Jeremy Kyle: 'My show helps people'

Jeremy Kyle has insisted that his talkshow helps its participants.

Last year, a judge claimed that the programme involves "an element of cruelty and exploitation".

However, Kyle has now told The Sun that all of the programme's guests are given good aftercare.

"I'd be lying if I said criticism never got to me," he said. "But if you are going to be on television and have an opinion and be quite forthright you'd be pretty naive to think everyone is going to agree with you. I can look myself in the mirror and know that my show has helped a lot of people."

Kyle continued: "I know about all the aftercare we do with guests on the show and how thorough we are with follow-up.

"Critics ask why people come on at all but if someone is addicted to heroin and they think they could come on the show, have an honest discussion and then get a detox, counselling and some sort of rehab sorted, that is their choice."

Kyle recently revealed that he has received death threats in the past.