'Devastated' Jeremy Kyle breaks silence as show is axed after guest's death

A UK talk show host has broken his silence over a guest's sudden death after appearing on his program, The Jeremy Kyle Show.

Jeremy Kyle released a statement expressing his "utter devastation" over the tragic death of his guest Steve Dymond, who was found dead in his Portsmouth home on May 9, one week after participating on the tabloid-like program.

"Myself and the production team I have worked with for the last 14 years are all utterly devastated by the recent events," Kyle said last night in a statement to The Sun. "Our thoughts and sympathies are with Steve's family and friends at this incredibly sad time."

Earlier this week, after hearing of Dymond's death, broadcasting company ITV suspended filming and took the show off air indefinitely as they investigated the episode the 63-year-old had appeared on. Yesterday, the show was cancelled completely.

"Given the gravity of recent events we have decided to end production of The Jeremy Kyle Show," said Carolyn McCall, ITV's CEO. "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," McCall concluded.

Dymond and his on-off partner had taped the show on May 9 -- the episode had yet to air at the time of his death. According to reports, Dymond had gone on the show to prove his innocence to his girlfriend, Jane Callaghan, who accused of him of being unfaithful. After failing a lie detector test, Dymond was said to have felt humiliated, and audience members revealed he fell to the floor crying after it was suggested he had cheated.

"I called after he got home from filming the episode," his son Carl Woolley told the Mail Online. "He was distraught over the breakup of the relationship."

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