Nicola McLean insists ‘Love Island’ should be dropped now ‘The Jeremy Kyle Show’ is axed.
The 37-year-old reality star believes the host of the daytime show is being made a scapegoat after a guest, Steve Dymond, allegedly took his own life a week after filming an episode, and doesn’t think it is "just" that the programme has been pulled off air and had all old instalments removed from the ITV hub when a new series of the dating series – which has faced criticism following the suicides of former contestants Sophie Gradon and Mike Thalassitis – will be back on screen soon.
Speaking on Channel 5 current affairs discussion programme ‘Jeremy Vine’ before ITV announced ‘The Jeremy Kyle Show’ has been axed for good, she said: "I do think JK is being victimised. Why is it only his show being pulled off the air?
"He’s done a lot of good and I think he’s been wrongly victimised. I think it’s a very bizarre … ‘Love Island’ is coming on very soon, the show that’s making the most money for ITV brand and I think this is a mask so we don’t have to ban ‘Love Island’. ‘Let’s get Jeremy Kyle so we don’t have to get that.’ "
Asked if she thinks ‘The Jeremy Kyle Show’ should be axed, she said: "I don’t care about the show, I care about just, and if he’s getting cancelled, so should ‘Love Island’."
And Nicola doesn’t feel the show should be blamed for Steve’s death.
Speaking on ‘Jeremy Vine’, she said: "Its horrific what happened and my heart goes out to his family but he willingly took part in the show."
Fellow guest Calum Best also feels the presenter has been unfairly targeted and suggested much of the blame should lie with the age of social media.
He said: "I know Jeremy and I don’t think he should be targeted, maybe the show as a whole because of what it does and how it makes people feel.
"You get something like ‘Love Island’, obviously it’s really sad someone took their own life, that is tragic.
"Overall I look at it like social media has a huge part to play. Reality shows can be great, a great opportunity but the downside is if you don’t have a thick skin – and you shouldn’t have to – having people tell you so instantly their thoughts and opinions on you, it can affect people who don’t know how to deal with it."
Nicola McLean calls for Love Island axe
