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Daily Record
Daily Record
Entertainment
Magdalene Dalziel & Kyle O'Sullivan

Jeremy Kyle then and now - new job, 'abandoned' by famous pals and claims he was a 'scapegoat'

Jeremy Kyle was a regular face on the ITV daytime schedule just a few years ago.

The controversial talkshow host was one of the most successful names for the channel until he was taken off air following the tragic death of guest Steve Dymond.

But over the past three years, Jeremy has been missing from screens.

The Jeremy Kyle Show was taken off the air in May 2019, as reports the Mirror.

Steve had taken a lie detector test to prove he hadn't cheated on his on-off fiancée Jane Callaghan, but was revealed to have failed the test, which is not 100 per cent accurate.

The 63-year-old had told one of the series researchers that "I wish I was dead" before being sent home in a taxi just two hours later.

Steve was tragically found dead in his rented room in Portsmouth two days later.

(Pixel8000)

An autopsy showed he had died of a morphine overdose and left ventricular hypertrophy.

The Jeremy Kyle Show was instantly suspended with immediate effect and filming was stopped.

A serious review was conducted - and former staff members and guests gave shocking insights into what really went on behind the scenes of the popular show.

Host Jeremy was said to be distraught after learning Steve had died shortly after filming for his series.

Jeremy said: "Myself and the production team I have worked with for the last 14 years are all utterly devastated by the recent events.

"Our thoughts and sympathies are with Steve’s family and friends at this incredibly sad time."

There had previously been plans for Jeremy to return to ITV with a brand new show - but it seems they have now been axed.

ITV boss Kevin Lygo confirmed that Jeremy Kyle was working on a brand new show to air on ITV, saying: "He was devastated. He really upset and obviously distraught someone had died who had recently been on his show and understood the decision.

"For him suddenly overnight to have lost the job he has been lorded over for 15 years, was a big jolt."

Lygo confirmed ITV was "piloting" Kyle's new project and that his investigative series The Kyle Files would return in 2020.

The ITV boss added: "We are piloting something with him and we will just have to have a look because he is a consummate broadcaster and it would be absolutely wrong to apportion blame of the show against the presenter of it.

"We don't hold him in any bad way. We will look to find another show with him but I think it is unlikely it will go in the same slot."

However, Kyle has yet to return to our screens and it is unclear what his role now is at ITV.

ITV bosses appeared in front of a House of Commons committee in June 2020 as part of an inquiry into reality TV organised by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.

Chairman Damian Collins said that Jeremy himself, who fronted the show for its duration, declined to attend.

The committee asked ITV chiefs about how participants were selected and how accurate lie detector tests were, as well as demanding details on documents that guests on reality TV shows are asked to sign.

An inquest into Mr Dymond’s death is still ongoing which prevents Kyle from discussing in detail the circumstances around the death.

Coroner Jason Pegg has confirmed that the presenter will be called to give evidence as a witness at the inquest.

In September last year, Jeremy finally broke his silence and claimed he felt "scapegoated" and unfairly blamed for the tragedy.

Jeremy said he knew his critics would say he 'got a taste of his own medicine' by seeing his show cancelled, but that it pushed him over the edge after a string of other things went wrong.

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