Jeremy Kyle has dramatically snubbed MPs by refusing an invitation to give evidence about his chat show's collapse.

The ITV host had been asked to appear before a Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee inquiry on reality TV - after guest Steve Dymond's tragic death.

But Damian Collins, chairman of the committee, revealed he has "declined" an invitation to appear next Tuesday.

Mr Collins told MPs today: “We believe that Jeremy Kyle himself should be an important witness to [our inquiry] 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."

The Jeremy Kyle Show was suspended indefinitely last month and axed two days later following the death of guest Steve Dymond.

(Image: ITV)

(Image: Steve Dymond)

Steve had appeared on the ITV show 10 days before taking his own life, having failed a lie detector test offered by Kyle's producers.

Steve had been desperate to prove he hadn't cheated on fiancee Jane Callaghan, but the results of the highly disputed lie detector claimed he had been unfaithful.

The chief executive and chairman of ITV will appear at next Tuesday's hearing, along with Tom McLennan, executive director of the show, and director of aftercare Graham Stanier.

Carolyn McCall, ITV's CEO, said at the time that “everyone at ITV's thoughts and sympathies are with the family and friends of Steve Dymond."

(Image: PA)

It came after a deadline of last Thursday for Mr Kyle to respond came and went without any public statement.

Mr Collins told MPs: "We believe Mr Kyle is an important witness to the committee in its work.

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

"And we will make a further statement once those discussions have concluded."

Witnesses have previously enraged MPs by refusing to turn up to committees.

Yet there is little MPs can do to force unruly witnesses to attend.

(Image: The New Day)

The most high-profile recent case was Dominic Cummings - who directed the Vote Leave campaign during the 2016 Brexit referendum.

He was found in contempt of Parliament for refusing to attend a DCMS hearing on fake news.

The ruling in March was the first of its kind since one during the 2016 phone-hacking scandal.

Yet Mr Cummings only faced a formal ‘admonishment’ from the House of Commons.

(Image: Getty)

Penalties once included fines and even imprisonment - but the last fine was in 1666 and the last imprisonment was in 1880.

And in theory Parliament can force witnesses to appear and be admonished in person but the last example was in 1957.

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Chairman Mr Collins said in March Parliament’s powers had been “tested to their limits and found wanting."