change his lifestyle for the sake of his health.
At that point, he weighed over 30st as a result of depression, anxiety and an unhealthy junk food obsession, bingeing daily on takeaways and eating Pot Noodles and meatballs for breakfast.
Dad-of-one Jonathan says: "My son was just three when I went on the show. I was at my lowest point, rock bottom.
"I was living with my parents, and didn't have a job. I tried everything - every diet known to man, going to the doctors and even considered surgery, but nothing worked until Jeremy sent me to bootcamp."
While many guests have criticised the before and after care they received, Jonathan says he was made aware of what the process entailed from the very beginning .
He says: "Before I went on the show they spoke to me for weeks. They told me Jeremy was going to be straight with me, and tell me how it is, and that's what I needed.
"Jeremy was straight with me - I didn't need mollycoddling - he was straight to the point.
"I'd rather that than someone beat around the bush. I was shocked to hear the truth but I had to hear it. People now won't have the chance to have that experience.
"After the show I would get a text once a month asking me how I was getting on."
After being given the brutal truth, Jonathan embarked on a 12-week military style bootcamp, and he's remained dedicated to keeping the weight off ever since.
He says: "Jeremy Kyle and the show gave me a second chance.
"When I went back on the show after bootcamp it was like he was proud to have helped me.
"My weight had always been an issue but it's totally changed now. I can play football with my son, and do martial arts with him, and I now work full time as a supermarket checkout assistant.
"I would just say thank you to Jeremy Kyle and I wish he was still going. I have 100 per cent respect for him. Certain people need a show like Jeremy Kyle - he was a lifeline for some people, he was willing to listen to you.
"He is blunt but honest - if you can't face that, then don't apply to go on it.
"I had a very good experience on the show. My life is so much better now."
Jonathan isn't the only Jeremy Kyle guest who credits the show for improving their life.
Gemma Swift, 33, was mocked for her teeth after appearing on the show in 2016.
Now, she insists she has "no regrets" about going on the axed show.
