Jeremy Kyle Show counsellor Graham Stanier breaks his silence to defend the show after Channel 4 doc
JEREMY Kyle counsellor Graham Stainer has defended the show in the wake of the explosive Channel 4 documentary.
The expert says the programme helped thousands of people via counselling, family mediation and anger management sessions.
He said: “Many people benefited from the aftercare service provided by the Jeremy Kyle show and there were also many who benefited and didn’t appear on the show.
“The service had a positive impact on many people’s lives and, in some cases, those whose needs are often unheard and ignored within our society were acknowledged and heard by the aftercare team.”
The counsellor also said how the show “challenged” homophobia, transphobia and racism and it “provided a platform” to brave survivors of domestic abuse to raise public awareness.
The Jeremy Kyle Show was axed by ITV in 2019 following the death of Steve Dymond, who took a lie detector test that ended his engagement.
In 2019, shortly before the show’s cancellation in the wake of Mr Dymond’s death, Stanier appeared before a Department of Culture, Media and Sport committee investigating UK reality TV.
Kyle declined a request to give evidence at the same inquiry.
Stanier was asked whether he agreed with Kyle’s confrontation presentation style.
“That is the presenter’s style,” he replied. “I’m responsible for me and my behaviour. I can’t be responsible for the presenter’s behaviour.
“I’m responsible for me and for the guests. The responsibility for the presenter lies with production… I’m never comfortable with black and white statements.”
A letter to the committee from ITV chief executive Carolyn McCall revealed that, during the filming of the last season alone, Stanier had advised producers to drop 49 guests from the show to protect their welfare.
Kyle insisted this week there are “two sides to every story” after he and his former show were heavily criticised in the documentary.
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The TV host said: “I will not comment on the tragic death of Steve Dymond until the legal process is finished.”
Kyle said when the time was right, he would “have my say”. An inquest will be held later this month.
In the documentary, a former member of Kyle’s staff claimed: “Jeremy was incredibly nasty.”