Talk show host Jeremy Kyle has revealed a lifelong fear of dogs, after being voluntarily savaged by one for his new series.
Jeremy has recorded a new run of his investigation programme The Kyle Files, which includes an episode called Dangerous Dogs in which he is attacked by a Belgian shepherd.
He travelled to a dog training ground in Essex and wore a protective suit to be savaged by the trained attack dog, to highlight the importance of responsible dog ownership.
He told The Daily Mirror: “I’ve been terrified of dogs since I was a kid. When I was 18 months I was bitten by a dog, and growing up I held on to that fear.”
He said of filming the episode: “All sorts of things were going through my head. What if he bites my face or takes off one of my fingers? But we wanted to show why it is so important to keep in control of your dog.”
The new series – back on Monday at 8pm on ITV – also includes episodes about homelessness and hate crime.
Meanwhile, The Jeremy Kyle Show upset a former British soap legend this week.
Fans of the show believed they’d seen a ghost on the show this week when they thought EastEnders character Heather Trott had returned from the grave.
But no, it wasn’t a soap spectre, it was just a curvy woman who looked the dead spit of the actress Cheryl Fergison.
READ MORE: EastEnders bosses make statement over Danny Dyer furore
Guest Sue was appearing on the show to defend her daughter Toni, who had been accused by a gay couple of stalking them, and who was also claiming that she was actually pregnant by one of them!
But when she emerged on stage, shouting and screaming, viewers were more intrigued by her rather familiar look than her angry defence of her daughter.
And they weren’t shy in trolling the woman on social media.
Many armchair critics compared the rotund woman to Chery Fergison’s legendary and well-loved character Heather, who was killed off – stupidly – by producers five years ago.
One nasty so-and-s0 sniped: “Heather Trott from Eastenders is back from the dead, with new straight hair and on Jeremy Kyle.”
Another wicked Kyle disciple said: “If hagrid and heather trott had a lovechild… it’d definitely end up on #jeremykyle.”
https://twitter.com/dangerousmixers/status/834347967133995008
READ MORE: FINALLY Cheryl proudly displays her bump in official photograph
While another said: “Heather Trott hasn’t aged well…”
And it wasn’t just the way she looked that had people thinking she was a dead ringer for Heather.
Some viewers even noted that the angry woman “even sounds like Heather from EastEnders”.
However, actress Cheryl wasn’t happy about the comments expressed by viewers on social media.
She took to Twitter herself to express her upset at the comments.
The actress seemed less worried about the visual comparison people made between Sue and her, and focused more on the way the show’s viewers were revelling in the misery of watching the warring folks onstage.
Heather Trott was a character !! … and people ask me why I don't watch stuff like Jeremy Kyle !! Sad world we live in folks ..
— Cheryl Fergison (@cherylfergison1) February 23, 2017
“Heather Trott was a character!!” she tweeted in the early hours this morning. “And people ask me why I don’t watch stuff like Jeremy Kyle !! Sad world we live in folks.”
She added: “You know I think I’ve had enough of the way people judge others… I will say this one more time… thank God we are not all built the same way.https://twitter.com/cherylfergison1/status/834568746920456192
I just don't get it .. when is the world gonna understand that no two people are the same ! We are all different and no one is perfect ..
— Cheryl Fergison (@cherylfergison1) February 23, 2017
“I just don’t get it .. when is the world gonna understand that no two people are the same ! We are all different and no one is perfect.
“I think something has to happen soon we cannot keep ripping each other apart we have to start caring and find the respect again.
Negativity makes me sad it makes me upset makes people have no self worth .why is it so wrong to do right these days .no real encouragement
— Cheryl Fergison (@cherylfergison1) February 23, 2017
“Negativity makes me sad it makes me upset makes people have no self worth .why is it so wrong to do right these days .no real encouragement
When did people become so frightened of learning about things / people / cultures .. when did we allow ourselves to be sucked into hysteria
— Cheryl Fergison (@cherylfergison1) February 23, 2017
“When did people become so frightened of learning about things / people / cultures .. when did we allow ourselves to be sucked into hysteria.
“I just like to have a little rant every now and then and flex my observations to show how foolish we are all becoming …life is for living.”
When one of Cheryl’s fans said they loved watching Jeremy Kyle because the people on the show made them feel better about themselves, Cheryl raged, “That’s my point, you shouldon’t be having to feel like that!”
That's why there is so much to do / see / learn / experience in life for the good so programmes like Jeremy Kyle are just depressing IMO
— Cheryl Fergison (@cherylfergison1) February 23, 2017
“That’s why there is so much to do / see / learn / experience in life for the good so programmes like Jeremy Kyle are just depressing IMO
“Who are we to judge anyone’s life .& why r we like gladiators watching what is clearly none of our business. Likewise why tell the world!
“What do we gain by looking at others misery / sadness / misfortunes ? We should just all be considerate respectful helpful and less selfish.”
Cheryl even took a pop at Jeremy when a Canadian fan said she had never heard of the show saying: “Canada saved from Jeremy Kyle. LOL”
Canada saved from Jeremy Kyle show lol https://t.co/sPzBz4oAX1
— Cheryl Fergison (@cherylfergison1) February 23, 2017
We’re right behind you, Chez.
Oh, and by the way, if you are interested in what happened with Sue, her daughter and the gay couple, it turns out that Sue’s stalker offspring turned out to be lying about carrying the gay guy’s baby! Now you can sleep at night.