Caroline Flack

‘Carrie wanted her little voice heard’

Caroline Flack’s heartbroken mother has shed light on the troubled star’s state of mind ahead of her devastating decision to take her own life. The TV presenter seemed to spiral out of control following a domestic dispute with boyfriend Lewis Burton on 12 December, which led to her being charged with assault by beating.

Christine explained she wanted everyone to know the truth about the difficult times her daughter endured, so she released an unpublished Instagram post Caroline – who she affectionately called Carrie – had written two weeks before her untimely death. “Carrie sent me this message at the end of January, but was told not to post it by advisers. She so wanted to have her little voice heard,” Christine revealed.

“So many untruths were out there, but this is how she felt. My family and I would like people to read her own words. Carrie was surrounded by love and friends, but this was just too much for her.” EMOTIONAL BREAKDOWN Following the assault charge, Caroline became the target of cruel internet trolls.

“Within 24 hours my whole world and future was swept from under my feet and all the walls that I had taken so long to build around me collapsed,” the TV favourite wrote in her statement. “I am suddenly on a different kind of stage and everyone is watching it happen. I have always taken responsibility for what happened that night. Even on the night. But the truth is… It was an accident.”

Caroline went on to explain that she had been in the midst of her own personal turmoil prior to her row with former tennis professional Lewis.

“I’ve been having some sort of emotional breakdown for a very long time,” Caroline continued. “But I am not a domestic abuser. “We had an argument and an accident happened. An accident. Caroline Flack’s mum Christine opens up about her daughter’s tragic death as her best friends say she taught them how to love Lewis stood by Caroline Christine shared her daughter’s post

NEWSFLASH The blood that someone sold to a newspaper was my blood and that was something very sad and very personal.”

Referring to the Crown Prosecution Service’s decision to press charges despite Lewis’s refusal to support the prosecution, Christine explained Caroline had been deeply affected by what she believed to be unfair treatment. “Jody, her twin sister, was there her whole life for her, but this time nothing could take away the hurt of such injustice,” Christine added.

She also said of Caroline’s statement, “It was describing how she was feeling and what she had gone through – no more than that. It was not blaming anyone or pointing any fingers. As Carrie would say, in a nasty world just be kind.” As well as feeling the weight of public scrutiny, Caroline was devastated about stepping down as presenter of the winter series of Love Island – a show she loved to host. Reports suggested she had no choice but to abandon her role on the hit reality show, which Caroline seemed to confirm in her unpublished post.

“The reason I am talking today is because my family can’t take any more,” she explained. “I’ve lost my job. My home. My ability to speak. And the truth has been taken out of my hands and used as entertainment. I can’t spend every day hidden away being told not to say or speak to anyone. I’m so sorry to my family for what I have brought upon them and for what my friends have had to go through.

“I’m not thinking about how I’m going to get my career back. I’m thinking about how I’m going to get mine and my family’s life back.”

Following her death, Caroline’s manager Francis Ridley refuted claims that ITV had distanced itself from the star.

“Throughout what was a very dark

time for Caroline, ITV executives working on Love Island did indeed remain in touch with us regularly to offer support if required and also just to see how she was,” he explained. “Caroline knew this. Caroline loved Love Island… and I’m sure she hoped that one day she would be allowed to return to it.

“In the last few weeks of her life the world of television ceased to become a priority for her as she battled to just see a way through to getting her life back.” Boyfriend Lewis, 27, paid tribute to his late girlfriend on Instagram following the tragedy. “My heart is broken we had something so special,” he wrote. “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. Nothing will bring you back but I will try make you proud every day.” SHE LOVED TO LOVE Laura Whitmore, who took over hosting duties on Love Island when Caroline stepped down, shared her memories of her friend on her BBC Radio 5 show. “She was bubbly and for such a small stature, commanded a room,” Laura said. “She loved to laugh and had the most infectious chuckle. She also had many struggles. I am not going to pretend she was perfect. Caroline loved to love, that’s all she wanted.”

Her close friend, TV producer Mollie Grosberg – who has since taken in Caroline’s beloved French bulldog Ruby – wrote that the presenter “deserves a million tributes and more”.

“Carrie always had a smile on her face, a naughty laugh and her heart open wide,” Mollie explained. “When she let you in, you were the luckiest and she

taught me to love everyone and forgive everyone. She forgave so easily and loved so hard and I’ll never ever stop loving her.” Another friend, celebrity stylist Lou Teasdale, was staying with Caroline the night before the star killed herself.

According to reports, Caroline assured Lou it would be OK to leave her alone while she went to the shops, but took her own life after her friend had left. Lou wrote on Instagram, “I hope you are at peace now.”

