The Jeremy Kyle Show

I used to think that watching the Jeremy Kyle show was a guilty secret that no one should know about. Now everyone is talking about the show, and not for a nice reason!

Today the tabloid papers are full of a tragedy that has beset the program recently. A gentleman was left deeply upset after appearing on the filming of the show with his on and off girlfriend. He failed a lie detector test and, as is often the case with this show, was confronted by the host Jeremy Kyle. Mr Kyle is very good at hyping up the audience of his programs. He is a showman by all accounts but this time the gentleman in question committed suicide few days after the filming. The papers suggest that he was traumatised by his appearance and the vilification he received on the day. 

I have often thought about the people who appear on the Jeremey Kyle Show. It's a very well known program, and is very like the American style of presentation. On stage here we have the poor hard done by person. Here we have the perpetrator. Here we have family or friends supporting both sides. Let's get a confrontation and watch the fall out. The audience remind me of those I have read about in Roman times, watching the gladiators fighting to the death. The sounds of shock, the booing, the almost hysterical cheering all are encouraged by the ringmaster. It's all very slickly done and yes, it makes for entertaining horror. I've watched a few episodes and have been absolutely astounded, but couldn't seem to tear my eyes away from what was happening. In the end I decided the program was not for me, but I know many people enjoyed watching it. 

For the time being the show has been taken off ITV. The filming that includes the gentleman who committed suicide has not been aired. It is said that this gentleman was so distressed and upset after the program that it may have contributed to his suicide. How awful he must have felt. How terrible for his family, and they have my utmost sympathy.

So maybe this will tell the makers of the Jeremy Kyle Show that all this hyped up showmanship is reprehensible? While they do often provide support for addicts, and after care, it doesn't balance out the baiting of guests, and maybe now this sort of television program can be put to rest? The papers call it a tv circus and indeed it is, but are we not guilty of encouraging it by virtue of the fact almost 1.5 million people regularly watched it? I doubt this program will ever recover. Neither will the family of the gentleman who committed suicide.