'The Jeremy Kyle Show' guest Steve Dymond reportedly applied to be on the show "300 times" before he died from a suspected suicide just over a week after taking a lie detector test on the ITV programme.
Jeremy Kyle
Following the news of Dymond's tragic death, the daytime talk show was axed this week by ITV after 14 years on screen.
It has now been claimed by Aiden Dugdale, 20, who was at the taping of the show on the day Dymond appeared that the late guest had confessed to him and other audience members that he had made around 300 telephone calls to try and get on the programme.
Speaking to The Sun Online, Dugdale said: "He explained to us in the audience that he'd tried to come on the show before.
"He said he'd called about 300 times. Jeremy Kyle even joked about it, saying: 'Does anyone at ITV ever answer the phones?' "
Dymond's body was discovered at his Portsmouth bedsit last week, 10 days after he filmed the episode.
Host Jeremy Kyle has now come out to say he's been left "devastated" by Dymond's death and he has sent his "thoughts and sympathies" to Steve's family.
In a statement to The Sun, Jeremy said: "Myself and the production team I have worked with for the last 14 years are all utterly devastated by the recent events. Our thoughts and sympathies are with Steve's family and friends at this incredibly sad time."
Announcing the end of 'The Jeremy Kyle Show', Carolyn McCall - ITV's CEO - 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 underway and will continue."
But the network won't be cutting ties with Jeremy completely.
Carolyn added: "ITV will continue to work with Jeremy Kyle on other projects."
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