After the airing of Channel 4 documentary Jeremy Kyle Show: Death on Daytime earlier this week (March 14), one of the show’s major stars has spoken out.
But his attempts to defend the show – claiming it “helped thousands of people” – have fallen flat on social media.
Graham Stanier started as a counsellor and psychotherapist on the daytime talk show in 2005.
But after the tragic suicide of Steve Dymond in 2019, the ITV show was taken off air for good. The Channel 4 documentary further alleges that guests were “lied to” about the need to “compete” for rehab beds, with former employees making allegations of a culture of fear backstage.
It further claimed to show examples of how guests were exploited in order to boost TV ratings, something ITV denies.
And now Graham has spoken out about the show in a lengthy Instagram post.
(Image: ITV)
Graham posted a picture of Martin Luther King Jr., alongside his famous quote: “Life’s most urgent question is: what are you doing for others?”
And he wrote alongside the picture: “The Jeremy Kyle aftercare service provided:
“100s of residential treatment programmes for guests suffering from addiction to drugs, alcohol or gambling.
“1000s were referred for counselling, family mediation and anger management sessions.
“1000s referred for counselling because they were struggling with difficult life events such as bereavement, relationship breakdown, stress, and in some cases distressing physical health problems.
(Image: ITV)
“1000s referred or signposted to external support agencies to either re-engage or engage them with services that would improve their lives.”
The post continued: “The show itself was a conflict resolution show but it also [challenged] homophobia, transphobia and racism, and it provided a platform to brave survivors of domestic abuse, trauma and childhood trauma because they wanted to raise public awareness and ultimately help others.
“The show provided a platform for inspirational children who were rewarded for their extraordinary courage and bravery as they coped with serious illness and it also put the spotlight on their parents and carers for their selfless acts of caring for others.
“The show took many children diagnosed with life limiting or life threatening medical conditions on holiday so together with their parents and carers they could create wonderful memories together.
(Image: ITV)
“The show also reunited hundreds if not thousands of siblings, parents and extended family members after years of being separated.”
Graham concluded the post: “Many people benefited from the ‘After Care’ service provided by the JK show and there were also many who benefited and didn’t appear on the show.
“Some used the service as a helpline and in some cases a few were provided with a free residential treatment programme by a generous service provider.
“The service had a positive impact on many peoples’ lives and in some cases those [whose] needs are often unheard and ignored within our society were acknowledged and heard by the aftercare team.”
(Image: ITV)
But fans in the comments section weren’t pleased by Graham’s post, with one fuming: “No way are they comparing Martin Luther King’s impact and Jeremy Kyle’s!” with a row of cry-laughing emojis.
Someone else echoed: “Not the point though, is it.
“’We helped lots of people so that makes the instance where we contributed to someone taking their own life okay’.
“In the words of Martin Luther King Jr. ‘Darkness can not drive out darkness’ and the Jeremy Kyle show thrived on darkness. For entertainment.”
However, others rushed to support Graham, with one writing: “I totally agree the show did more good than harm. Your evidence and the show speaks for itself. I know I really miss the show so much inspiration and great advice.”
As another supportive fan echoed: “We are totally behind you and the show. From reading these comments tonight, you guys have a lot of support. Hope all is well.”
It comes after Kyle also broke his silence on the documentary on his talkRADIO show, insisting there are “two sides to every story” and offering his “deepest sympathies” to Steve Dymond’s grieving friends and family.
For more of the latest showbiz and TV news from the Daily Star, make sure you sign up to one of our newsletters here.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
