Jeremy Kyle asked to attend MPs' inquiry into reality TV after death of guest

ITV executives Sir Peter Bazalgette and Dame Carolyn McCall will be questioned by the inquiry

Jeremy Kyle has been invited to appear before the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee (DCMS) inquiry into reality TV.

The parliamentary committee said senior executives from ITV, including chairman Sir Peter Bazalgette and chief executive Dame Carolyn McCall, will be the first to give evidence to the inquiry.

Other broadcasters will also be asked to give evidence as the committee examines the duty of care production companies owe to participants of reality tv shows.

DCMS committee chairman Damian Collins MP said: “We’re hoping that Jeremy Kyle will take this opportunity to come and answer questions about measures taken to prepare and support contestants.

“As someone who was at the centre of this long-running show, we believe that his perspective on reality TV will be of particular value to our inquiry.”

Questions the inquiry will ask include “Did the Jeremy Kyle show exercise a duty of care towards its participants?” and ”What are the wider issues brought up by reality TV and other shows like Love Island?”

The inquiry was launched last month after a guest who appeared on The Jeremy Kyle Show died. The reality programme was permanently cancelled as a result.

A spokesperson for ITV said at the time: “Everyone at ITV and The Jeremy Kyle Show is shocked and saddened at the news of the death of a participant in the show a week after the recording of the episode they featured in and our thoughts are with their family and friends. ITV will not screen the episode in which they featured.”

The tabloid talk show was based around guests attempting to resolve their issues with each other, with topics often related to extramarital affairs, addiction, and familial conflicts.