Another of Caroline’s closest friends, writer Dawn O’Porter, said that she and her husband, actor Chris O’Dowd, were distraught over her death. “Chris and I are so devastated. We just cry and cry. We can’t stop. We loved her so much,” she explained. “I feel like I’ll never stop crying.”

Joel Cooper Laura paid tribute to Caroline

‘My whole world and future was swept from under my feet’ Her last ever post With her friend Dawn O’Porter

Caroline’s glittering

From a comedy cameo to primetime star, takes a look back at Caroline Flack’s TV achievements

Caroline made her TV debut in 2002 playing Bubbles on Keith Lemon’s sketch show. Sharing a montage of his favourite memories, Keith, real name Leigh Francis, said, “We had many fun times back in the day. Sweet Caroline. Will miss you.” BO’ SELECTA! e

In 2006, Caroline’s “infectious” personality shone through on CBBC show TMi alongside former Pop Idol contestants Sam Nixon and Mark Rhodes. Sam said, “She was a great presenter. We instantly got on with her and she made me and Mark look funnier than we were with her unbelievably beautiful, infectious laugh.” TMi

In 2007, Caroline joined Jake Humphrey to front the main show’s spin-off, which featured rehearsals and backstage gossip from the Academy. Jake tweeted, “Ask anyone that worked with or knew her & her sense of fun and adventure will be one of the first things they mention. She was a dynamo. So sad. Thoughts with all her family.” COMIC RELIEF DOES FAME ACADEMY

In 2009, Caroline replaced Kirsty Gallacher to host revived game show Gladiators alongside Ian Wright. He described her as “my gorgeous friend”, while a devastated Kirsty said, “I love you darling. You were like my little sister. Nearly 20 years of friendship. We grew up together in this industry. Fun, kind and brilliant in every way. You don’t know how much you’ll be missed. My heart is broken.” GLADIATORS

Caroline stepped in as a guest host of the spin-off show after Russell Brand quit in 2008. Dermot O’Leary, who fronted Big Brother’s Little Brother, said of her untimely passing, “Poor soul. Sending love to hers, and yours.” BIG BROTHER’S BIG MOUTH

In late 2009, she teamed up with Joe Swash and Russell Kane for the main show’s spin-off. “I counted Caroline as a friend. She was funny, talented and beautiful,” said Russell, while Joe told fans, “Caroline was the most amazing person… She was funny, super talented and she had the most infectious laugh. I wish she could have asked for help because there are so many people who love her and I’m going to miss her so much.” I’M A CELEBRITY... GET ME OUT OF HERE NOW!

NEWSFLASH showbiz career

She hit a career high when she lifted the winner’s trophy in 2014 with dance partner Pasha Kovalev. Mark Wright, who came fourth, described her as a “special person”, adding, “What a great loss.” STRICTLY COME DANCING

Caroline joined Simon Cowell’s X Factor family in 2011 as an Xtra Factor host, but later fronted the main show, with Olly Murs. Paying tribute to his close friend, heartbroken Olly tweeted, “We never stopped laughing, flirting (who can forget that), eating cheeseburger chasers, singing (which I always loved hearing), the arguments (which I never won), the disagreements on what jokes to say or what outfits you should wear.” He added, “I always knew how fragile you were but I never ever thought this would be the last contact we would have. We always said we was friends for life and trust me you will be with me forever.” THE X FACTOR

Caroline fronted ITV2 comedy show Viral Tap in 2014. Matt Richardson, who was a regular panellist, thanked her for taking him “under her wing” when he started out. “She was the most fun, she always made me feel like I was the best me,” he said. VIRAL TAP

Caroline’s profile soared when she became the host of Love Island in 2015. Her gutted pal and colleague Iain Stirling said, “Today my friend wandered into heaven. I bet it was in slow motion and sassy as fuck. Love you.” LOVE ISLAND

She made a cameo in a spoof whodunnit segment of Saturday Night Takeaway in 2016. Amanda Holden, who also appeared, said, “For Caroline to feel that death was the only way out breaks my heart.” WHO SHOT SIMON COWELL?

She wasn’t only a brilliant presenter – Caroline was also a talented actress. She made her West End debut playing Roxie Hart in December 2018 after reportedly beating Cheryl Tweedy to the part. Cheryl said, “This is just so utterly gut wrenchingly tragic. I can’t even find my words rest in peace Caroline.” CHICAGO

The star showed off her baking skills in the 2019 series alongside Rylan Clark-Neal. He said he was in “deep shock” over her death, tweeting, “Gutted. So sad. Sleep well Flack.” THE GREAT CELEBRITY BAKE OFF