Help, I Need Somebody

Pastor Pastor's Thought

After 14 years and 3,000 episodes, The Jeremy Kyle Show was axed by ITV following the suicide of a guest. The guest Steve Dymond took part in the programme and failed in a lie detector test.  Later, Mr Dymond was found dead on 9 May a week after filming the show. 

The Jeremy Kyle show has made its name and popularity in its airing of dysfunctional families and relationships of those that would be deemed as the underbelly of society. 

However, on this occasion, following the program, Mr Dymond felt that his only viable and necessary option was to take his own life. 

In response to this tragic situation,  ITV felt the withdrawal of the show was the only option available to them to take. 

ITV then made a statement saying, 

“Given the gravity of recent events we have decided to end production of The Jeremy Kyle Show. 

“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. 

“Everyone at ITV’s thoughts and sympathies are with the family and friends of Steve Dymond… 

“ITV will continue to work with Jeremy Kyle on other projects.” 

In response to the announcement, a committee of MPs launched an inquiry to examine the support that had been offered to guests on TV both during and post filming and airing.  

Although Jeremy Kyle is not the first of such TV genre, programs, the ingredients remain the same where the vulnerable air their personal lives in a public arena without much thought being given to the aftermath. 

The popularity of the Jeremy Kyle Show had daytime viewers of more than one million a 22% audience share. 

Such has been the magnitude of this tragedy that it has been reported that the watchdog is now examining whether to update its code of conduct to protect people from taking part in reality and factual shows. 

Speaking about reality TV, American comedian Bo Burnham says, ‘I think the love-hate is fundamental. Everyone hates reality television and everyone’s watching it. Everyone hates Facebook, and everyone is on it.’ 

In the Bible, St John 9, we read the story of the man born blind, where Jesus was asked who’s sin resulted in the man being born blind, the man or his parents?  it wasn’t!” Jesus answered. “But because of his blindness, you will see God work a miracle for him. John 9:3 

The reality of the blind man’s situation was that others had an opinion on his experience and had made a judgment against the family, both him and his parents. However, God had other plans, while folk were interested in the sin, God was interested in the healing and deliverance. 

It ought not to be that we conjure up an opinion on folks circumstances, but that we pray and seek out help, support, and healing to God’s glory.