Jeremy Kyle had a ‘fearful’ look in his eye and was using ‘rituals of self-protection’ at the inquest into the death of one of his guests, a body language expert claims.
The TV presenter, 59, first gave evidence at the inquest into Steve Dymond’s death in the Winchester Coroner’s Court yesterday.
Mr Dymond, 63, is believed to have killed himself seven days after filming an episode of the programme in 2019.
He had gone on the show alongside partner Jane Callaghan to take a lie detector test in an attempt to prove to her he wasn’t being unfaithful.
But, when the test concluded he was fibbing, he was slammed on camera by former presenter Kyle, who then said: ‘Grow a pair of balls and tell her the God-damn truth.’
A body language expert has analysed Jeremy Kyle’s movements around the inquest of one of his guests
She said the presenter appeared to have ‘fear’ in his eyes
The expert claimed Kyle was using barrier gestures – like looking at his watch
She also claimed he was using ‘rituals of self-protection’
Steve Dymond, centre, died after a suspected suicide in 2019
The 63-year-old, pictured with partner Jane Callaghan, died seven days after filming the episode
In the un-aired episode, My Dymond is reduced to tears multiple times
The 59-year-old has been accused of ‘throwing Mr Dymond under the bus’ when he failed the test, but the former presenter yesterday argued he has an ’empathetic’ on-air style.
And a body language expert has now analysed how she thinks Kyle was feeling as he walked into the courtroom to give evidence, and as he left.
Judi James said the presenter seemed to be trying to use barrier and self-comfort rituals – and claimed she could tell when his ‘tension levels’ rose.
The expert said when Kyle looked at his watch multiple times, which she claims is a barrier gesture, and placed his hand on his lower chest – in a ‘ritual of self-protection’.
Ms James said the presenter also had a look of ‘fear’ in his eyes as he walked into the inquest to give evidence.
She told MailOnline: ‘The torrential rain on Kyle’s arrival does present him with a “prop” here in the shape of the brolly, plus a method of concealing his face if he feels the need to, but there still does seem to be an increase in barrier and self-comfort rituals from this arrival to when he is leaving the court house here, as though his tension levels might have risen inside the courtroom.’
The expert explained that she thought the 59-year-old seemed to be feeling different before the inquest, and after.
She continued: ‘Kyle’s overall performance on arrival looks formal, upright and rather stately. He places one hand near his chest and pulls an upturned smile with the corners of the mouth pulled down as he takes the umbrella, which is a gesture that suggests a desire to register a polite greeting or acknowledgment but without any authentic happiness.
An inquest into Mr Dymond’s death has been held this week
Kyle gave evidence at Winchester Coroner’s Court yesterday – and expert Judi James says he looked at his watch multiple times as he arrived and left
She said: ‘He walks away and then rubs his nose in another cut-off that this time finishes with a small flourish’
The inquest into Mr Dymond’s death is sent to conclude on Monday
‘He ducks his head as he walks past one camera and then appears to be talking to no-one in particular as he checks his watch in what looks like a body language “bit of business” i.e. a ritual that keeps your hands occupied and busy during times of tension.
‘His second acknowledgment gesture is a mirthless smile with the lips closed, coupled with a rather fearful or wary-looking eye expression.’
Ms James noted that Kyle tended to fidget more on his way out of the courtroom.
She said: ‘On his exit, Kyle checks his watch again but this time he uses it to form a barrier gesture by then placing his hand onto his lower chest with the fingers splayed in a more pronounced ritual of self-protection, while his eyes go down in a cut-off. He fiddles with either a pocket or his waistband as he walks away and then rubs his nose in another cut-off that this time finishes with a small flourish.
‘In the end he places his left hand into his trouser pocket in what looks like an attempt to imply confidence and informality as he walks.’
It comes as the moment a sobbing Mr Dymond tried to defend himself from claims he cheated on his partner was shown for the first time.
During the episode, Kyle asks: ‘Since the start of you relationship with Jane, have you passionately kissed anyone else? You said no, why did you say no Steve?’
To which the 59-year-old says: ‘Because I was telling the truth.’
‘This says you’re a liar pal,’ Kyle replies and the audience gasps. ‘Just so you’re aware you failed every question.’
With his mouth open in shock, My Dymond says: ‘Oh my god, I was never unfaithful.’
Kyle then tells him to follow Jane and as they gather in the back room he says: ‘The audience thought you were telling the truth.’
‘I was’, Mr Dymond says through tears.
The presenter then says: ‘I wouldn’t trust you with a chocolate button mate, I don’t think you know what the truth is.’
Mr Dymond keeps repeating through tears: ‘I have not been unfaithful.’
Kyle then adds: ‘Be a man and grow a pair of balls and tell her the god-damn truth.’
The TV presenter yesterday told Winchester Coroner’s Court that Mr Dymond was just another ‘typical’ guest on his show and insisted that he showed him ’empathy’.
Giving evidence for the first time, the TV presenter denied ‘belittling’ or ‘humilating’ Mr Dymond and said he displayed ‘care’ for the 63-year-old.
Kyle, 59, claimed he had been ‘very complimentary’ of Mr Dymond and said he tried to ‘de-escalate’ and ‘calm down’ him down when he sobbed over his failed lie detector results.
At the start of the eight-minute clip, Mr Dymond can be seen holding Jane’s hand – gently stroking it as he tries to explain why he tells white lies to her.
He visibly becomes upset, with tears in his eyes, and says: ‘I just lie to her, for no reason.
‘Since we’ve split up, and got back together, I’ve never once lied to her.’
When Kyle asks if he loves Jane, Mr Dymond’s voice cracks as he says: ‘God, to bits. So so much.’
During the clip, Kyle brands the 63-year-old a ‘liar’ and slams ‘I don’t think you know what the truth is’.
The court this week heard that the 63-year-old died at his home from a combination of morphine overdose and left ventricular hypertrophy in his heart.
Footage of the programme shows Kyle entering the stage saying My Dymond was accused of lying about his age, about being in the Royal Navy, about grandchildren, and about viagra gone missing.
Kyle then tells Mr Dymond, after looking at the lie detector results: ‘The test says you’re a liar, you failed every single test.’
As Mr Dymond sobs, he tells him: ‘I wouldn’t trust you with a chocolate button mate, I don’t think you know what the truth is.’
On the stand yesterday, Kyle admitted he was ‘direct’ but said his on-stage behaviour was a ‘presenter persona’ and that he was ‘paid to do a job’.
He also revealed he never received training to deal with highly-charged emotional situations – but said he had ‘total faith’ in his team.
Giving evidence, Kyle said: ‘What I see in those clips is, from the moment Steve Dymond comes out, I was very complimentary.
‘I called him mate, I called him pal, we had a bit of a joke.
‘I de-escalated and I calmed down, ‘we are going to put you backstage’.
‘It was about conflict resolution.
‘For me, that’s what the show was about, conflict resolution, and people that came on the show knew that.
‘The people that came on the show were aware of the approach.
‘It had been on the air for 15 years, I think the approach for conflict resolution was always the same.
‘Yes, it was direct, but it was manufactured…
‘You can see empathy and that is, in essence how I saw it and how I see it.
‘I think that persona was actually very, very regular and continuous.
‘Yes, it was direct, it was also caring.
‘I look at those clips and I see that journey.’
The inquest continues.
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