4. It Encourages Private Matters To Be In The Public Interest
The Jeremy Kyle Show is essentially a one-trick pony, inviting members of the public to appear on national TV and voice family concerns under the impression that their issues will be resolved before the end credits (just like a real TV show!) What would ordinarily be discussed in the privacy of people's homes has been given airtime. The stage becomes the window into strangers' personal affairs that audience members and viewers at home can peep into. What Jeremy Kyle and his producers have done is monopolise family arguments and turn them into a form of entertainment laid bare for all to see. What's baffling is how fans have accepted the core concept of something that would normally brandish them as a nosy neighbour. Guests are willing to step in front of cameras and bare their soul to the ever judgmental stare of the show's host, so you could argue it's their own fault for choosing to appear. But if the program is designed to help people, why should guests be vilified for wanting to reach out, especially when professional counselling is not something everyone can afford? The show was actually criticised by Manchester District Judge, Alan Berg, who says the purpose of the program is to "effect a morbid and depressing display of dysfunctional people whose lives are in turmoil." He also referred to it as "human bear baiting", which I think sums it up nicely.