ITV enhances protections for programme participants in the wake of Jeremy Kyle suicide
ITV has set out new guidelines governing the protection of programme participants following the high-profile death of a Jeremy Kyle Show guest after filming.
ITV enhances protections for programme participants in the wake of Jeremy Kyle suicide
The Duty of Care Charter applies to all content produced in-house by ITV Studios or third-party providers and sets out advice on how to support the mental wellbeing of participants not only during filming but after the cameras move on.
Key elements from the charter have already been written into updated producer guidelines for all programme suppliers to better assess the mental health risks for participants.
Kevin Lygo, ITV’s director of television said: “The health and safety of everyone who takes part in our programmes is our highest priority, which is why we are sharing our best practice guidelines with producers.
“This is not intended to be prescriptive but is draft guidance we are rolling out to all producers working with ITV, so we have a framework for the discussion around what the levels of risk might be and what proportionate processes producers, therefore, may need to have in place.”
The measures are described as being ‘proportionate’ to the likely risks based on the programme format and individual concerned. Content considered to pose a medium to higher risk will be obliged to discuss their participant protection processes and written risk management plan with their commissioner and compliance lawyer throughout the production schedule.
ITV has described the resultant cancellation of The Jeremy Kyle Show as a ‘low point’ for the broadcaster.
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