Number One Fan review: Channel 5 thriller bears too many similarities to Jeremy Kyle suicide to be entertaining
The fictional thriller is disturbingly too close to fact
Number One Fan has landed on Channel 5, and it’s most definitely going to raise some eyebrows – and not necessarily for the right reasons thanks to its unsettling reminder of the Jeremy Kyle tragedy.
The new four-part thriller introduces a daytime TV presenter, who is hugely popular with viewers. Riding high on her fame, Lucy Logan is also a brand ambassador for a clothing range, and launching her own clothing range. So far, so Holly Willoughby.
But what her adoring fans don’t know is that she has a dark secret in her past that she’ll do anything to protect. And it revolves around her first job on a Jeremy Kyle-style show called The Verdict. And the “fictional” tale is too close to real events to be called entertainment.
Here’s why Number One Fan’s unsubtle reminder of the Jeremy Kyle scandal makes for painful viewing.
***Warning: minor spoilers from Number One Fan ahead***
Number One Fan review
Here at TVGuide.co.uk, we love a bonkers Channel 5 thriller. We’re talking Missed Call, The Game, The Feud, and The Inheritance (arguably the best of them all). And we were excited to hear that Drama Queens Jill Halfpenny and Sally Lindsay were uniting for the first time on TV for Number One Fan.
But, while watching press previews, we were shocked that the central premise of the show revolves around a Jeremy Kyle-style show called The Verdict. Dean Andrews plays the now-cancelled talk show host called Stewart Jones. The Verdict, before it was axed, was a “toxic show” which rejoiced in humiliating its guests. And gambling addict Ben Hughes was groomed to appear on the show, only to be bullied live on air and labelled “Britain’s biggest loser”. He subsequently died by suicide immediately after leaving the studios. Does any of this sound familiar?
You’ll probably all remember that something horribly similar happened in real life. After appearing on The Jeremy Kyle Show, 63-year-old Steve Dymond died by suicide days after filming. In the episode he was accused of cheating on his ex-fiancée.
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Sorry, but this is too close to the bone to be entertainment. And we hope Steve Dymond’s family don’t watch it.
Number One Fan comes after the controversial Channel 5 drama Power: The Downfall of Huw Edwards. The two-parter starred Martin Clunes as the disgraced BBC newsreader who embarked on illegal interactions with a 17-year-old boy.
The series, which aired in March 2026, was based on court reports, texts, and interviews with the victim’s family. It divided viewers with many saying it was “too soon”, and others criticising its sickenenly graphic scenes.
Is Number One Fan based on the true story of Jeremy Kyle?
Number One Fan is NOT based on the Jeremy Kyle tragedy. Stewart Jones is fictional and “an amalgamation of people”. But it’s too similar not to be uncomfortable viewing. Scenes showing the character of Stewart Jones shouting at Ben Hughes, and shaming him about his addictions, are just distressing to watch. One can only remember the late Steve Dymond.
Although The Jeremy Kyle Show episode featuring guest Steve Dymond never aired, his tragic death was front page for weeks. It resulted in the ITV show being axed, and Jeremy Kyle being cancelled. The incident sparked a major investigation into the show’s filming practices and so-called aftercare.
The episode was filmed in May 2019, when Steve Dymond failed a lie detector test regarding allegations of cheating. He was found dead seven days later, having tragically taken his own life. Clips of the unaired episode were later shown during the inquest into Dymond’s death in 2024.
The inquest found no direct causal link between Steve Dymond’s appearance on The Jeremy Kyle Show and his 2019 death by suicide. Although Dymond was distressed after failing a lie detector test, the coroner found insufficient evidence that the show caused his death. At the time, Jeremy Kyle stated his “conscience is clear”.
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Number One Fan ‘explores television’s past’
Talking about the Channel 5 thriller, Sally Lindsay told us: “It’s quite contemporary, but it also explores television’s past and things that just wouldn’t happen now. For me and for Jill, we’ve been knocking around for nearly 30 years, so we remember living through all that.”
Addressing how the show critiques television’s duty of care and accountability, she said: “I think some members of the public were treated like a commodity, as opposed to actual human beings. And because we know television is smoke and mirrors, you can make anyone look how you want them to look. You’re using that disadvantage as a commodity. There should be a duty of care. I’m so glad those days are over. I remember when I was on Coronation Street seeing these talk shows that were happening and thinking that’s not right. This was all happening in the early 2000s.”
In fact, Steve Dymond’s appearance on The Jeremy Kyle Show was only seven years ago, in 2019.
Talking about television taking accountability, Jill Halfpenny added: “I think this is a bigger question that could go across any industry… Does the content you are putting out warrant how you are doing it? What methods are you using to get there? In journalism, in our industry, and in the corporate world as well. At what point do you cross a line? And lines are clearly crossed in Number One Fan.”
Where is Jeremy Kyle now as Number One Fan airs?
Jeremy Kyle has bounced back and remains a presenter. He is now a broadcaster for right wing TalkTV, hosting the breakfast show from Monday to Thursday (6am to 10am). The early slot focuses on news and current affairs.
After his long-running ITV show was axed, Jeremy took a break from broadcasting. He said he received treatment for anxiety because he felt “hunted” and “scapegoated” after his TV show was cancelled. The presenter eventually made a comeback to radio before moving to TalkTV.
He has teased the release of a tell-all memoir, expected any minute now. In January 2025, he wrote on Instagram: “Just completed the first few paragraphs of my memoir and even I can’t believe what’s going to be revealed.”
If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts or in crisis, help is available. In the UK, you can call 111 or the Samaritans for free on 116 123.
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