Jeremy Kyle called guest Steve Dymond a ‘serial liar’ and said he ‘would not trust him with a chocolate button’, coroner reveals

ITV star deemed ‘interested person’ because he ‘may have caused or contributed to the death of Stephen Dymond’

Steve Dymond, who is suspected to have taken his own life after appearing as a guest on the Jeremy Kyle Show, was branded by the presenter as a “serial liar” who could not be trusted “with a chocolate button”, a coroner has revealed.

Mr Kyle also said: “Has anyone got a shovel?” during the programme featuring Dymond, who is believed to have taken his own life at his home in Portsmouth, Hampshire, seven days after the recording in May 2019.

Hampshire coroner Jason Pegg revealed the remarks made by Mr Kyle in his ruling, in which he deemed Mr Kyle an “interested person” for the inquest as someone “who may have caused of contributed to the death of Stephen Dymond”.

In his appearance on the programme, Dymond “failed” a lie detector test to show whether he had cheated on his ex-fiancee Jane Callaghan, from Gosport.

Mr Pegg said in his ruling made in July: “I have had the opportunity to view The Jeremy Kyle Show episode featuring the deceased.

“In that footage it is apparent that Jeremy Kyle was aware that the deceased had previously been unable to appear on The Jeremy Kyle Show having been diagnosed with depression, for which the deceased had been prescribed anti-depressant medication.

“After the lie detector results the deceased looked visibly upset.

“Jeremy Kyle adopted an approach where he called the deceased a ‘serial liar’; that he ‘would not trust him with a chocolate button’; and made a comment: ‘Has anyone got a shovel?’”

Dymond’s son, Carl Woolley, was quoted in the ruling as saying: “He had been humiliated, taken for a mug and pounced on by the presenter (Mr Kyle).

Mr Woolley also reported that his father told him the day after filming that he had “been made out to be the baddy and that Jeremy Kyle was constantly on him. He felt embarrassed and made to feel like nothing”.

The ruling also quoted Dymond’s brother, Leslie Dymond, who says his brother called him from a taxi after the filming of the episode.

According to the report, Leslie said his brother told him he “had endured a terrible time and could not go on living”.

“In subsequent conversations, Leslie Dymond recalls his brother stating: ‘Jeremy Kyle had been in his face and followed when he left the stage… He was jeered and called a failure by the presenter (Mr Kyle)’,” stated the report.

Mr Pegg concluded: “I am satisfied that the evidence potentially goes beyond mere criticism of Jeremy Kyle and that acts or omissions of Jeremy Kyle may have caused of contributed to the death of Stephen Dymond, the deceased.

“Accordingly, I deem Jeremy Kyle to be an interested person in this case.”

Caoilfhionn Gallagher QC, counsel for Dymond’s family, told a pre-inquest review hearing in Winchester last week: “The inquest must consider how he came to be on the show int he first place considering his pre-show assessment, and it was known he had been on anti-depressant medication and had stopped it to go on the show.”

She said that Mr Kyle was given briefing notes about Dymond’s situation and had made reference during the show to him stopping his medication.

Dymond’s state of mind was also known by the crew of the show, said Ms Gallagher, with a message sent on a WhatsApp group stating: “Just so you know, he’s still crying, he has just said he wishes he was dead. Just giving you the heads up.”

The Jeremy Kyle Show was cancelled permanently by ITV following Dymond’s death.

A full inquest into Dymond’s death is set to be held in summer 2021.

If you are experiencing feelings of distress and isolation, or are struggling to cope, The Samaritans offers support; you can speak to someone for free over the phone, in confidence, on 116 123 (UK and ROI), email jo@samaritans.org, or visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branch.

For services local to you, the national mental health database – Hub of Hope – allows you to enter your postcode to search for organisations and charities who offer mental health advice and support in your area.

Additional reporting by agencies