TV executive rules out Jeremy Kyle returning to ITV as show would have been axed anyway

A TV executive has ruled out The Jeremy Kyle Show returning to ITV after revealing it would have been axed anyway.

It has been almost two years since the daytime programme was pulled from our screens following the death of former guest Stephen Dymond, who died of a drug overdose.

Speaking to BBC journalist Amol Rajan on his podcast, chief executive Dame Carolyn Julia McCall revealed why the show was scrapped.

‘We cancelled it because actually, we felt that… we did our own look at it,’ she began.

‘It was probably something we were looking at any way to be absolutely honest with you and we made that decision because in that moment, it was the right thing to do.

‘That doesn’t mean to say they did anything wrong on the show, it just felt that given what had happened, the severity of that situation, we just thought that was the right decision to take.’

In February 2020, it was confirmed that Jeremy was plotting his TV comeback ‘to have his say’ although, he has yet to comment any further on his return.

Last October it was also reported that Trisha Goddard was returning to ITV after 16 years in replace of The JK Show.

Dame Carolyn, who has been an executive for ITV since 2018, went on to discuss whether host Jeremy was ‘coming back to ITV imminently’.

‘Not that I know of, I don’t know what the plans are but not that I know of at the moment,’ she added.

‘Jeremy will certainly do lots of other stuff again, I am sure he will, not just on ITV. But, there are no plans at the moment.’

Following the programme’s axing in 2019, it was revealed that TV shows like Love Island and The Jeremy Kyle Show would face new rules on looking after its participants.

Ofcom confirmed that those taking part in TV and radio programmes must be ‘properly looked after’ by broadcasters.

The television watchdog announced new measures ‘in recognition of the growing openness and concern in society about mental health and wellbeing.’

‘We have also seen a steady rise in complaints about the welfare of people taking part in programmes in recent years,’ a spokesperson explained,

Broadcasters will need to take due care in programmes featuring ‘conflict or emotionally challenging situations’ or if it ‘requires a person to disclose life-changing or private aspects of their lives.’

Metro.co.uk has reached out to Jeremy Kyle’s rep for comment.

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