In a statement released nearly a week after participant Steve Dymond was found dead, ITV's CEO Carolyn McCall says that it is now the right time for the long-running show to end.
- May 16, 2019
AceShowbiz - Britain's "The Jeremy Kyle Show" has been axed from TV after a guest died days after recording the show.
The long-running British tabloid talk show, hosted by 53-year-old Jeremy Kyle on U.K. network ITV, was suspended indefinitely earlier this week (end May 19) after a participant in an episode, Steve Dymond, was found dead on May 9 a week after filming the show, during which he took a lie detector test.
In a statement on Wednesday, May 15, ITV's CEO Carolyn McCall said production would come to an end following the tragic turn of events.
"Given the gravity of recent events we have decided to end production of 'The Jeremy Kyle Show'," she announced. " 'The Jeremy Kyle Show' has had a loyal audience and has been made by a dedicated production team for 14 years, but now is the right time for the show to end. Everyone at ITV's thoughts and sympathies are with the family and friends of Steve Dymond."
According to editors at BBC News, Mr. Dymond took part in a pre-recorded episode based on the subject of infidelity.
A member of the audience reportedly told the news outlet Mr. Dymond "collapsed to the ground" and was "sobbing" when he failed the lie detector test.
Officials at the broadcaster also indicated that a review into the episode featuring Dymond would continue despite the cancellation.
The show, which first aired in July 2005, has long been controversial as well as popular, as guests are invited to thrash out conflicts and relationship problems in front of a studio audience, often resulting in heated confrontations and scornful interventions from Kyle himself. Critics have claimed producers exploit the vulnerable and their personal problems for entertainment.
Another ITV programme, the hugely successful reality show "Love Island", has also come in for criticism as two former contestants, Sophie Gradon and Mike Thalassitis, both died by suicide after finding fame by competing in the dating contest.
