Jeremy Kyle Goes Stateside

The UK's highest rating daytime series is about to go Stateside.
ITV Studios have announced that Jeremy Kyle will fly to the U.S. later this year to record local versions of the hit show which will air throughout the U.S.A in 2011. The series will be co-produced by ITV Studios' Los Angeles based production office and producer-distributor Debmar-Mercury.
Jeremy Kyle commented: "I am really excited to be working with ITV Studios and Debmar-Mercury in the USA to recreate the success of the UK show stateside. "I am particularly looking forward to meeting ordinary American people and hearing about their extraordinary lives. This show isn't about me - it is about their issues and problems and how we can face them together – with complete honesty and openness - in front of US audiences."
Lee Bartlett, Managing Director of ITV Studios added: "The news reflects our global ambitions to travel ITV’s most popular and compelling programming to worldwide audiences."
Lonnie Burstein, Executive Vice President of Programming and Production for Debmar-Mercury, and Paul Buccieri, Chief Executive Officer of ITV Studios (USA) negotiated the deal and will jointly oversee production of the show.
"In less than five years, Jeremy Kyle has become a phenomenon in U.K. daytime television and has the talent to accomplish the same feat here," Buccieri explained.
"This well-honed format crafted by ITV Studios, combined with Debmar-Mercury’s winning track record as an innovative producer-distributor and our own ability to successfully adapt TV formats for U.S. viewers, gives us great confidence in this project."
Mort Marcus and Ira Bernstein Co-Presidents, Debmar-Mercury said: "We’re certain that Jeremy Kyle can conquer another continent.
"We believe American viewers, stations and advertisers will wholeheartedly embrace Jeremy Kyle, who is such a great talent and brings his unique sensibility to a proven format, in the new U.S. version of this very popular series."
Averaging a 32 share among women and a 26 share of all individuals watching TV, The Jeremy Kyle Show has posted annual ratings increases every year since its 2005 debut and ranks as the most-viewed daytime programme in the UK. More than 1,000 episodes of the series have been produced.
(BMcN/BMcC)