Jeremy Kyle has opened up about being abandoned by many of his celebrity friends after his TV series was axed, following the death of a guest.
ITV bosses pulled The Jeremy Kyle Show off air in 2019 after contestant Steve Dymond died by suicide, with the host disappearing from the spotlight and battling his own mental health.
Speaking out over the dark times in his first interview, the 56-year-old revealed that many stars that he considered close pals chose to keep their distance when he needed them the most.
And he named Piers Morgan, Declan Donnelly and Kate Garraway among those who stuck by him through it all.
‘I’m not asking for any sympathy, but being completely honest, yes, it was a very difficult time,’ he recalled to the Sun. ‘It didn’t take long for some people I’ve known for many, many years to just disappear.
‘Some people were brilliant — Piers Morgan reached out straight away because he’s that sort of guy, and he was brilliant.
‘Kate Garraway, who is just extraordinary and has been through the most awful time herself recently, still takes time to get in touch, and I’ve helped her with her kids, too. Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford were amazing, so was Rob Rinder, and Declan Donnelly.
Jeremy admitted that it was a ‘strange situation’ to be in because he didn’t want to speak to anyone about what was happening at the time, but was also hurt that they didn’t reach out.
Discussing those who had turned their backs on him, he added: ‘But there were also lots who just never got in touch again even though we had worked together for so many years — it’s very, very telling.
‘I get that people wanted to have a go at me. But it did start to feel like a massive pile-on and one I’ve never really been allowed to have my say on.’
The Jeremy Kyle Show went off air after 14 years over Dymond’s death, with an inquest into this still ongoing.
The ordeal led to many discussions over the current TV landscape and the welfare of those who appear on reality programmes, with the presenter claiming he was made a ‘scapegoat’ in the fallout.
Following Dymond’s death, Ofcom has announced new measures ‘in recognition of the growing openness and concern in society about mental health and wellbeing’.
‘We have also seen a steady rise in complaints about the welfare of people taking part in programmes in recent years,’ a spokesperson said.
It has been confirmed that broadcasters will need to take due care in programmes featuring ‘conflict or emotionally challenging situations’ or if it ‘requires a person to disclose life-changing or private aspects of their lives.’
Jeremy is set to return to broadcasting after a ‘lonely’ two-year break from the public eye, and has landed a weekday drivetime show on talkRADIO.
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