Yahoo News Katie Hopkins says Jeremy Kyle has been 'thrown to the wolves' to protect 'Love Island'
Katie Hopkins has accused ITV of protecting its “cash cow” Love Island after it suspended The Jeremy Kyle Show in the wake of controversy over the death of a participant.
The popular daytime show was indefinitely axed from the schedules yesterday following the news that someone had died after filming an episode of the programme.
The man, named as 63-year-old digger driver Steve Dymond, is believed to have taken his own life just 10 days after failing a lie detector test on the show.
Read more: Leaked email reveals ITV is protecting show’s future
As well as cancelling future installments for the foreseeable future, ITV has removed archive episodes of The Jeremy Kyle Show from its ITV Hub streaming service.
Hopkins told her 900,000 Twitter followers that the show has been “thrown to the wolves” after “mass hysteria”.
She compared the decision to cancel The Jeremy Kyle Show to the lack of action surrounding Love Island, despite the death of two former contestants in suspected suicides within 12 months.
Jeremy Kyle Show
3320 episodes. 16 series.
1 death - suspected suicide.
ITV pull show. Mass hysteria. The mob mobilises.
Love Island
148 episodes. 4 series.
2 deaths - suspected suicide.
ITV celebrate success. Most watched non-terrestrial program. 2019 promo underway— Katie Hopkins (@KTHopkins) May 14, 2019
Dear @ITVJeremyKyle
I would like to wish you and the team well and assure you that people see through this latest media play. @ITV have thrown you to the wolves to protect their cash cow - @LoveIsland.
People make choices. They need to own them xx https://t.co/GXtHQ5IBLs— Katie Hopkins (@KTHopkins) May 14, 2019
Speaking directly to the official Twitter account for The Jeremy Kyle Show, the 44-year-old writer and TV personality wrote: “I would like to wish you and the team well and assure you that people see through this latest media play.
“ITV have thrown you to the wolves to protect their cash cow - Love Island.
“People make choices. They need to own them.”
Read more: Love Island producers respond to aftercare criticism
Filming for the fifth series of Love Island has begun in Mallorca, with the hugely popular ITV2 reality show expected to return in June.
Hopkins, however, criticised the decision to continue to air the show following the suspected suicides of 32-year-old Sophie Gradon and 26-year-old Mike Thalassitis.
Many Twitter users agreed that the two shows were “treated differently” by ITV.
Jeremy Kyle Show has been taken off air after one death in 14 years. In 3 weeks #LoveIsland comes back on air after 2 deaths in just 4 seasons. Both shows are on ITV but it seems treated differently, probably as one makes far more cash for the station than the other.
— Andrew (@officialDB3K) May 13, 2019
So they can take #jeremykyle off tv straight away because of a tragic death... But that shallow programme #loveisland still goes ahead after 2 deaths 🤔🙁🙄🤷♀️
— Emma (@emmajane1989x) May 13, 2019
If we are going to cancel @ITVJeremyKyle you 100% need to cancel @LoveIsland any death/suicide is an absolute tragedy and my heart goes out to all the families and friends who have lost loved ones, however, I’m very confused Love Island is allowed to continue #JeremyKyle
— Alice_Da_Cat (@fahey_alice) May 14, 2019
How can @ITVJeremyKyle get cancelled because someone killed themselves but 2 people have committed suicide off @LoveIsland and that’s still up and running 🤷🏼♀️ #JeremyKyle #LoveIsland
— Heather palmer (@Heatherpalmerxo) May 14, 2019
Love Island has said it will continue to provide “ongoing support” to its contestants.
Read more: Kyle insider says death is “tip of the iceberg”
In a statement, ITV said it had taken the decision to “suspend both filming and broadcasting” of The Jeremy Kyle Show immediately.
The spokesperson added that the broadcaster will “conduct a review” of the episode in question.
As with yesterday, the planned edition of The Jeremy Kyle Show today was replaced with Dickinson’s Real Deal.
