ITV cans Kyle show for good

Monday’s episode of The Jeremy Kyle Show was pulled at the last minute

UK commercial broadcaster ITV has cancelled its controversial morning chatshow The Jeremy Kyle Show permanently following the death of a participant.

The show was suspended on Monday morning pending an investigation into the death of Steve Dymond shortly after he took part in the recording of an episode due to air that day. It was replaced at short notice by antiques series Dickinson’s Real Deal.

Now the commercial broadcaster has confirmed the show, which has been a staple of its daytime schedules since it launched in 2005, will not be returning.

In a statement, CEO Carolyn McCall said: “Given the gravity of recent events we have decided to end production of The Jeremy Kyle Show.

“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.”

The show – known for heated arguments between guests, lie detector tests and audience heckling of participants – has often faced criticism for its treatment of vulnerable guests.

UK media regulator Ofcom said the show had failed to prevent the distress and humiliation of a 17-year-old participant in 2014, while in 2017 a judge branded it a “human form of bear baiting” after a man was convicted of assaulting another person on stage.