U.K. TV Series 'The Jeremy Kyle Show' Canceled After Guest Steve Dymond Dies by Suicide One Week After Taping
Editor's Note
If you experience suicidal thoughts or have lost someone to suicide, the following post could be potentially triggering. You can contact the Crisis Text Line by texting “START” to 741741.
British TV company ITV has permanently canceled “The Jeremy Kyle Show” after 14 years on air following the suicide of Steve Dymond, a guest who died one week after taping an episode for the series.
Often likened to “The Jerry Springer Show” in the U.S., “The Jeremy Kyle Show” was ITV’s most popular day-time program, watched by an average of 1 million viewers.
The show regularly aired controversial content, including feuds between loved ones, lie detector tests to settle disagreements and violent outbursts from show guests in front of a live studio audience. “The Jeremy Kyle Show” has been called “theater of cruelty” by a former president of the Royal College of Psychiatrists.
“Given the gravity of recent events we have decided to end production of ‘The Jeremy Kyle Show,’” ITV said in a statement to the press. “‘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.”
This isn’t the first time a controversial U.K. reality TV show has come under fire for failing to support contestants. After the reported suicides of reality show “Love Island” contestants Sophie Gradon, Aaron Armstrong and Mike Thalassitis, many have suggested reality TV producers need to do more to protect the well-being of cast members.
According to the BBC, U.K. communications regulatory office Ofcom has requested that ITV share the findings from their investigation into Dymon’s death with them.
“While ITV has decided to cancel the programme, its investigation into what happened is continuing and we will review the findings carefully,” an Ofcom spokesperson told the BBC.
If this news is hard for you, know there is help available for people who feel suicidal. You can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or text “START” to 741-741.
If you’d like to connect with people who really “get” what it’s like to live with a mental illness, The Mighty community is here for you. To give and get support, post a Thought or Question on The Mighty with the hashtag #CheckInWithMe.
You can also check out these stories that have helped others in The Mighty community:
Header image via ITV and Flickr.
Hi, I'm Juliette. I'm the former Mental Health Editor at The Mighty. I joined The Mighty because I believe storytelling is a powerful tool in raising awareness about mental health and trauma. I'm inspired every day by the brave vulnerability of our community. #MightyTogether
juliette-v