The cancellation of The Jeremy Kyle Show has plunged ITV into one of the biggest British broadcasting scandals in recent years, with the company now facing a parliamentary inquiry into the treatment of reality TV guests. The controversy also threatens to overshadow the upcoming return of the highly profitable Love Island franchise next month.
The chain of events began when Steve Dymond, 63, recorded an appearance on the show two weeks ago. He was left distraught after failing a lie detector test over claims of infidelity to his fiancée. Although production staff believed the couple had calmed down by the time they left, they split up, and Dymond was found dead days later. ITV executives suspended production after his death was confirmed on Sunday, and late on Tuesday night, chief executive Carolyn McCall, head of television Kevin Lygo, and daytime boss Julian Bellamy collectively agreed the show could not be saved.
Media regulator Ofcom has demanded an initial report from ITV on the circumstances surrounding Dymond's participation by next Monday. The case has raised questions about broadcasters' responsibilities towards guests who voluntarily appear on programmes. TV producers and analysts note that long-running daytime shows like Jeremy Kyle, which expose the real-life personal problems of vulnerable guests, pose the biggest risk to broadcasters' reputations.
A former runner on the programme told the Guardian they quit after becoming uncomfortable with how guests were treated: “People would come in quite excited to be on the show but they were quite vulnerable. They felt this was their only option because they were told that a lie detector test that cost £700 would be free – and they’d get food and cigarettes and a free night’s hotel.” Politicians have linked Dymond's death to the suicides of two former Love Island contestants, Sophie Gradon and Mike Thalassitis, though their deaths occurred some time after filming.
ITV is now planning to offer support for Love Island contestants for more than a year after they appear. However, McCall has previously acknowledged there are limits to what broadcasters can control once participants leave the show. Jeremy Kyle issued his first comment on the case, telling the Sun he and his team were “utterly devastated by the recent events”, adding: “Our thoughts and sympathies are with Steve’s family at this incredibly sad time.”
