The Jeremy Kyle Show was pulled off air by ITV this morning and suspended indefinitely after a guest died shortly after filming.

Viewers were left confused after this morning's episode was cancelled following Lorraine at 9.25am and Dickinson's Real Deal was shown in its place.

ITV will be carrying out an investigation into the episode of the long-running chat show filmed at MediaCity in Salford, which will now not be broadcast.

The identity of the person who appeared in the programme has not been revealed, and ITV has also wiped all episodes of the programme from its on-demand service the ITV Hub.

The Jeremy Kyle Show was pulled off air by ITV today and suspended indefinitely (file image)

Episodes will not be airing on ITV2, although show's official YouTube account still has clips from the programme available to watch.

An ITV spokesman said: 'Everyone at ITV and The Jeremy Kyle Show is shocked and saddened at the news of the death of a participant in the show a week after the recording of the episode they featured in and our thoughts are with their family and friends. ITV will not screen the episode in which they featured.

'Given the seriousness of this event, ITV has also decided to suspend both filming and broadcasting of The Jeremy Kyle Show with immediate effect in order to give it time to conduct a review of this episode of the show.'

The tabloid talk show sees host Kyle and psychotherapist Graham Stanier help the guests talk through their personal issues in front of a studio audience.

Episode 16 of series 17 was due to be broadcast on ITV today, with the blurb in the Radio Times saying: 'The host invites guests to air their differences over family and relationship issues, and provides them with his own brand of no-nonsense advice.'

It comes just weeks after The Jerry Springer Show in the US - which follows a similar combative format to the Jeremy Kyle Show - is being sued by the family of a man who committed suicide shortly after appearing on an episode.

Kyle is a father-of-four who became engaged to Vicky Burton, 37, his children's former nanny, in February 2018. They are pictured together at the Cheltenham Festival the following month

The current message that appears if you try and find episodes of the Jeremy Kyle show on ITV Hub

The family of Blake Alvey said he was ambushed on the NBC series when he was confronted by his fiancée Cassie Rutter.

Rutter told Alvey that she had been unfaithful with his good friend, no longer wanted to marry him, and had sold the engagement ring he had given her.

The show filmed on May 8, 2018 and aired on May 24, 2018. On June 3, 2018, Alvey took his own life.

Alvey's family have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Jerry Springer and NBC, claiming the show knew it would 'elicit an extreme reaction' from Alvey.

Viewers took to Twitter to ask ITV why The Jeremy Kyle show was not on this morning. Ellen Briggs said: 'Where is Jeremy Kyle gone? #findjezza.'

Another tweeted ITV to ask: 'Please explain why Jeremy Kyle has been replaced this morning... inquiring minds need to know.'

Danniella Westbrook and Chris Maloney were due to appear on a celebrity special of The Jeremy Kyle Show tomorrow, but said it would be back on at a later date.

Former X Factor singer Maloney told Mirror Online that the suspension was only 'temporary', adding: 'It will be aired at a later date.

'I haven't been told the new TX date. It's really sad news. I'm not sure of the actual details surrounding it, but my thoughts are with the family at this time.'

ITV's Love Island star Sophie Gradon (left), 32, who appeared on series two in 2016 was found dead last June, while Mike Thalassitis (right), 26, who took part a year later, died in March

EastEnders actress Westbrook tweeted that the episode would not air tomorrow, adding: 'I'm hoping you guys get to see it at a later date.'

More than 3,000 episodes of The Jeremy Kyle Show have been shown on ITV since July 2005, when it first appeared as a replacement for Trisha.

The daytime programme has become known for its argumentative discussions in front of a studio audience about guests' personal and relationship problems.

One of ITV's most popular daytime shows in Britain, a US version of the show was less successful, and ended in 2013 after two seasons.

The show has faced significant criticism, including from a judge in Manchester in September 2007 who condemned it as a 'human form of bear baiting'.

The long-running ITV chat show is filmed at MediaCity in Salford, Greater Manchester

District judge Alan Berg had been sentencing security guard David Staniforth who had headbutted bus driver Larry Mahoney during a row on stage.

He said at the time: 'It seems to me that the whole purpose of The Jeremy Kyle Show is to effect a morbid and depressing display of dysfunctional people who are in some kind of turmoil.'

Transgender lottery winner Melissa Ede dies a week after suffering crushing chest pains Transgender lottery winner Melissa Ede has died aged 58, just a year and a half after scooping her £4million jackpot. Melissa Ede, 58, who won £4million on a scratchcard, is pictured after her win The former taxi driver from Hull died on Saturday evening, her fiancee Rachel Nason confirmed today. Melissa became a multimillionaire after winning on a £10 National Lottery scratchcard in December 2017 and was well known for appearing on daytime TV shows including Jeremy Kyle and Judge Rinder. Ms Ede claimed her four children had 'disowned' her after she transitioned and had previously said they would not be getting any of her money. She famously appeared on Jeremy Kyle when her daughter found out she was not Ms Ede's biological child. Advertisement

'It is for no more and no less than titillating members of the public who have nothing better to do with their mornings than sit and watch this show which is a human form of bear baiting which goes under the guise of entertainment.'

Producers claim guests are asked before each show how they would deal with potential outcomes to enable the team to assess their possible reactions.

The show also has various aftercare provisions for guests, including mental health nurses, counsellors and therapists who can help them following their appearance.

The identity of the person who appeared in the show that led to it being taken off air has not been revealed, and it is also not known whether the death was suicide.

It follows criticism of ITV's Love Island after Sophie Gradon, 32, who appeared on series two of the hit reality show in 2016 was found dead last June, while Mike Thalassitis, 26, who took part a year later, died in March.

After a review, ITV said it would provide 'bespoke training' to all future contestants and 'offer therapy to all Islanders and not only those that reach out to us'.

Kyle himself is a father-of-four who most recently became engaged to Vicky Burton, 37, his children's former nanny in the Caribbean in February 2018.

The couple began dating in 2016 - a year after Kyle's 13-year marriage to his second wife, Carla Germaine, 43, ended. His first marriage was to secretary Kirsty Holt.

Kyle, whose father worked as an accountant to the Queen Mother, has a net worth of about £4million and has successfully battled testicular cancer.

Kyle previously joked in an ITV profile that he would be 'unemployable' if he was not presenting the show, adding: 'There are a few people who actually think I'm alright.'