By Gabriel Princewill-
The decision by ITV to axe the Jeremy Kyle Show over the suicide of one of their guests exposes the weakness of the corporation bosses and the leadership of the broadcaster.
Bosses of the popular daytime show pulled off air after 14 years as a daytime programme were clearly unable to defend their position after revelations that a former guest on their show had killed himself.
The ITV programme was popular for its a dramatic confrontations by suspicious partners who came on the show to seek definitive answers as to whether their lovers had been cheating on them or not. Infidelity has historically been the downfall of many relations across the world, it betrays the love and commitment shown by the honest party to a relationship.
A lie detector test conducted by the show has always been the accepted arbiter of truth, often dividing former lovers and partners whenever the test showed them to be deceptive.
Some guests have protested the outcome of the lie detector tests but its findings have always been asserted by Kyle to be gospel and reliable. Unless Itv bosses are unsure about the credibility and reliability of the test, their rash decision to terminate the show was poor. It could readily be seen to be synonymous with the view that the show was a terrible idea from the start.
DEAL
All guests who participated in the Jeremy Kyle show knew the deal from the outset. They were fully aware of what they were getting into before appearing on the show. This time one of their guests, Steve Dymond, committed suicide after efforts to convince his fiancee he was not cheating came back to be untrue when he failed the lie detector test on the show.
Jeremy Kyle apparently laid into him following the revelation he had failed the lie detector test, but Kyle’s act was standard procedure for his shows.
Verbal attacks from Jeremy Kyle directed at allegedly dishonest guests has been a customary feature of the show . Guests shown to be lying are vilified and urged to be truthful to their partner. This case turned out to be tragic and disastrous, but should not make the show culpable for his death in any way .
ITV’s CEO Carolyn McCall said it was :’the right time for the show to end’ given the ‘gravity of recent events. 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.”
This statement was an avowed admission of either ineptitude or culpability on the part of ITV. Frankly the broadcaster lacked the ability to provide a strong defence and justification for continuing the well loved show. Alternatively, Itv was admitting that the show was inherently prone to dangers it should have foreseen.
A temporary suspension of the show for a few weeks would have sufficed as a gesture of sympathy to express their condolences, but total discontinuity appears to be indicative of some hidden truth. Could they be hiding something we don’t know?
Representatives of the broadcaster were speechless when confronted by The Eye Of Media.Com with our perspective, but Emma Bidding form ITV’s press centre told The Eye Of Media.Com that we would get a full response when their ”busy and dedicated team ” get a chance. We shall see.
SPECULATIONS
Already their are speculations that either Channel 4 or Channel 5 is about to poach Kyke for a revamped version of the show, secure in the knowledge no law can prohibit the concept in essence. Mp’s had apparently wanted the show axed, without providing any logical reason for their disposition.
ILLOGICAL
Axing a show because one contestant committed suicide is like closing down a road on the motorway because someone died on it. Why not ban boxing because some boxers have died in the past, or avoid forming relationships because murderers have emerged from domestic relationships.
The decision to axe the show merely exposes the mental fragility of ITV bosses who were patently lacking in adequate discretion. Mps say they will investigate the situation as well as other tragic outcomes in reality shows. That will be interesting to see.