Jeremy Kyle taking legal action after Channel 4 doc claims guests on his ITV show were ‘duped and exploited’
JEREMY Kyle has called in lawyers against the makers of a Channel 4 documentary which will see ex-employees of the now cancelled TV show claiming guests were “duped” and “exploited” by ITV staff. The seasoned broadcaster helmed the The Jeremy Kyle Show for 14 years until 2019. It was cancelled following the death of guest […]
JEREMY Kyle has called in lawyers against the makers of a Channel 4 documentary which will see ex-employees of the now cancelled TV show claiming guests were “duped” and “exploited” by ITV staff.
The seasoned broadcaster helmed the The Jeremy Kyle Show for 14 years until 2019.
It was cancelled following the death of guest Steve Dymond, who took his own life days after it was suggested he had cheated on his fiancée when he had failed a lie detector test in May 2019.
Claims being made within the hour-long documentary include former ITV production staff explaining how they exploited guests to make their behaviour more extreme.
A source close to Jeremy says many of the allegations made in the documentary are verifiably false.
In a statement, Jeremy himself said: “I would like to reiterate my deepest sympathies to the friends and family of Mr Dymond.
“I’ve consistently maintained it would be inappropriate to discuss the tragic death of Steve Dymond before the legal inquest into it has concluded.
“Likewise, the false and damaging allegations made against me by Channel 4 are with the lawyers now.
“No doubt ITV will address the issues raised by Channel 4 around ITV’s production of The Jeremy Kyle Show themselves, it would be wrong for me to speak on their behalf.
“Now is not the time to debate or discuss what is an ongoing legal process. When I can respond, I will.”
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The inquest into Steve Dymond’s death will take place later this month.
In the documentary Steve Dymond’s ex-fiancee Jane speaks out and said she does not blame Jeremy for what happened to Steve.
Steve took his own life aged 63 after appearing on The Jeremy Kyle Show and said in a note to Jane: “I could not live another day without you. I did lie to you but I could never, never have cheated on you.
“I really did come on the Jeremy Kyle show to prove to you I never cheated but it all went wrong. I love you forever.”
Speaking in the documentary, Jane says of Jeremy: “I think he’s brilliant. I feel sorry for him because he lost his job.
“I don’t hate Jeremy Kyle and I didn’t blame him. I can’t put the blame on someone else when I feel partly to blame myself.”
The show hears from Emma Ibbertson, whose partner Adrian Hughes attempted to take his own life after appearing on the show in 2015.
Paul Pawson, 57, tells the documentary his wife Erica took her own life in 2005 after he was exposed as a cheat on the programme and says he literally “beat himself up” until he was black and blue in the wake of her death.
David Staniforth – who appeared on the show in 2007 after his wife of 26 years left him for a close friend – claimed staff goaded him throughout the day before he attacked his love rival on stage.
Producers who worked for ITV are also accused of lying to the families of addicts, telling them they were in competition with three other guests for one place at rehab.
In a statement, ITV said: “More than 20,000 people took part in the show seeking help to resolve relationship issues, or to address drug or alcohol related problems… and the show achieved many positive outcomes.
“The show had a dedicated guest welfare team of mental healthcare professionals. Guests were supported prior to filming, throughout filming and after filming.
“ITV does not accept the central allegation of this programme of a ‘bad culture’ within the production team. ITV would never condone any of its production staff misleading or lying to guests.”
ITV said all the guests were “aware of the nature of the show and the presenter’s style” and gave written consent.
