But sources at the broadcaster say the presenter felt he and the show were only “tolerated” by senior executives while it still proved a ratings hit. In recent months bosses had began to worry about the effect of the show’s falling ratings on its flagship daytime show This Morning, which follows it in the schedules. An insider told the Sunday Express: “Clearly it was an awful thing to have happened to this man. But discussions had taken place about the performance of the show, and Jeremy did have a feeling he was being tolerated while it was still doing well. There was a feeling they were looking to get rid of it before this happened. Jeremy always felt there had been a succession of bosses who accepted him and the show while it was successful.” It is believed ITV will be offering Kyle further work, with presenting slots on Good Morning Britain and his documentary series The Kyle Files.

But there is concern within ITV about how he will be used.

The source added: “The question remains how can you ditch the brand but not the man who carried out the interview on the programme. He IS the programme.”

ITV would not comment, but a source denied it had been thinking of cancelling Kyle. They said it was “an outrageous suggestion” to say the channel had been looking to axe the show.

The departure of ITV’s top daytime star will hit revenue hard in the short term despite recent episodes attracting about 300,000 viewers – 700,000 fewer than when it was at its height.

Losses could balloon to £43million if mounting pressure forces bosses to also axe Love Island.

The ITV2 reality show has been hit by two former participants committing suicide.

It is said to bring in up to £25million each year in advertising revenue. Insiders say there are no plans to axe it.

ITV saw its share capital shrink by £150million after they suspended the Jeremy Kyle Show, which represented two per cent of its total audience.

It was seen as important “coffee time” viewing. The show has been replaced temporarily by David Dickinson’s Real Deal.

“Viewers aren’t looking for Mastermind at this time of day,” said one TV source.

“Traditionally, the audience at that time are not in work. Lots of retired people, students and part-time workers.”

ITV announced on Monday that it was suspending the show after the suspected suicide of 63-year old Mr Dymond.

He had failed a lie detector test as he tried to prove he had not cheated on his fiancee.

Politicians piled into the controversy, calling for the show to be axed, which it was on Wednesday.

The Commons Culture Select Committee has since announced it is to investigate reality TV.

“It’s been a wake-up call to all broadcasters,” said Andrew McIntosh, head of TV at research company Enders Analysis.

“But ITV have done the right thing in pulling the programme and it’s to ITV’s credit that it came to the right conclusion quickly.”

Comment

Nick Ferrari

I HAVE hosted many television debates along the lines of what Jeremy Kyle has done. They have involved politicians and pretty much everyone from comic to con artist and buffoon to business supremo. Along the way I fell considerably short of delivering on them as well as Mr Kyle does.

That is why I looked on in bewilderment as ITV chose to kill off its most successful daytime programme.

To get everything straight, the death of someone who was to appear on the show, but who reportedly experienced such emotional trauma that they took their life, is an unspeakable tragedy.

There is no excusing the truth he should never have been allowed on the show.

However no one is frogmarched to go on this show. The idea that everyone who agrees to go in front of the cameras is either dopey or has been duped is incredibly insulting.

The speed with which the Government has leapt on this case is unsettling. Within 48 hours of the news of the apparent suicide, politicians were queuing up to denounce this type of TV and it was announced a parliamentary inquiry would follow.

However, it is being done by a government unable to deliver on a referendum result, to combat the rise in violent crime or to tackle the issues that destabilise the NHS, surely as worthy as any misdeed on this reality show.

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