Low-key funeral held for Jeremy Kyle Show guest who used to live in Shropshire

A small group of mourners attended the “community funeral” for 63-year-old construction worker Steve Dymond at Kingston Cemetery in Portsmouth.

Mr Dymond, lived for a time in Roden, Shropshire. His son Carl Woolley, 39, still lives in Telford.

The short graveside service, led by Canon Bob White, vicar of St Mary’s Church in Portsmouth, was attended by three women, a man and a girl.

After paying their respects and laying single roses, the mourners comforted each other before leaving the cemetery arm in arm.

The funeral was paid for by Portsmouth City Council because Mr Dymond did not have any close family to pay for the service.

See also:

• Former Shropshire man in suspected suicide over 'concerns' about Jeremy Kyle Show appearance, inquest told

• Jeremy Kyle ‘utterly devastated’ after death of guest who used to live in Shropshire

• ‘He really laid into me’: Father's message to Telford son after Jeremy Kyle filming

An inquest opened last month into Mr Dymond’s death heard that he was found in his room in Portsmouth on May 9 after splitting from fiancee Jane Callaghan, from Gosport.

Detective Sergeant Marcus Mills, of Hampshire Police, told the hearing that the death was a suspected suicide.

The Jeremy Kyle Show has since been axed and Mr Dymond’s death comes amid growing scrutiny of the duty of care that reality TV shows have towards participants.

Need help?

Help and advice for those having a mental health crisis is available from a number of agencies in Shropshire.

• Shropshire Mind - 01743 368647 or shropshiremind.org

• Telford Mind - 07434 869248 or telford-mind.co.uk

• Samaritans - 116 123 or samaritans.org

• Access Service for Adult Mental Health - 03001 240365

• Every Mind Matters - nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters

The inquest heard that Mr Dymond told his landlady he had gone on The Jeremy Kyle Show for a lie detector test to show he had not been cheating on Ms Callaghan.

He had said he was worried about the repercussions of the show and the subsequent rumours.

The inquest is set to resume for a full hearing on November 21.