1979-2020
CAROLINE FLACK
SHOWBIZ WOR D N SHOCK AFTER TV HOST’S TRAGIC DEATH S e oved o aug a ad e os i e io s c uc e… Ca o i e o ed to o e a a a t d u oe he was one of our most popular S and vivacious TV personalities, dancing her way into the nation’s
CAROLINE’S LAST MESSAGE Four days after Caroline’s death, her mother Christine released an unpublished Instagram post that her daughter had written shortly before she died and in which she talked of her despair following her arrest. “On December the 12th
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hearts when she lifted Strictly Come Dancing’s Glitterball trophy in 2014 and going on to present ITV2’s phenomenally successful dating show Love Island, for which she picked up a Bafta in 2018. But last week the world of showbusiness – and the nation – was in mourning following the news that Caroline Flack had taken her own life. Her death came less than three weeks before she was due to attend court on an assault charge after being accused of hitting her boyfriend Lewis Burton in her London home in December – a charge she denied. An inquest into her death opened last week and was adjourned to August. Stars including Cheryl Cole, Louise Redknapp, Nick Grimshaw, Rita Ora and her former The Xtra Factor co-host Olly Murs were among those to pay tribute. Laura Whitmore, who took over as host of Love Island after her close friend Caroline stepped down in the wake of her arrest, began her BBC Radio 5 Live show the following day with a particularly emotional and
heartfelt tribute. “She was bubbly and for such a small stature, commanded a room,” Laura said. “She loved to laugh and had the most infectious chuckle… Caroline loved to love, that’s all she wanted, which is why the show Love Island was important to her because the show is about finding love.” Lewis, whom Caroline was prevented by court order from contacting pending the trial but was not supporting the prosecution, posted a photo on Instagram of the pair on holiday with the message: “My heart is broken we had something so special. I am so lost for words I am in so much pain I miss you so much I know you felt safe with me you always said I don’t think about anything else when I am with you and I was not allowed to be there this time I kept asking and asking.”
Caroline with her boyfriend Lewis Burton (left) and with her mum Christine (below). The star regularly posted updates of her busy y life on social media but in recent months had spoken about the pressures of living life in the spotlight
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A beaming Caroline with the Bafta awarded to Love Island for best reality TV show in 2018. The presenter described working on the show as her “dream job”
