Jeremy Kyle admits he had a ‘complete breakdown’ and couldn’t even leave his bed during ‘five years of hell’ amid the fallout from talk show guest’s death – as he reveals he’s ready for a return to TV

Jeremy Kyle has admitted that he had a ‘complete breakdown’ after enduring ‘five years of hell’ amid the fallout from the death of a guest who appeared on his eponymous talk show.

Ex-RNLI volunteer Steve Dymond appeared on The Jeremy Kyle Show on May 2, 2019, to try to prove to his on-off partner Jane Callaghan, then 48, that he didn’t cheat on her.

The 63-year-old, from Portsmouth, Hampshire, failed a lie detector test and was found dead seven days later in the £100-a-week room he rented, having overdosed on morphine.

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Jeremy’s ITV show was subsequently axed, though in September an inquest ruled that the show was ‘not to blame’ in the death of Mr Dymond as there was ‘no causal link’.

And in a new interview, Jeremy, 59, revealed the dramatic impact the aftermath of the guest’s death had on his life, admitting that he even struggled to get out of bed at times and that it was his wife Vicky Burton who had ‘saved’ him. 

Detailing the dark period in his life, Jeremy explained to OK! Magazine: ‘We must never forget that a man died, but it’s been proven that it was nothing whatsoever to do with me. It’s been five years of hell. But with the strength of this woman, I’m on the other side.

Jeremy Kyle has admitted that he had a ‘complete breakdown’ after enduring ‘five years of hell’ amid the fallout from the death of a guest who appeared on his eponymous talk show

In a new interview, Jeremy, 59, revealed the dramatic impact the aftermath of the guest’s death had on his life, admitting that he even struggled to get out of bed at times and that it was his wife Vicky Burton who had ‘saved’ him

Steve Dymond appeared on The Jeremy Kyle Show on May 2, 2019, to try to prove to his on-off partner Jane Callaghan, then 48, that he didn’t cheat on her. He took his own life a week later

He continued: ‘For two years it was horrific, and I had a complete breakdown. It was Vicky who dragged me out of bed. She saved me.’

The TV personality, who has since gone on to appear on TalkTV, reflected on the time his famous show was axed after Mr Dymond took his own life, admitting he was on the loo when he got a call from to say ‘the show’s gone’.

At the same time, his wife Vicky revealed that she was pregnant with their first child, with Jeremy spiralling into ‘such a state’ in the coming days amid the huge changes in his life.

Jeremy went on to say: ‘In terms of my career, overnight I went from being the king of the castle to not even being allowed in the castle grounds for a walk. I completely and utterly get it when people say, “Oh but Jeremy Kyle’s a gobs***e,” I get it. It was part of the show. But for the people who knew me, it was a terrible time.’

Amid the backlash, the couple had to draft in security as they’d received threats and had angry people banging on their door, while Jeremy had lost over a stone due to stress and was put on antidepressants. 

Vicky, who joined him for the interview, went on to say how difficult it was watching her husband suffer, adding that it was a ‘horrible time’ and that she knew it ‘wasn’t ‘his fault’.

She went on to say that at the TV star’s lowest ebb, she was forced to ‘kick him out of bed’ and force him to interact with their family, adding that it was Jeremy’s loved ones that ‘kept him going’. 

Jeremy’s second wife, whom he married in 2021, also insisted that Jeremy isn’t the ‘scary person’ he’s portrayed on screen to be, sharing that the star is ‘gentle and kind’ and simply wishes for the best for those around him. 

Jeremy’s ITV show was subsequently axed, though in September an inquest ruled that the show was ‘not to blame’ in the death of Mr Dymond as there was ‘no causal link’ (stock photo)

Detailing the dark period in his life, Jeremy explained to OK! Magazine : ‘We must never forget that a man died, but it’s been proven that it was nothing whatsoever to do with me. It’s been five years of hell’

He continued: ‘For two years it was horrific, and I had a complete breakdown. It was Vicky who dragged me out of bed. She saved me’ [pictured with wife Vicky in 2018]

Amid the backlash, the couple had to draft in security as they’d received threats and had angry people banging on their door, while Jeremy had lost over a stone due to stress and was put on antidepressants

After getting himself back on track, Jeremy is said to be planning a big return to screens, starting with Kate Garraway’s Life Stories in the New Year, as well as other TV opportunities.

The star, who turns 60 in 2025, told how he feels that ‘life is starting again’, adding that he wants to now ‘look ahead’ as he doesn’t want the scandal to be ‘my legacy’. 

Back in September, Jeremy broke his silence, saying his ‘conscience is clear’ after a coroner ruled there was ‘no causal link’ between the appearance of a guest on his show and his death.

Jeremy detailed the mental and physical toll that the past five years has taken on, as well as defending critics against the ITV1 daytime show. 

‘Let’s not forget first and foremost somebody took their life because they were in a position where they saw no way out,’ he told The Sun.

‘I haven’t spoken for five and a half years out of respect because there was a legal process that dragged on and on for many reasons.

‘It should never have been about me; it’s about Steve, and his family. That was my first thought when I found out .

‘And then my next thought was about the hundred people that worked for the show who lost their jobs overnight – some of them even had their mortgages cancelled. I remember at the time just being in this bubble of not even understanding what had happened, but I get it. I get the criticism.’

Vicky, who joined him for the interview, went on to say how difficult it was watching her husband suffer, adding that it was a ‘horrible time’ and that she knew it ‘wasn’t ‘his fault’ 

After getting himself back on track, Jeremy is said to be planning a big return to screens, starting with Kate Garraway’s Life Stories in the New Year, as well as other TV opportunities 

He went on to say: ‘I think everybody would probably question [themselves] when something like that happens. ‘You look at yourself in the mirror, of course you do. You would be inhuman not to, wouldn’t you?

‘Listen, I know that I did that show to the best of my ability. I’m sure I didn’t get it right the whole time.

‘But my conscience is clear. The coroner was right in that there was nothing I did or could have done to stop this tragedy. I was presenting a show. Steve had been cleared to appear by both ITV’s aftercare team and his own GP.’ 

‘Recently we were shown messages which Steve sent to Jane and his family after appearing on the show and not a single one criticises or complains about me, None of this should have been about me.’ 

‘I felt it wrong that everybody piled in: It was a dreadful time for everyone. But I became the focus of journalists, members of the public and social media; Their judgement seemingly on me and the show. There was much more to the story and I think that needed to come out eventually.’

Back in September, Jeremy broke his silence, saying his ‘conscience is clear’ after a coroner ruled there was ‘no causal link’ between the appearance of a guest on his show and his death 

Jeremy released a statement after the inquest, saying his name has ‘finally been cleared’ after he remained ‘steadfastly silent in the face of lies, false accusations and unfair criticism over the last 5 1/2 years’ 

Jeremy released a statement after the inquest, saying his name has ‘finally been cleared’ after he remained ‘steadfastly silent in the face of lies, false accusations and unfair criticism over the last 5 1/2 years’.

It read: ‘His Majesty’s Coroner has today clearly and unequivocally found that Jeremy Kyle did not in any way cause or contribute to the tragic suicide of Steve Dymond. He is now exonerated of that ill-informed accusation and his name has finally been cleared.

‘Out of respect for the family of Mr Dymond and the judicial process, Jeremy has always maintained that it would be inappropriate to discuss details whilst the legal inquest was ongoing and he has remained steadfastly silent in the face of lies, false accusations and unfair criticism over the last 5 1/2 years.

‘This has taken a huge toll on him and his family and he would like to thank everyone who has truly supported him through these tough times.’