Jeremy Kyle has turned down a request to appear before a committee of MPs following the death of a guest.

Senior executives involved in the daytime talk show will appear in front of MPs next week, but Kyle's representatives told the committee he would not give evidence.

Damian Collins, chair of the digital, culture, media and sport (DCMS) committee, says they wanted the presenter to appear as part of an inquiry into reality television.

Image: The Jeremy Kyle Show has now been taken off air

Mr Collins says the committee believes that "Kyle himself should be an important witness to that, as the show is based around him as the lead presenter of it".

"We have sent an invitation to Mr Kyle through his representatives and we have received word back from them that he has declined to appear in front of the committee on Tuesday next week," he added.


He says the committee will be pursuing the matter with Kyle's representatives "to see if we can find a date when he will appear or to understand fully the reasons why he is not able to appear".

Image: Steve Dymond died following filming of the show

The DCMS committee inquiry was launched last month, within hours of ITV announcing that it had axed The Jeremy Kyle Show following the death of Steve Dymond.

The 63-year-old's body was found at his home in Portsmouth on 9 May, shortly after filming for the programme.

He had reportedly gone on the show to take a lie detector test to prove he had not been cheating - but failed the test.

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At the hearing on 25 June, the committee will hear from ITV's chairman Sir Peter Bazalgette and chief executive Dame Carolyn McCall.

The MPs will also question Tom McLennan, the executive director of The Jeremy Kyle Show, and Graham Stanier who is director of aftercare at ITV and responsible for the welfare of participants, Mr Collins said.

The inquiry will invite a range of former participants and programme-makers to give evidence over the coming months.

Mr Dymond's death happened as reality TV shows began to face increased scrutiny over the duty of care to participants.

Image: Sophie Gradon killed herself after drinking alcohol and taking cocaine, a coroner ruled

Image: Mike Thalassitis' body was found in a park near his home. Pic: ITV2

Love Island has returned to ITV2 after the deaths of former contestants Sophie Gradon and Mike Thalassitis.

Gradon, 32, killed herself after drinking alcohol and taking cocaine, a coroner ruled.

Thalassitis, 26, killed himself after drinking alcohol and taking cocaine, a separate coroner concluded.

ITV recently announced an enhanced duty of care process for participants on the show, including a minimum of eight therapy sessions for contestants.