By Charlotte Webster-
The welfare of guests on TV shows is to be scrutinised by MPs and regulators in the wake of the death of a man who appeared on The Jeremy Kyle Show.
ITV permanently cancelled the daytime programme following the death of Steve Dymond, citing the gravity of events
An investigation to be conducted by a House of Commons media select committee on whether TV companies give guests enough support is a welcome step in the right direction. Individual could have various issues across a spectrum of mental health problems that could expose them to dangerous outcomes.
It would be a catastrophic mistake if the show never considered the different types of people that could potentially end up on their show and have them a fill a form identifying what categories they may fall under. There would be the extra issue of welfare provision as highlighted by Mps.
The suicide of a guest on the ITV show after failing a lie detector test was disturbing news. It raises questions as to whether the programme was adequately taking into account potential vulnerabilities of its guests before admitting them on the show.
CODES OF CONDUCT
Media regulator Ofcom is also examining whether to update its own code of conduct to safeguard the interests of those who take part in reality and factual shows.
It is “vital” that participants are properly looked after, Ofcom said.
“We’re examining whether more can be done to safeguard the welfare of those people, similar to the duty of care we have in the broadcasting code to protect under-18s,” a spokesperson said.
ITV are currently investigating Mr Dymond’s participation in The Jeremy Kyle show after he was found dead on 9 May, a week after filming the show where he failed a lie detector test.
Damian Collins MP, chair of the digital, culture, media and sport select committee, said: “There needs to be an independent review of the duty of care TV companies have to participants in reality TV shows.
“Programmes like The Jeremy Kyle Show risk putting people who might be vulnerable on to a public stage at a point in their lives when they are unable to foresee the consequences, either for themselves or their families.
“With an increasing demand for this type of programming, we’ll be examining broadcasting regulation in this area – is it fit for purpose?”If t s not fit for purpose, it would be a shameful realisation, but a change is better late than never.