Steve Dymond/Facebook/ITVThe Jeremy Kyle Show was abruptly cancelled yesterday, May 13, with all filming being halted and all future airings of episodes put on hold by ITV.
It has now been revealed this is because of the death of a guest, who died just days after failing a lie detector test on the show.
The guest has been named as 63-year-old Steve Dymond, who had taken the test to convince his fiancée, Jane Callaghan, he had not been unfaithful. However, the pair split when he failed the test, and now his friends fear he may have taken his own life.
ITVIn a statement from ITV, the creators of the show said:
Everyone at ITV and The Jeremy Kyle Show is shocked and saddened at the news of the death of a participant in the show a week after the recording of the episode they featured in and our thoughts are with their family and friends.
It has been reported that Steve had sent messages to his fiancée in the days before his death saying: ‘I can’t live without you. I just wanted to come and see you. I just wanted to say sorry before I go. My life is not worth living without you.’
ITVSteve’s fiancée Jane told The Sun how he had wanted to appear on the show despite underlying health worries. He even had a doctor’s letter confirming he was fit enough to appear.
However, Jane added:
He wanted to go on. He was really excited and confident. But it was all a front and I knew it. He wasn’t well at all.
Steve was sadly found at his home, ten days after filming the episode. It is believed he died from an overdose of morphine, which was prescribed to him for arthritis.
Jane said:
I know we split up a week ago but we were together for two years. He was still my fiancé. I still loved him. As much as he was a pig to me I still loved him.
We got engaged Christmas Day 2017. He was crying, the love was real. He was the most generous and loving person. He was quietly struggling, and we didn’t know at the time. He cheated on me, I know he did. I can’t forgive but I just want him to be alive.
Despite failing the lie detector test, Steve maintained he had not cheated on Jane, insisting the test results must be inaccurate.
Speaking about their relationship, Jane said:
When we split in February he went to the doctor and was put on anti-depressants but he never took any. It was all for my benefit because I said he needed help.
When we went back the doctor said, ‘You look fine and happy’. Steve said he wasn’t depressed and said we were trying to work it out. Then we paid for that letter to get on to the show.
Jane, however, praised the show’s team, calling them ‘brilliant’ and ‘really persistent in offering [Steve] help.’
Jane and Steve’s family are now waiting for an official cause of death from a coroner.
If you have experienced a bereavement and would like to speak with someone in confidence contact Cruse Bereavement Care via their national helpline on 0808 808 1677.
Charlie Cocksedge is a journalist and sub-editor at UNILAD. He graduated from the University of Manchester with an MA in Creative Writing, where he learnt how to write in the third person, before getting his NCTJ. His work has also appeared in such places as The Guardian, PN Review and the bin.