The Jeremy Kyle Show should not be blamed for the death of one of its guests, a coroner has ruled.
'The Jeremy Kyle Show' Inquest: Footage Of Man Who Took His Own Life After Appearing On Now-Axed ITV Program Shown To Public For First Time
Hampshire coroner Jason Pegg has reportedly ruled that it would be speculative to link ITV’s Jerry Springer-style format to the suicide of Steve Dymond, 63, in May 2019.
Per Sky News, Pegg concluded: “There is an absence of reliable evidence that demonstrates that Steven Dymond’s appearance on The Jeremy Kyle Show probably caused or contributed to his death. To do so would be speculative.
“I am not satisfied that events on Jeremy Kyle Show gave rise to a clear link that caused or contributed to the death of Steven Dymond such that I should be recording this as a contributing factor.
“Steven Dymond had a history of a diagnosed personality disorder and mental illness which presented on a number of occasions before any appearance of The Jeremy Kyle Show and resulted in Steve Dymond self-harming or displaying thoughts of suicide.”
In a statement to media, a spokesperson for Kyle said: “His Majesty’s Coroner has today clearly and unequivocally found that Jeremy Kyle did not in any way cause or contribute to the tragic suicide of Steve Dymond. He is now exonerated of that ill-informed accusation and his name has finally been cleared.”
“This has taken a huge toll on him and his family and he would like to thank everyone who has truly supported him through these tough times.”
Dymond took his own life seven days after filming for the now-canceled The Jeremy Kyle Show and footage from the episode has never been aired before a hearing last week. The footage can be seen below.
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Dymond was asked if he had been unfaithful to his partner and responded, “No,” but the show’s lie detector test determined that he was lying. He was visibly distraught at the reading and Kyle talked up the reliability of the test, telling Dymond: “We stand 100% by that [lie detector test].” ITV later admitted that the tests were not totally unreliable.
ITV canceled Kyle’s show in May 2019. “Given the gravity of recent events we have decided to end production of The Jeremy Kyle Show ,” ITV CEO Carolyn McCall said at the time.
In a statement, ITV said: “We extend our deepest sympathies to those close to Mr Dymond and recognise how difficult the inquest and the past five years have been for them.
“The coroner did not find any causal link between Steve Dymond’s appearance on The Jeremy Kyle Show and his death.
“In the coroner’s findings of fact he confirmed that The Jeremy Kyle Show had comprehensive Duty of Care processes covering the selection of contributors who appeared on the show and their care both during and after filming.
“The coroner described how these processes were followed with Steve Dymond including the offer of follow-up Cognitive Behavioural Therapy support. ITV is committed to continuing to evolve and strengthen the care given to all those who take part in our shows which we believe set industry leading standards for the selection, protection and support of participants.”
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