You ask the questions (Such as: Jerry Springer, how would you like to be remembered?)

Jerry Springer was born in London in 1944 shortly after his German-Jewish parents had fled to the UK to escape the Holocaust. When he was five his family emigrated again, this time to New York City.

After studying political science at Tulane University, Springer went on to study law at Northwestern University. He graduated in 1968 and his first job after law school was as one of Senator Robert F Kennedy's presidential campaign aides.

After Kennedy's assassination, Springer joined a law firm and moved into politics. He spearheaded the campaign to lower the voting age from 21 to 18 and was elected Cincinnati's Council-at-Large in 1971, serving five successive terms. In 1977, at the age of 33, Springer was elected Mayor of Cincinnati, one of the country's youngest ever.

Five years later, he launched his broadcast career as a political reporter and then news anchor on Cincinnati's WLWT-TV, for which he went on to receive seven Emmy Awards. In 1991 he changed tack when he accepted a position as a talk-show host. The daily, hour-long Jerry Springer Show was born and nine years on remains a scandalous, often violent and highly addictive slice of daytime television.

Do you have faith in human nature?

Ben Twiston-Davies, East London

Yes, I do. I think the only instinct we are really born with is survival. Beyond that everything is learned. So when we behave badly it's because we learnt that bad behaviour. I have faith in human nature because we can teach people to be good and most people are nice.

How do you think people will remember you? How would you like to be remembered?

Lousia Casey, Romford

I hope I'm not remembered. It has no value other than vanity. Except for your children, it's helpful to them. But beyond that, unless you are Churchill, no one is remembered. People aren't remembered even in their own families, so I think that's greatly overplayed.

How do you counter claims that your show is exploitative of other people's misery?

P Thompson-Cope, London

The show is purely voluntary. We don't report on other people. If we did, it would be fair to say we were taking advantage of their life. But on our show, first of all, we don't deal with any serious issues - we're talking about dating - I would hardly call that misery. Secondly, you only come on if you want to talk about your dating. If you don't want to do it, we don't go after you. I wouldn't want to be exploiting people.

Your parent's fled the Holocaust. How has this affected you?

T Gains, by e-mail

We are all a product of where we came from. The Holocaust is probably the fundamental experience in my family's existence over the last century. It gave us our values, it made me a liberal, it made me never discriminate. So, it's probably deep in my value system.

"I married a horse", "I hacked off my manhood". Are these true?

R Benson, Southport

Yes, those stories are absolutely true, as we saw! One case we saw the horse. The other case we saw exactly what was missing! We had records, you couldn't make it up. If you made it up no one would believe you. The only way you can put something like that on is because it's true.

To reveal an infidelity to a partner on television is a cruel act which inevitably humiliates the innocent party, yet you provide a platform on your show for this to be done, and are therefore an accomplice to this humiliation. How can you possibly justify yourself?

Richard Blandford, Southampton

Well, why do people choose to come on to be told that? It's always the person who cheats who gets booed. Both parties come on and air it out, that's their choice. Celebrities do it all the time and we never question it. I wouldn't, but if someone chooses to do so, they are permitted.

Are the fights on your show ever staged?

Claire Healy, by e-mail

No, they are real, but it gets overplayed a lot, and it's the security guys who take most of the pulled hair - that's why Steve is bald, he has had all his hair pulled out.

Do you come up with the final thought?

Stacey Mair, Birmingham

Yes, I write them myself.

Who will you vote for in this year's presidential elections,and why?

S Sampson, Brighton

I'll probably vote for Gore. It wouldn't be good for America to have a Republican president along with a Republican Congress. We need a president who can check the conservative Congress.

Who do you most admire?

B Clifford, by e-mail

My parents. People who don't have a lot and just struggle through every day. There's no glamour, there's no one cheering them on. Maybe they've got health problems, maybe they've got family problems, they're just trying to make ends meet, that's who I admire, not famous people.

Which of your achievements are you most proud of?

Ben Slayer, London

Being Mayor of Cincinnati.

Which single incident in your life has influenced you most?

T Tompkins, London

The birth of my daughter.

What is the secret of your success?

Marie Cleverly, Stroud

Luck. I really believe that. I worked hard, but most people work hard. I don't know why I have this great life and that's the honest answer. You've got to be lucky, right place at the right time, you've got to have a good brain, you've got to be a nice person.

'Springer' starts on Friday at 10pm on ITV