No clear link between Jeremy Kyle show and guest's suicide – coroner

There is “no clear link” between the appearance of a guest on The Jeremy Kyle Show and his suicide, a coroner has concluded.

Steve Dymond, 63, was found dead at his home in Portsmouth, Hampshire, in May 2019, seven days after taking part in the show.

Hampshire coroner Jason Pegg said there was “an absence of reliable evidence” that the events on the show directly led to his death.

Mr Pegg also concluded there was “insufficient evidence” that Jeremy Kyle contributed to Mr Dymond’s adverse mental state.

A representative for Kyle said the conclusion had “exonerated” the presenter, allowing his name to be “cleared,” adding the case “had taken a huge toll on him and his family”.

In a statement, delivered outside court by solicitors for Mr Dymond’s family, his son Carl Woolley said the “only good thing” that has come from his father’s death was that The Jeremy Kyle Show was cancelled.

‘Speculative’ to say Kyle caused Mr Dymond’s death

Coroner Jason Pegg said he had considered the evidence to determine whether “the comments and treatment by the presenter during [Mr Dymond’s] participation in the recording of the show contributed to his adverse mental state”.

He said there was “insufficient evidence” to be “satisfied that this was the direct cause of [Mr Dymond’s] distress”.

Mr Pegg told the Winchester inquest: “Having considered the evidence carefully there is an absence of reliable evidence that demonstrates that Steven Dymond’s appearance on the Jeremy Kyle Show probably caused or contributed to his death. To do so would be speculative.

“I am not satisfied that events on Jeremy Kyle Show gave rise to a clear link that caused or contributed to the death of Steven Dymond such that I should be recording this as a contributing factor.

“Steven Dymond had a history of a diagnosed personality disorder and mental illness which presented on a number of occasions before any appearance of the Jemery Kyle Show and resulted in Steve Dymond self-harming or displaying thoughts of suicide.”

‘No dissatisfaction’ over treatment during filming

Mr Pegg went on to say: “[Mr Dymond’s] decision to take his own life was made in the context of his mental distress that was probably exacerbated by his belief that a significant relationship had now irretrievably broken down following his participation on a television programme where it had been suggested that the deceased had lied to his partner.”

Mr Dymond had taken a lie detector test for the ITV programme after being accused of cheating on his ex-fiancee Jane Callaghan. Clips from the unaired show were played during the inquest.

The court was told Mr Dymond had been “booed” by the audience at the reveal of the test results, and told a researcher after filming had finished: “I wish I was dead.”

Mr Dymond was later described to the court as being left “broken” and “distraught” after appearing on the show.

Mr Pegg said there was “insufficient evidence” to say whether or not Mr Dymond had indeed lied during the lie detector test.

Noting ITV’s aftercare support, offered after filming, the coroner said: “Aftercare records indicate [Mr Dymond] was ’emotionally contained’ and expressed no dissatisfaction towards his treatment during the recording with a plan for follow up CBT [cognitive behavioural therapy] support.”

The court heard that the last known contact with Mr Dymond was on the evening of 6 May 2019. He was found dead in his room three days later.

The hearing heard he had left notes to his family indicating his intention to take his own life, with the coroner noting there was “nothing in those notes where Mr Dymond is critical of his treatment by the show”.

‘A huge toll’ on Kyle and his family

A statement on behalf of Kyle, issued after the inquest conclusion, said: “His Majesty’s Coroner has today clearly and unequivocally found that Jeremy Kyle did not in any way cause or contribute to the tragic suicide of Steve Dymond. He is now exonerated of that ill-informed accusation and his name has finally been cleared.

“Out of respect for the family of Mr Dymond and the judicial process, Jeremy has always maintained that it would be inappropriate to discuss details whilst the legal inquest was ongoing and he has remained steadfastly silent in the face of lies, false accusations and unfair criticism over the last five-and-a-half years.”

It went on: “This has taken a huge toll on him and his family and he would like to thank everyone who has truly supported him through these tough times.”

A coroner found Mr Dymond had died of a combination of a morphine overdose and a heart condition, and his cause of death was suicide.

ITV also put out a statement, extending their “deepest sympathies to those close to Mr Dymond”.

The broadcaster noted the coroner had confirmed The Jeremy Kyle Show had “comprehensive duty of care processes covering the selection of contributors who appeared on the show and their care both during and after filming”.

It also said those processes were followed with Mr Dymond “including the offer of follow-up cognitive behavioural therapy support”.

Their statement concluded: “ITV is committed to continuing to evolve and strengthen the care given to all those who take part in our shows which we believe set industry-leading standards for the selection, protection and support of participants.”

‘The only good thing… The Jeremy Kyle show is cancelled’

Mr Dymond’s death in 2019 added to growing scrutiny of broadcasters’ duty of care to reality TV participants, coming shortly after the death of two former Love Island contestants, Sophie Gradon and Mike Thalassitis, in 2018 and 2019 respectively.

In a statement, read outside the inquest by one of Mr Dymond’s family solicitors, his son Carl Woolley said: “It has been five years since my father died.

“In my view anyone watching the clips of the show would see that he was in tears, and spoken to in the most brutal way by Jeremy Kyle.

“The coroner has recorded that the lie detector test, in which Jeremy Kyle believes in so strongly, can have an accuracy of 60-96%.

“The only good thing that came from my father’s death is that The Jeremy Kyle Show is cancelled.”

‘Be a man, grow a pair’

Giving evidence earlier in the week, presenter Jeremy Kyle defended both his chat show and his presenting style, telling the court he neither “humiliated” or “belittled” Mr Dymond, insisting he had “de-escalated” the situation and “calmed it down”.

Clips played in court including Mr Kyle telling Mr Dymond: “Be a man, grow a pair of balls and tell her the goddam truth.”

Another featured the 59-year-old presenter asking: “Has anyone got a shovel?” as Mr Dymond attempted to explain why he had been messaging another woman.

A further clip showed Kyle saying: “The studio thought you were telling the truth, I wouldn’t trust you with a chocolate button, mate.”

The Jeremy Kyle Show first aired in 2005 and ran for 17 series before it was cancelled on 10 May 2019, the day after Mr Dymond’s death.

It was ITV’s most popular daytime programme.

Anyone feeling emotionally distressed or suicidal can call Samaritans for help on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org in the UK. In the US, call the Samaritans branch in your area or 1 (800) 273-TALK