THE Jeremy Kyle boss was today blasted after admitting the show’s lie detector tests are not accurate, as he was quizzed following a guest’s suicide.
Executive producer of the ITV show, Tom McLennan, told MPs he had no idea how accurate the tests were, but said the love-cheat tests are not always right.
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And the head of aftercare, Graham Stanier, confessed: “I totally accept I don’t know the percentage of success or the percentage of failure.”
The show’s bosses were hauled into Parliament to be quizzed in the wake of the tragic death of Steve Dymond, 63, who overdosed days after failing the test on the show.
It was then axed after Steve was found dead by his landlady 10 days after appearing to try and convince his partner he hadn’t been unfaithful.
Jane Callaghan claimed the digger driver was determined to go in front of the cameras despite having underlying health concerns – and he had claimed he’d applied for the show 300 times.
The couple split after he failed the lie detector test as friends feared Steve took his own life.
He was laid to rest in a pauper’s funeral earlier this month at Kingston Cemetery in Portsmouth.
Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) Committee chairman Damian Collins slammed show bosses, saying they should have known more about the accuracy of tests.
He said it was “astonishing” and “disappointing” that Mr McLennan could not provide the exact level of accuracy of lie-detector tests.
I totally accept I don’t know the percentage of success or the percentage of failure.
Tom McLennan
He added: “If it wasn’t for the lie-detector test we might not be sitting here today.”
Labour MP Jo Stevens said: “Why is the premise of the show based on an exercise that is obviously flawed and inaccurate.
“The premise of the show is fake isn’t it?”
She added: “You have a very, very unusual view of the concept of duty of care.”
Kyle rejected an invitation to appear before the committee and answer questions on the show.
Tory MP Giles Watling accused the telly bosses of “exploiting” vulnerable people.
He stormed: “You are presenting them with someone who has the razor sharp mind of a barrister and can tear them apart in public which is part of the entertainment in a sort of Roman Coliseum type way.”
Mr McLennan said: “I don’t believe people who came on the show were exploited.
“They had a problem and wanted to come on the show. They loved Jeremy and wanted his advice.”
It emerged that guests on the show were warned about the host’s “presenting style” before they recorded the programme.
But Mr Stanier added he wasn’t responsible for that, saying: “That is the presenter’s style. I’m responsible for me and my behaviour. I can’t be responsible for the presenter’s behaviour.
“In the moment he (Kyle) becomes passionate, opinionated, he will deliver in that way.
“If people are uncomfortable … I think that’s a production issue.”
Asked if there were any plans to bring the show back, Julian Bellamy, ITV Studios managing director, said there were “absolutely no plans to bring back a show that looks or feels like a Jeremy Kyle show”.
MPs were told: “Jeremy Kyle has been involved in all sorts of programmes. Yes, we would look to work with him in the future … We won’t be making another conflict resolution show.”
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