MPs are to put reality TV in the dock following the death of a guest on the Jeremy Kyle Show.
Sunderland Central MP Julie Elliott will be among those taking part in an inquiry, which also follows the deaths of two former contestants from the reality Sophie Gradon's mum slams ITV for 'exploiting the vulnerable' after Jeremy Kyle guest's death
She is a member of the Commons Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee, which has announced it is to hold an inquiry into whether reality TV shows put “unfair psychological pressure” on participants.
Hearings will take place in committee rooms in the Houses of Parliament.
It follows the death of Steve Dymond, who took a lie-detector test to convince fiancee Jane Callaghan that he had not been unfaithful, but was told he had failed.
News of Mr Dymond’s death prompted an outcry and ITV has cancelled the show permanently.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman described the incident as “deeply concerning”.
The episode featuring Mr Dymond is said to have been filmed earlier this month.
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Mr Dymond’s son, Carl Woolley, 39, said his father had been “distraught” over the breakdown of his relationship and hoped the show would help him “clear his name”.
Referring to his father by his first name, Mr Woolley said: “Steve told me ‘Kyle really laid into me’. Presumably that was at the point when they announced the lie detector result.”
Mr Dymond’s body was found at an address in Grafton St, Portsmouth, on May 9.
Hampshire Police said the death is not being treated as suspicious and a file was being prepared for the coroner.
It emerged on Tuesday that Mr Dymond had been the subject of an arrest warrant after he failed to attend a court hearing for non-payment of a fine.
He was originally ordered to pay nearly £6,000 in compensation to two finance companies in 1997 at Poole Magistrates’ Court.
And in February, Mr Dymond had been due to attend a hearing at Southampton Magistrates’ Court for the non-payment of a fine of £4,329.
After he failed to attend the hearing, a warrant was issued for his arrest.
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On Tuesday, Downing Street and Culture Secretary Jeremy Wright said TV firms must support participants in their shows.
ITV has launched a review into the episode they featured in.
An ITV spokeswoman said: “Prior to the show a comprehensive assessment is carried out by the guest welfare team on all potential contributors.
“The guests are interviewed by guest welfare face-to-face at studios and prior to filming.
“Throughout filming, the participants are supported by the guest welfare team.
“After filming has ended, all guests are seen by a member of the guest welfare team.”
Two former Love Island contestants took their own lives after appearing on the programme.
Sophie Gradon died last year, while Mike Thalassitis was found dead in a field near his family home in March.
Sophie Gradon's mum slams ITV for 'exploiting the vulnerable' after Jeremy Kyle guest's death
Jeremy Kyle Show guest told son that TV host 'really laid into me'
