Reality television is by far one of the most divisive issues of modern society, and one show that never fails to enrage a vast proportion of the country is The Jeremy Kyle Show; a tabloid talk show that aims to "help" people solve their conflicts, be it drugs or infidelity.
The Jeremy Kyle Show / Photo Credit: ITV
This week it was announced that the show was to be suspended from ITV with immediate effect following the death of one of the participants just a week after filming. The suspension is pending a review of the practises within the show, which have frequently been criticised by guests and viewers alike over the years.
The show first aired in 2005 and, if you're not familiar it, it's essentially where ordinary people sit down on a stage in front of a studio audience and talk through their problems with host Jeremy Kyle and whoever they may have conflict with. The discussions frequently involve DNA and lie-detector tests, and situations can get so volatile that Steve the security guard is just as famous as Jeremy Kyle himself.
It isn't clear how the guest died, though the vast majority of Twitter are slamming the show for its alleged exploitation of the vulnerable and marginalised members of society. It's been branded "sadistic", "vindictive" and "disgusting", with Jeremy Kyle being criticised for his "bullying" behaviour towards the guests.
Many of the show's critics shared their own experiences of the program, having met Jeremy Kyle, spoken to family of former guests, and even worked on the show. They've seen first hand how traumatic the experience of being on the show can be for the participants, and how supposedly poor the "aftercare" really is.
One man thought it was apt that this news should arise at the beginning of Mental Health Awareness Week. Generally, the people who sign up for the show are those struggling with addiction, poverty and mental health problems. The vulnerable members of society who haven't had brilliant educations or the greatest of upbringings, and perhaps have grown up in areas of the country where it's easy (and often inevitable) to enter a life of crime.
There was also one who compared the situation to Love Island, criticising the fact that it has come back on air despite the fact that two former contestants have committed suicide following their stints on the show. It's another program where people's hearts are deliberately toyed with by outside forces - the only difference being that these are the people in society who we're supposed to care about.
It seems that the biggest argument when it comes to defending The Jeremy Kyle Show or Love Island is that the guests choose to apply. As if they make careful and well-informed decisions about the consequences and are submitted to a healthy and in-depth interview about whether or not it's right for them. Unfortunately, most people who choose to be on these types of shows choose to do so on impulsion, and are generally very unaware of the risks and ramifications involved.
Because why would they be? Producers don't want to put guests off being on The Jeremy Kyle Show, especially if they're particularly entertaining. And they would rather the participants be as ignorant as possible so that they'll do exactly what is asked of them. Guests have frequently opened up about the pressures producers put on them to behave a certain way or say certain things because that's what makes good telly.
Here are some of the most telling comments regarding the news so far:
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