The Jeremy Kyle Show taken off air indefinitely following death of a guest / ITV
Warning: This article discusses a suspected suicide and could be distressing to some readers.
The ex-wife of Steven Dymond, who died after appearing on The Jeremy Kyle Show, has told a British newspaper that she is "celebrating his death" and claiming he put her through "hell" during their brief marriage.
Dianne Healing, 48, told the Daily Mail: " I want people to know the truth. He was a prolific liar – to see people feeling sorry for him is horrible. What he did was disgusting."
After failing a lie detector test and being "humiliated and traumatised" on popular British talk show The Jeremy Kyle Show, grandfather Steven Dymond was found dead.
The 62-year-old was said to be distraught after failing the test, designed to establish whether he had been faithful to his partner.
In the days before his death Dymond had reconnected with his estranged son, learning that he was a grandfather, although he died before he could see his son again or meet his grandchild.
His former wife claims that despite his experience on the show, Dymond should not be seen as a victim.
She said: "He was a bullying, controlling man who tried to take over my life and those of my children.
"What he put us through was hell. I used to think he was a gentle giant when I first met him but it couldn't have been further from the truth.
Steven Dymond filmed an episode of The Jeremy Kyle Show earlier this month. Photo / Facebook
"'We married in October 2004 months after first meeting, it was really quick."
"It was only a few months into our married life when I began to have my suspicions about him. His manner began to change when I started to challenge him on his behaviour. He got snappy and irritated.
"On one occasion, I was standing on the doorstep by the patio door and he lifted me off my feet and hurled me onto the ground."
She claimed that Dymond once chased her with a scaffolding pole after she left him and moved into a woman's refuge. "He looked like he wanted to kill me.
"Now he is dead, I want people to know what happened and how he was far from an innocent man.
"I'm glad he's no longer here and I believe he took his own life because he was worried what was going to come out after he appeared on Jeremy Kyle."
In another interview, Healing told The Sun that the couple split after he was arrested over allegations he was a paedophile.
She claims Dymond was questioned but not charged.
"He killed himself because he was frightened of the truth coming out — the truth that he sexually molested a child.
"He's being treated as a martyr but I want people to know what he was really like. He's actually a paedophile.
"Seeing all the coverage has brought back the trauma. Seeing how people feel sorry for him, it's soul-destroying."
Host Jeremy Kyle.
The show was cancelled this week after 14 years on air, following growing concern about the show's methods following Dymond's death.
In a statement, ITV chief executive Carolyn McCall said: "Given the gravity of recent events we have decided to end production of The Jeremy Kyle Show.
"The Jeremy Kyle Show has had a loyal audience and has been made by a dedicated production team for 14 years, but now is the right time for the show to end.
"Everyone at ITV's thoughts and sympathies are with the family and friends of Steve Dymond."
The broadcaster said that it would continue to work with Kyle on other projects.
