ITV’s Jeremy Kyle Show has been hit with controversy over the years, including one guest who killed his girlfriend’s hamster after finding out he was not the father of her baby
20:03, 07 Jun 2025Updated 20:32, 07 Jun 2025
Jeremy Kyle said he is proud of his show(Image: ITV)
A former star of The Jeremy Kyle Show has had his lifetime ban on owning animals lifted.
Controversial host Jeremy, 59, confessed that he still feels “immensely proud” of the ITV show, despite it being a factor in the death in one of its guests. The programme showcased a diverse range of individuals to the public, including an elderly escort who happily had sex with over 1,000 men.
However, one previous guest has since appeared in court to have his lifetime ban on keeping animals lifted. Ryan O’Brien, from Stevenage, was granted this right by a judge who agreed that he had succeeded in “turning his life around” and proving he can care for a pet.
READ MORE: Jeremy Kyle guest who threatened to ‘knock out’ the host is on road to being drug free
Ryan O’Brien appeared in court after throwing and stamping on a hamster in 2012(Image: SWNS.com)
In 2012, O’Brien pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to an animal after he hurled a hamster against a wall and stamped on it to kill it. At the time of the animal’s death, O’Brien was in a tumultuous relationship with his girlfriend that had just ended shortly before the incident, as reported by The Comet.
His relationship abruptly ended after appearing on the controversial ITV programme to determine whether he was the father of a 13-month-old girl he had been co-parenting with his partner. It was during his stint on the show that a DNA test revealed he was not the father of the toddler, reports the Daily Star.
After admitting to the offence, O’Brien was initially slapped with a suspended jail term and an indefinite ban on keeping or owning animals. But in a dramatic turnaround, he’s managed to get the ban overturned after convincing the court of his reformation.
He has now had his ban lifted(Image: Ryan O’Brien)
When he stood before Stevenage Magistrates’ Court on May 22, no fewer than four witnesses vouched for his transformation, convincing the magistrates that he was now fit to care for a pet. His solicitor highlighted to the press that the magistrates had witnessed a profound shift in O’Brien’s demeanour.
Now 35, O’Brien has welcomed a new addition to his life, a miniature British bulldog pup named Dotty. Chatting with The Comet, he shared his journey of turning over a new leaf, leaving behind substance abuse to concentrate on bettering himself.
“I have now completed a three-year apprenticeship with the construction company Wates and am a qualified tiler, decorator and electrician,” he proudly told the paper. He’s also giving back to the community, lending a hand at food banks and warm spaces.
The TV host welcomed a variety of guests(Image: ITV)
“A lot has changed; I’ve changed,” O’Brien reflected. “I haven’t got a bad bone in my body now.” He expressed deep remorse over his past actions, saying: “Killing the hamster is the biggest regret of my life. I just wasn’t thinking at the time.”
Despite his efforts to move forward, O’Brien acknowledged that he still faces the consequences of his past, with public shaming being a constant reminder. However, he expressed gratitude towards The Jeremy Kyle Show for shedding light on truths about his former partner.
He shared that he’s been clean since Christmas, steering clear of drugs for the past two years. He admitted reaching a juncture where he was “sick” of his previous lifestyle. Now, with “a good support network of friends”, he’s turned a new page: “I have stopped hanging out with people who were bad for me.”
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