Ofcom has revealed that it had concerns over programmes including The Jeremy Kyle Show and Love Island, prior to the former being taken off air.
The daytime show was axed earlier this month following the death of Steve Dymond, a week after he was filmed for an episode.
Dymond reportedly took a lie-detector test on the programme to convince fiancée Jane Callaghan he had not been unfaithful, but they split after he failed it.
Broadcasting watchdog Ofcom has revealed it will look at the use of lie detector tests on TV shows, as it said ITV has requested more time to report back on what happened on The Jeremy Kyle Show.
Speaking at a parliamentary enquiry into reality TV, Ofcom chief executive Sharon White told MPs: “We will be looking at lie detectors and other tools used by the production companies, as to whether … it’s fair treatment for vulnerable individuals.”
Following the death of Dymond, Ofcom asked ITV to give them information within five working days.
The Ofcom boss told the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee: “Obviously, given the seriousness of what happened … we were very quickly in touch with ITV on the Monday, as soon as we heard the news and had asked ITV for a report within five working days about what process they had followed…
“ITV have now asked for more time to complete their inquiries.”
The death of Dymond came amid calls for Love Island to be cancelled following the deaths of two of its stars.
White said that “alarm bells” had been ringing for some time about particular shows.
“We have been particularly concerned about what’s happened to participants after the programmes, so as well as the most recent tragedy with Steve Dymond, alarm bells were particularly rung with the two suicides, Love Island, some months after the broadcasts,” she said.
Ofcom announced, following the Jeremy Kyle controversy, that it had already been looking at the possibility of tightening up the rules on reality TV and safeguarding the welfare of its participants.
White said “it had been on the cards for some time”, telling MPs: “We’ve got a job to do to make sure that the broadcasters responsible for the duty of care have got enough guidance to ensure that such tragic events don’t happen again.
“I have a question about whether there’s more that needs to be done after transmission, particularly given, as we saw with Love Island, it can be months and months and months before the media and social media pressure is building and very significant on some of the participants.”
She added: “The high risk prize events or the use of a lie detector or a particular editorial tool may not be appropriate for the under-18s and others needing special support.”
She denied the regulator was acting “too late” by looking at bringing in “clearer guidance”, saying. “As the situation has evolved, I think we are all more conscious of some of the negative side of this.”
The fifth series of ITV’s Love Island will begin next month and once again feature a group of young people looking for love in the villa.
Following previous concerns over the wellbeing of participants, ITV has extended the pre and post-show assistance offered to Islanders and they will now receive training on things including the management of their finances and social media.
“The key focus will be for us to no longer be reliant on the islanders asking us for support but for us to proactively check in with them on a regular basis,” a spokesperson said in March.