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KYLE ON TRIAL
Jeremy Kyle fears ITV bosses ‘are trying to stitch him up’ to axe his show after guest’s death
Pals say TV host is afraid of being made a scapegoat as calls grow to axe show
JEREMY Kyle fears ITV bosses have been looking for an excuse to axe his daytime show for good.
He told pals he is afraid of being made a scapegoat after a guest who failed a love-cheat lie detector test died of a drugs overdose days later.
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His concerns emerged as the axe man who binned Big Brother was tasked to launch an investigation.
The Sun revealed on Tuesday how Steve Dymond took the test on the show to convince fiancée Jane Callaghan he had not been unfaithful.
The pair split after he failed. Pals fear Steve, 63, took his own life.
Kyle’s show is the channel’s most popular daytime programme and has been running for 14 years.
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But a source said: “Jeremy and those on the show are worried that this could be the nail in the coffin.
“There’s been a groundswell of criticism since the news broke of Steve’s death, and there’s a feeling from people who work on the show that top bosses might decide to use the incident as a reason to change things around.”
Insiders say new ITV chief executive Dame Carolyn McCall, 57, has never been a fan of the abrasive show — which she believes clashes with the rest of the network’s daytime schedule.
She has put Julian Bellamy — the managing director of ITV Studios, who make the show — in charge of the review of the tragedy.
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PM 'deeply concerned'
THERESA May on Tuesday night said she was “deeply concerned” at the apparent suicide of a guest from The Jeremy Kyle Show.
Kyle, 53, fears ITV bosses will make him a scapegoat amid growing calls from MPs and ex-contestants for his suspended show to be axed.
The body of tragic Steve Dymond, 63, lay undiscovered “for days” in his flat, it emerged yesterday. His death came after he failed a love-cheat lie detector test.
The Prime Minister demanded that TV bosses provide more support for guests. Her spokesman said: “This is a deeply concerning case. Broadcasters and production companies have a responsibility for the mental health and well-being of participants and viewers of their programmes.
“We are clear they must have appropriate levels of support.”
Tory MP Charles Walker, the vice-chairman of the parliamentary group on suicide, called Mr Dymond’s death a “watershed moment”. He demanded Kyle’s show be taken off air permanently, adding: “There’s enough cruelty in the world without showing it on TV. This programme really has no place.”
Tory MP Damian Collins said the culture select committee will today discuss protection for people on reality TV shows.
He added: “My concern about shows like Jeremy Kyle’s is that they can put vulnerable people in very exposed positions.”
A spokesman for media watchdog Ofcom said: “We are discussing this programme with ITV as a priority to understand what took place.”
By Andy Halls and Kate Ferguson
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Bellamy was head of Channel 4 in 2009 when Big Brother was dropped after eleven series.
His then boss Kevin Lygo is now ITV’s Director of Television.
ITV sources say The Jeremy Kyle Show will not return this week as the production crew were told to down tools.
It could be off screen for longer as it works a week in advance.
Read Trisha Goddard's comment piece: Jeremy Kyle Show ‘lost the plot’ because it was never about the guests
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Jeremy Kyle show pulled off air and suspended indefinitely after guest died shortly after filming
However, insiders say the series might return as soon as Monday if a review totally clears its processes.
But those close to Jeremy, 53, believe bosses may use the sad events to remove the show entirely.
The source added: “Senior figures at ITV think the schedule should be more wholesome and that this jars with it a bit. The CEO has told people she wants ITV to be upbeat and positive.”
Professor Jonathan Shalit OBE, who previously represented Jeremy, said: “If taking the show off air could bring back this man’s life then do it. Unfortunately it will not.
'Abuse drove me to suicide bid'
DWAYNE Davison took an overdose owing to the sustained abuse he received after the show.
The 27-year-old, who suspected his partner of cheating, said he was a smart dresser but producers forced him to wear a tracksuit. He was also told to “shout louder than Kyle”.
Doorman Dwayne, from Nottingham, said he was then attacked in the street after his appearances in 2014 and 2015 and still gets abused daily on social media.
