Just weeks after the cancellation of The Jeremy Kyle Show, the confrontational host is said to be returning to ITV.
According to reports, Kyle is returning to television with another series of The Kyle Files – a programme in which he investigates various issues in the UK and their impact on people’s lives, such as knife crime, legal highs and underage drinking.
It’s also suggested Kyle is currently discussing ideas for another, new show with ITV bosses, with his previous series Jeremy Kyle’s Emergency Room and High Stakes as starting-off points.
Jeremy Kyle’s Emergency Room saw members of the public talk about their medical issues to doctors, which would then be resolved. It lasted for two seasons. While High Stakes was a short-lived game show, in which contestants competed in a series of tasks and general knowledge to win £500,000. It lasted one season.
According to the Mirror, sources have said The Kyle Files will be on air in 2020, while ITV discuss another show for the presenter.
The Jeremy Kyle Show was cancelled for good by ITV in May this year. The decision came after a former guest of the show, 63-year-old Steven Dymond, was found dead at his home ten days after appearing on the programme.
Following the news of Dymond’s death, ITV initially suspended production of the show, then decided to axe the programme altogether shortly afterwards.
In a statement at the time, ITV said:
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.
The previously announced review of the episode of the show is under way and will continue.
ITV will continue to work with Jeremy Kyle on other projects.
Earlier this month, Kyle was asked to appear before MPs as part of inquiry into reality TV, and the care and aftercare of guests and contestants.
However, Kyle turned down the request to give evidence, despite the committee from the department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), who are running the inquiry, calling the host ‘an important witness’, as ITV News reports.
The committee have said they will be ‘pursuing this matter’ and try to find a date when Kyle will appear to give evidence.
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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.