Long-time US television host Jerry Springer has died “peacefully” at home in Chicago at 79yo. And regardless of whether you watched The Jerry Springer Show between 1991-2018, it’d be hard to not know his name. The show became a ratings hit for airing the dirty laundry of those who appeared on it – but it also generated controversies over the years. There were too many jaw-dropping moments to count, but it’s fair to say the live confrontations often ended in fisticuffs… Some credit Springer with the rise of reality TV, while he said being called “the grandfather of trash TV” was “probably accurate”. “I think [the show is] silly, crazy and has no redeeming social value other than an hour of escapism,” he said back in 2010. In a statement, Springer’s family said, “he’s irreplaceable and his loss hurts immensely, but memories of his intellect, heart and humour will live on”.