Jerry Springer, the American television host, who inspired a raft of talk shows around the world, has died, aged 79.
Born in London and raised in North America, his links to the North come from a UK version of the Jerry Springer show, which was recorded at Granada Television in Manchester.
Between 1997 and the mid 2000s, Springer was one of the most recognisable faces on television, recording more than 5000 episodes of the Jerry Springer show across 27 seasons.
In a statement, his family said:
“Jerry’s ability to connect with people was at the heart of his success in everything he tried whether that was politics, broadcasting or just joking with people on the street who wanted a photo or a word.
“He’s irreplaceable and his loss hurts immensely, but memories of his intellect, heart and humour will live on.”
The statement said that he died peacefully at his home in Chicago.
Springer was born in 1944 in Highgate tube station in London. His parents were German-Jewish refugees, who were sheltering in the underground during a German bombing raid.
He moved to New York City when he was 5 and would later study political science at Tulane University. He got a law degree from Northwestern University.
In the late 60s he was an aide to Robert F Kennedy’s failed presidential campaign. After that was elected to Cincinnati’s City Council and in 1977 he became city mayor.
His move to television came firstly as a news anchor and then talk show host. Given his background, the Jerry Springer Show initially focused on political issues. However, with low ratings, it was overhauled by NBCUniversal and CW to focus on more controversial topics, for which it gained global notoriety.
It was once described as the “Worst Show in the History of Television” but its ratings continued to grow. In some US cities it rivalled Oprah.
In 1999, ITV made 12 versions, called Jerry Springer UK, which were filmed in the US.
6 years later, another version, The Springer Show, was made by ITV in Manchester to replace Trisha Goddard. Only 20 episodes were recorded, before it was replaced by The Jeremy Kyle Show.
The Jerry Springer Show went off air in 2018 and Springer returned in a courtroom show, Judge Jerry, which ran for 3 series.
His last television appearance was on The Masked Singer US.
