Another World

[West Ender]

First, I must confess to an addiction. It's ever since I was ill and have trained myself not to be rising with the lark and having a lineful of washing out by 9 a.m. I get up about 8.30, have orange juice and read the paper then, still in my dressing gown, I make my breakfast. It's usually about 9.30 by then so I put the TV on and, while eating it, watch Jeremy Kyle. Blame Nik, she used to put it on, on her days off, and I've become hooked. I have to have my Kyle fix.

This programme absolutely fascinates me, even though I can't abide Jeremy Kyle. The people who appear on the show obviously live in the same world as I do but they are, almost, a different species. Their lives seem to consist of lies, deceit, often drugs and alcohol and, almost always, lots of random sexual partners.

Now this, in itself, would be one thing but - why do they parade it all on television? For example - a couple, no longer together, on today's show. He wants to know if he's the father of her child. If he is, he wants "full custody" (he doesn't work, of course) but if he's not he doesn't want anything to do with the poor mite. OK, Jeremy Kyle gives them the result of DNA tests and, lo and behold, he's not the daddy (cue derision from not-the-daddy's present partner, a real "lady", who dances around the stage whooping "Told ya".) Never mind the rights and wrongs or the ins and outs, why did they have to appear on the show to find out? All they had to do was arrange DNA tests through their GP.

No, the one thing they all want, without exception, is to "be on the telly". It may, to you and me, be more like infamy but, to them, it's fame and they love it. Think about it, if you have a serious problem are you going to appear on a TV show fronted by a TV presenter - Jeremy Kyle is not a psychologist, a therapist or a counsellor, he's just a TV journalist - or are you going to get professional help? Would you appear on this show?

[MargaretR]

Well you were employed in the posh Revenue.
I had exposure to the real life 'Other World' at Dss for my career
.
I had the job of asking 'who is the father? - when and where did it happen? - were there any witnesses?' and then tracking him down, hoping he would pay.

I had to question newly separated wives about their own fidelity. Some times the term 'infidelity' was not understood. I recall once saying 'have you done anything like what he has?'(Ernie Wise said it first)

So I don't watch Jeremy Kyle - too much like the work I have left behind.

[emamum]

nope... it comes on as i get in from the school run so i watch it and eat my breakfast

I was watching it at antenatal clinic a few weeks ago and it was one of those where he bangs on about contraception... i thought it was funny lol

[West Ender]

Originally Posted by MargaretR

Well you were employed in the posh Revenue.

You think HMRC is "posh"? That's a good 'un.

[MargaretR]

Originally Posted by West Ender

You think HMRC is "posh"? That's a good 'un.

Your pay scale was better.
There was one even better though (now combined with your lot)
HM Customs - a law unto themselves

[Lilly]

I'm at work when Jeremy Kyle is on so I don't watch it every day, but I have seen it on days off/sick days.

You're right, they are another species......a vile species who you can almost smell through the television.

I've seen Jeremy Kyle tell them what useless lumps they are.....I wonder if any of them improve their ways and their relationships with each other and their children after having their after show counselling.

[emamum]

me and bernie watched one and recognised some of the people !!!! they were from ossy

[MargaretR]

Originally Posted by Lilly

You're right, they are another species......a vile species who you can almost smell through the television.

Some homes were worse than you get on Kim & Aggie.
Tiptoe through the terds in the lobby and get the interview over quick before I retched.

I got a rubberised Dannimac - It warded off the fleas and deadened the smell a bit

[Royboy39]

Originally Posted by West Ender

You think HMRC is "posh"? That's a good 'un.

Were you ever in the Accy office and did you know Mr Kelly or the dreaded Peter Crook?

[Lilly]

Originally Posted by emamum

me and bernie watched one and recognised some of the people !!!! they were from ossy

Ossy!

Are you sure? Were they actually on the show or in the studio audience?

[emamum]

they were on the show, it was one of those why did you leave me mum ones

[West Ender]

Originally Posted by Royboy39

Were you ever in the Accy office and did you know Mr Kelly or the dreaded Peter Crook?

No, I started in Bury (1960) and there wasn't a Tax Office in Accy then. I worked in Melton Mowbray after I got married then, later, Durham City and then Warrington up to last year when I retired.

[cashman]

i reckon the question should be West Ender- Do you need Professional help? watching tripe like that.

[West Ender]

Originally Posted by MargaretR

Some homes were worse than you get on Kim & Aggie.
Tiptoe through the terds in the lobby and get the interview over quick before I retched.

I got a rubberised Dannimac - It warded off the fleas and deadened the smell a bit

During my Revenue career I worked as a Tax Collector for 9 years. My "patch" was Widnes and Runcorn. I had to go into some of the roughest areas of both towns - one horrible high-rise, open walk-way block, in Runcorn, I was there in the morning and a dead body was discovered there in the afternoon (drug dealer - got his come-uppance) - chasing payments.

I have had to sit in rooms where I stuck to the sofa and my feet stuck to the carpets. I have climbed over piles of filth while compiling a list of what goods were suitable for destraint (there was almost always a huge telly).

The funny thing was, it was nearly always in the worst homes that I was offered a cup of tea, the better-off never bothered. Needless to say, I always declined.

[West Ender]

Originally Posted by cashman

i reckon the question should be West Ender- Do you need Professional help? watching tripe like that.

Yes, I probably do.