A coroner has determined the ITV show The Jeremy Kyle Show bore no responsibility for the tragic suicide of Steve Dymond, who took his own life just days after filming. This decision brings closure to what has been a contentious debate surrounding the show and its impact on participants.
Steve Dymond, 63, from Portsmouth, filmed his appearance on The Jeremy Kyle Show in May 2019 and became distraught after failing a lie detector test. This test was meant to prove his fidelity to his fiancée, Jane Callaghan, from Gosport. According to the coroner, Jason Pegg, the distress experienced by Dymond was largely due to his mental health struggles exacerbated by the breakdown of his personal relationships.
Pegg stated during the ruling on September 10, "These accounts are not supported with any independent expert evidence to evaluate the impact of his treatment on the show due to insufficient connections drawn between Dymond's distress and the production of the show itself." This conclusion challenges the claims made by Dymond's family, who have criticized the show’s handling of sensitive issues during recordings.
After the airing of his episode, Dymond's mental state apparently deteriorated, leading him to take his own life just seven days later. Coroner Pegg remarked, "Mr. Dymond's decision to take his own life was made against the backdrop of mental distress, likely worsened by his fear of relationship failure. His participation on the program depicted him as having lied to his partner, which added to his turmoil.”
Dymond reportedly left notes for his family, expressing his despair but did not place blame on the show's treatment. Coroner Pegg emphasized, "There is nothing in those notes where Mr. Dymond is really criticizing his treatment by the show." This underlines the debate on reality television's influence on participants' lives and mental well-being.
Following the coroner's ruling, Jeremy Kyle released a statement expressing relief, stating he had been "exonerated" from accusations linking him to Dymond's death. He expressed gratitude to those who supported him during this challenging ordeal, reiteratively affirming, "His Majesty’s Coroner has today clearly and unequivocally found I did not cause or contribute to the tragic suicide of Steve Dymond." Kyle's public image has been heavily affected since Dymond's death, facing backlash and scrutiny for his role as host.
Dymond's son, Carl Woolley, commented on the outcome, reflecting on his father's reality television experience. He shared, "The only good thing to come from my father's death is the cancellation of The Jeremy Kyle Show." Woolley described watching clips of the show and noted the emotional turmoil evident during Dymond's appearance, indicating how the treatment might have been damaging.
Regarding the use of lie detectors on the show, Pegg remarked the accuracy of such tests ranges from 60 to 96%. There was, hence, insufficient evidence to confirm whether Dymond had actually lied in the test, which was aimed at confirming his fidelity.
ITV, the network behind The Jeremy Kyle Show, expressed deep sympathy toward Dymond’s family and noted it continuously strives to augment the care and support offered to guests on its programs. A spokesperson said, "We extend our deepest sympathies to those close to Mr. Dymond and recognize the significant difficulties everyone faced throughout the past five years. We are committed to ensuring comprehensive duty of care processes are followed and continually enhancing the standards for the selection, protection, and support of participants on our shows."
This situation has sparked wider conversations about the ethics of reality television and how participants are treated, raising questions about the responsibility of networks and producers. Many are now calling for more stringent guidelines and oversight to safeguard the well-being of individuals who share their lives on such platforms.
The ruling has left many questioning the boundaries of reality TV, and whether more can be done to protect participants from potential emotional fallout. With tensions still high–especially among the viewing public and advocates for mental health awareness–it's clear this conversation is far from over. The impact of The Jeremy Kyle Show and similar programs on individuals' mental health will remain subject to scrutiny as society reflects on the ethics of television entertainment.
