Jeremy Kyle Show guest accuses the show of ‘crucifying’ him over unknown son

Robert Gregory was speaking at a DCMS hearing on reality television
The Jeremy Kyle Show was taken off air earlier this year
ITV/REX/Shutterstock
Rachel McGrath4 September 2019

Two former Jeremy Kyle Show participants have made fresh allegations about the show, with one claiming he was “ripped apart” for abandoning his son - even though he had no knowledge of the boy.

Robert Gregory said he was vilified on the show for his alleged abandonment of the child, despite telling producers the facts about his personal past.

Gregory recalled the details surrounding his appearance on the controversial daytime show on Wednesday afternoon, while speaking in front a Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) select committee hearing on reality television.

“They crucified me,” he said. “They absolutely ripped me apart. I said, 'You’ve obviously decided I am a bad person'.”

Robert Gregory and Dwayne Davison (PA
PA

Answering the question of whether he received support after filming, Gregory said: “There is no aftercare, it doesn’t exist.”

A second Jeremy Kyle show participant, Dwayne Davison, echoed his claim.

Davison, who became known as the show’s “most-hated” guest said he was provided with money for a taxi home from the studio and “that was it”.

He said that prior to appearing in front of the audience he was kept in a locked room.

Davison said: “I’m locked into a room. The smallest, tiniest room you’ve ever seen.

“Your phone is taken off you. I’m sat in this room for 10 hours, the door’s locked.

“My partner has been taken away from me. So you’re anxious.”

Davison at the DCMS hearing
PA

Davison also added that he told producers he did not want his episode shown anymore, stating that it was “ruining my life mentally, physically, monetary wise”.

Chairman of the DCMS committee Damian Collins appeared shocked by the accounts of the treatment meted out on The Jeremy Kyle Show.

He said: “Someone in police custody would have more rights than you were given.”

In response to the two men’s claims, an ITV spokesperson told Standard Online: “As a producer and broadcaster ITV takes its responsibilities around duty of care to participants very seriously.

“Supporting the physical and mental health of everyone involved in our programmes is our highest priority.

“We were truly sorry to hear that Dwayne was experiencing mental health problems and suicidal thoughts and have apologised to him that we did not remove the clips from our official ITV YouTube channel.

“We have offered to pay for counselling, as he has requested."

The Jeremy Kyle Show was taken off air in May after the death of a 63-year-old man, Steve Dymond, a week after filming.

An inquest later heard that Dymond had been found dead after a suspected suicide, shortly after reportedly failing a lie detector test on the confrontational programme.

Wednesday’s DCMS hearing also heard from former Love Island contestants, who discussed the aftercare they received from ITV2.

Additional reporting by Press Association

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