Fuelled by conflict, the programme ruled daytime TV. Two years after it was taken off air, former staffers reflect on a toxic culture that ended in tragedy. By Jenny Kleeman
In 2017, Kane Manning wasn’t in a good place. He was worried about his brother, Craig. Craig’s ex was claiming he was the father of her baby. Craig wasn’t sure if he was; Kane was convinced he couldn’t be. It was a difficult time for the family: Kane’s father had been murdered, and the man who killed him had only just been convicted. The doubts over the baby were causing unnecessary heartbreak.
Then he got a call from a producer at ITV Studios who offered to make the problem disappear. Craig’s ex had called in to The Jeremy Kyle Show, asking for a DNA test. Jeremy Kyle would reveal the result on daytime TV in front of the studio audience. They wanted Kane to be on stage to hear it.
