So .... Jeremy Kyle Show and reality TV

I'm sure we've all seen the sad case of the person that appears to have killed themselves a week after a Kyle episode he was on was recorded. I'm not looking to discuss that, specifically, not least because detsils of what actually happened, let aline why, are currently pretty sparse. At least, publicly.

But my local BBC radio station is now ooenly questioning not only the future of the Kyle shiw, but also Love Island, and reality shows in general.


My concerns are this - are they (as usual) going off-half-cocked with knee-jerk reactions? Sorry about the mixed metaphor.


Look, personally, I don't give a hoot about the Kyle show, Love Island ir any other reality TV show.

Disclaimer - I don't watch all that much TV anyway, and am pretty selective when I do and this sort of stuff just doesn't float my boat. In the interests of full disclosure, I watched some of Big Brother's first series and about 15 mins of series 2, episode 1. The first series was .... well .... different and modestly interesting as an experient in group dynamics. Even the first rew minutes of S2 Ep.1 was enough to convince me it was full of wannabe celebs, posers and publicity-whores seeking a career-launching platform. Probably S1 was too, but at least it was novel.

Since then, the only such stuff I've seen is what was on before my frantic grab for the remote control put a stop to it.


BUT .... apparently millions watch them.

I've not the first notion why, but they do.



So .... an episode was filmed and a week later, what happened .... happened.

And ITV suspended the show (quite rightly), appear to be cancelling it permanently, pulled ALL episodes from on-demand and are looking sideways at Love Island.


But do we, or even they, even know if there's a direct link between the Kyle episode and the suicide? Surely, wait for he inquest.

And if there was a direct link, even that doesn't necessarily indicate causation.

So suspend the show by all means, but permanently cancel what is apparently sucu a popular show, let alone L.I. and allegedly putting a question-mark over reality shows in general, and certainly confrontatioal ones like Kyle before knowing all the facts?

Did the show itself fail? Let on someone mentally unable to handle it? If so, can ore-show vetting and psychological assessment be imoroved.

Or was it all just a coincidence?


I mean, personally, .I won't miss it at all. If they can add in TV, Rugby and .... shudder .... test cricket, I'd be grateful. Add Soaps to that and it starts to sound like my idea of TV nirvana. Yet, loadsa people love this sh.... stuff.

I would like to say a great many things on the topics of Kyle and artificiality TV.... but there is absolutely no way for me to voice them, without every Admin and Mod banhammering me in unison like a railway chain gang!!

So I'll just be a grown-up, say I despite all of it with searing hatred, and try to leave it at that.......

As do I, Ttask .... but apparently millions like it .... for sone reason.

TV in general has been awful since the mid 00's for me, I couldn't care less if it was all pulled from the airwaves.
It's there to brainwash and influence these days - all shows are chosen politically and not to offend.

They keep cutting jokes & scenes from the likes of Black Adder, Fawlty Towers and even Mr. Bean.
Whats the point, why bother showing them at all if history's going to constantly be rewritten...

Poverty porn, car crash TV, race to the bottom or just simple exploitation of (some) vulnerable people for the titillation of others - call it whatever you will, I'm glad it's off the air. I have no proof but it seems to be a common belief that guests on that show are plied with alcohol beforehand to loosen things up a bit.

So called reality TV in most of it's forms is the lowest form of entertainment - a poor alternative to quality programming and production. The majority of surprise high talent performers on shows like the X Factor are pre-scouted and judges shock and surprise is scripted. There's nothing wrong with talent shows - I'm no fan of them and don't watch them but I'm not really against them. I am against being lied to in order to artificially promote the image of the next Xmas no.1 artist.

Big Brother type shows carefully select personalities that will conflict with others, in the fervent hope they will ignite some grotesque tirade of bigoted or racial abuse, to keep people tuned in.

Does a public broadcaster want this associated with them?

Its another soap opera day, different day same tihs.

I doubt other reality tv shows will get taken down. The jeremy kyle show has been pretty problematic for some time. They use lie detectors tests as though they are 100% reliable which they aren't and aren't used in our legal system because of this. I kinda think a false positive was given in the lie detector test and it was treated as gospel by kyle and that's what most likely the cause of the death.

I'm just happy I don't have to wake up on bank holidays to that drivel anymore

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Originally Posted by PC-LAD

I'm just happy I don't have to wake up on bank holidays to that drivel anymore

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What time do you get up on bank holidays? :P

One thing that the Jeremy Kyle show prides itself on is trying to help and rehabilitate the "failed" members of our society, those that had a poor start in life or have found themselves backed into a corner, dependant on substances or alcohol. Of course, these people make the best TV with their seemed inability to control their emotions and likelihood to cause arguments or fights.
No-one wants to watch a civil discussion about someone "having a go" on someone else's girlfriend, we want to see a fight.

At present, I don't think the show should be pulled from TV because of one incident, but I'm sure ITV are holding back information that will eventually come to light.

Despite the problems with the show, I'm sure the work they do to help people far outweighs any perceived "damage" they do.

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Originally Posted by Spreadie

What time do you get up on bank holidays? :P

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Late enough to know getting out of my pajamas and doing anything productive is a good idea :)