He said: “In 2018 I tried to take my own life because it all just became too much. I was incredibly miserable because of the show.”
“Whatever decision ITV and Dame Carolyn make, they will do so for the right reasons.
“If there’s a direct failing by someone on the show it could go, but ITV cares greatly about its aftercare and it feels unlikely that was the case.”
In an email to all ITV staff yesterday Dame Carolyn said the organisation had been “shocked and saddened” by the events.
She insisted no knee-jerk reactions would be made about the show’s long-term future. She said: “This was a very difficult decision to make but we felt it would be inappropriate to continue to broadcast the show when a participant on it has so recently died.
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'I was set up - he ruins lives'
GULF War veteran Fergus Kenny went on the show in 2016 thinking he would be reunited with his estranged daughter Hayleigh.
But the audience booed him and Kyle called him a disgrace.
PTSD-sufferer Fergus, of Coalville, Leics, considered suicide.
He said: “It was a set-up. The show makes entertainment out of people’s misery.”
His wife Crissy, 59, pictured with Fergus, said: “Kyle thinks he’s God but he ruins lives.”
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“This decision is not in any way a reflection on the show, but the best way we think we can protect the show and production team from the reaction we expect to this death.”
She added: “Julian Bellamy will be travelling to Manchester tomorrow to meet with the production team. We are offering everyone involved support from the Employee Assistance Programme and there will be counsellors on site in Manchester to offer any support people may need.”
In a further headache for bosses the show chosen to temporarily replace Kyle — Dickinson’s Real Deal — flopped in the ratings.
The antiques show, hosted by David Dickinson, 77, was watched by just 360,000 viewers at one point on Monday — 750,000 down on Kyle’s audience last week.
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Goaded, duped and spat on
JULIE Deighton and Steve Robson say they were “duped, goaded and ridiculed” on the show.
They were invited on after Steve’s daughter, Stevie, wanted him to take a DNA test to prove he was the dad, which it did.
Despite being assured Steve’s criminal background would not be used, he was introduced as a “former druggie alcoholic who has been in prison most of his daughter’s life”.
Julie, 48, said: “The audience started to boo. Steve was made out to be a monster.”
She added: “When Kyle started on me, I got showered with his saliva. I felt physically sick.”
A TV source added: “A quick decision will have to be made, They cannot afford to lose that much audience long-term. The impact on shows either side of it, Lorraine and This Morning, will be catastrophic.
“Jeremy’s brilliant and consistent ratings might save the show.”
Father-of-one Steve was found dead ten days after his segment was filmed on Thursday, May 2.
His heartbroken former partner Jane said they split after Jeremy revealed to the audience Steve had failed a lie test.
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She praised Kyle’s team for their aftercare efforts adding that show reps repeatedly attempted to contact Steve following his appearance.
An inquest will be held.
Jane has received notification that she is due to receive a parcel — and believes it may have been sent by Steve and could contain clues to what happened.
YOU'RE NOT ALONE
EVERY 90 minutes in the UK a life is lost to suicide.
It doesn't discriminate, touching the lives of people in every corner of society - from the homeless and unemployed to builders and doctors, reality stars and footballers.
It's the biggest killer of people under the age of 35, more deadly than cancer and car crashes.
And men are three times more likely to take their own life than women.
Yet it's rarely spoken of, a taboo that threatens to continue its deadly rampage unless we all stop and take notice, now.
That is why The Sun launched the You're Not Alone campaign.
The aim is that by sharing practical advice, raising awareness and breaking down the barriers people face when talking about their mental health, we can all do our bit to help save lives.
Let's all vow to ask for help when we need it, and listen out for others... You're Not Alone.
If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support:
- CALM, , 0800 585 858
- Heads Together,
- Mind, , 0300 123 3393
- Papyrus,, 0800 068 41 41
- Samaritans, , 116 123
Jeremy Kyle guest posted haunting Facebook messages about ‘suffering alone’
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