A Jeremy Kyle Show guest was found dead in his rented room in a suspected suicide after “growing concerned about the repercussions of the show”, an inquest has heard.
Steve Dymond, 63, died around a week after reportedly failing a love-cheat lie-detector test on the confrontational daytime programme, which has since been axed.
The construction worker was found in his room in Portsmouth on May 9 after splitting from on-off fiancee Jane Callaghan, Portsmouth Coroner’s Court heard.
His death comes amid growing scrutiny over the duty of care reality TV shows have to participants.
Detective Sergeant Marcus Mills, of Hampshire Police, told the inquest opening on Wednesday that Dymond was living in the property of a pair called Michelle and Sam, and had moved in on February 10.
He said: “Steven had told Michelle and Sam he had been in a relationship with a female named Jane. They had split up and he had been kicked out of the house following allegations he had been cheating.
“Steven had also mentioned they were going to go on the Jeremy Kyle show for a lie detector test to get everything sorted. Steven told Michelle that things didn’t go well on the show.
“He became angry when talking about Jane. He became concerned about the repercussions of the show and the rumours that had started as a result.”
The ITV show was axed after a 14-year run following the death of Dymond, with Kyle saying he is “utterly devastated”.
MPs have launched an inquiry into reality TV and watchdog Ofcom has revealed it will look at the use of lie detector tests on TV shows in the wake of the furore.
Dymond had recently been in touch with estranged son Carl and discovered he was a grandfather, the hearing was told.
Two letters, one addressed to Carl and the other to Callaghan, were discovered near his body alongside medication packets, DS Mills said.
He added: “There were no signs of foul play from any other parties. This was a suspected suicide.
“He was known to have issues for his knee which he was on medication for.”
Results from a post-mortem are still awaited, the hearing was told.
Senior coroner David Horsley adjourned the inquest until November 21.
No family of friends attended the hearing which lasted around 15 minutes.
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