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Judge: Jeremy Kyle show like "bear baiting"

25/09/2007

A judge has slammed The Jeremy Kyle Show for deliberately provoking violence among contestants, calling it a "human form of bear baiting"

Judge Alan Berg was presiding over an assault case at Manchester magistrates court which involved two contestants on the popular ITV daytime programme. He ruled that defendant David Stainforth would have to pay the plaintiff, Larry Mahoney, £300 for headbutting him on the show.

Mr Stainforth was invited to the programme where he confronted his wife's lover in the studio. He claims that he did not want to attend the show but decided to do so when a producer told him it could lead to reconciliation with his spouse.

The judge added that the producers of the show should also be held responsible for the violent incident.

Judge Berg said: "It seems to me that the purpose of this show is to effect a morbid and depressing display of dysfunctional people whose lives are in turmoil, often in some perceived or actual dispute with each other for the purposes of titillating bored members of the public who have nothing better to do in the morning than watch trash TV.

"It is less a show than a form of human bear-baiting - that is how I see it - which goes under the guise of entertainment. It should not surprise anyone that these people, some of whom have limited intellects, become aggressive with each other.

"This type of incident is exactly what the producers want. These self-righteous individuals should be in the dock with you. They pretend there is some kind of virtue in putting out a show like this," he added.

A statement from ITV said the television station took the safety and well-being of guests "extremely seriously". It added that it did not tolerate violence of any kind on its show.

"The programme provides an opportunity for people to resolve pre-existing disputes and personal issues on neutral territory, with the offer of counselling, mediation and support, which is on-going following their appearances," the statement said.

"There have been numerous positive outcomes from this, including parties who have resolved complex and long-standing personal problems.

"We are proud of the programme's record in this respect. We do not recognise the district judge's description of our programme," the station said.