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Caroline Flack: Tributes after Love Island presenter found dead aged 40

Tributes have been paid to former Love Island host Caroline Flack, who has been found dead in her London flat after taking her own life.

A lawyer for the Flack family confirmed the 40-year-old had taken her own life and that her body was discovered on Saturday.

The family statement said: “We can confirm that our Caroline passed away today, the 15th of February.

“We would ask that the press respect the privacy of the family at this difficult time and we would ask they make no attempt to contact us and/or photograph us.”

Flack left her role as Love Island host last year after she was charged with assault following an argument with her partner, Lewis Burton.

Caroline Flack leaving Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court after she had pleaded not guilty to assaulting boyfriend Lewis Burton last year. (PA)
Caroline Flack leaving Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court after she had pleaded not guilty to assaulting boyfriend Lewis Burton last year. (PA)

Her trial was set to begin on 4 March after she denied charges of assault by beating.

Mr Burton, who was not allowed to have any contact with his girlfriend since late last year due to her bail conditions over charges of an alleged assault on him, said that his “heart is broken” following her death.

He also said that he would now be her “voice” and would “get all the answers”, in an emotional tribute on Instagram.

Beside a picture of them together, he wrote: “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.”

Burton, 27, added: “I will be your voice baby I promise I will ask all the questions you wanted and I will get all the answers nothing will bring you back but I will try make you proud everyday.

“I love you with all my heart.”

Flack's former partner, Lewis Burton. (PA)
Flack's former partner, Lewis Burton paid tribute to her on Sunday. (PA)

Olly Murs said that his children and his grandchildren will know about Caroline Flack as he paid an emotional tribute to his friend.

The singer, who worked alongside Flack for several years on The X Factor and its spin-off show The Xtra Factor, said that his heart “is forever broken”.

Murs wrote: “Caz… f*** this hurts! My heart is forever broken.. I’ve lost something today that I’ll never ever get back.. and that’s you.”

Murs said that he was “just worried about my friend. 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….”

Current Love Island presenter Laura Whitmore opened her BBC 5 Live show on Sunday by saying “Be kind... It’s gone too far... your words affect people”.

Whitmore, who took over as presenter of Love Island following Flack’s arrest, said in an earlier tribute she was “trying to find the words but I can’t”.

Burton, a former professional tennis player, had shared a post declaring his love for Flack on his Instagram Stories on Valentine’s Day.

Along with a picture of the two of them together, he wrote: “Happy valentines, love you.”

Flack shared a post on social media shortly before her death of a collage of pictures of herself with her pet dog on Instagram on Thursday.

Flack posted a collage of images of her dog, Ruby, on Instagram on Thursday
Flack posted a collage of images of her dog, Ruby, on Instagram on Thursday

‘Shocked and saddened’

Following the news of Flack’s death, an ITV spokeswoman said: “Everybody at Love Island and ITV is shocked and saddened by this desperately sad news.

“Caroline was a much loved member of the Love Island team and our sincere thoughts and condolences are with her family and friends.”

ITV also cancelled an episode of Love Island. Love Island: Unseen Bits, which airs at 9pm on Saturday nights on ITV2, was pulled from the schedules and replaced by reruns of You’ve Been Framed.

Channel 4 has also said it will no longer air The Surjury, a new cosmetic surgery-based TV series with Flack as its host.

Fourth suicide linked to Love Island

Flack is the fourth person linked to the ITV2 dating programme to have died.

Sophie Gradon, who appeared as a contestant in the show in 2016, was found hanged at her home in 2018 at the age of 32.

Her boyfriend Aaron Armstrong, who had found her body, went on to hang himself three weeks later. He was 25.

Mike Thalassitis, who appeared in the 2017 series, was 26 when he was found hanged in a park in March last year.

Tributes to the star

Celebrities including TV duo Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly, Laura Whitmore, who took over hosting the winter series of Love Island from Flack, Phillip Schofield and Good Morning Britain host Susanna Reid paid tribute after news of her death was announced.

TV presenter Jonathan Ross said he had been in touch with Flack recently, adding in a message on Twitter: “I am very sad to hear that Caroline Flack is dead. I had been in touch with her recently and had hoped she was doing better. She was talented and smart and likeable and she will he missed. It’s awful.”

McPartlin and Donnelly said they were “devastated” by the news.

This Morning presenter Schofield paid tribute to Flack with a post on his Instagram stories.

He added text above a message that Flack had posted on social media, which read: “In a world where you can be anything, be kind”.

Schofield wrote: “You poor darling girl my heart is breaking #BeKind”.

Former rugby player James Haskell said on Sunday he had “spent some time with her over the summer” and asked “how many more people have to break before press laws are changed?”

Laura Whitmore tweeted: “I’m trying to find the words but I can’t”.

Flack won Strictly Come Dancing in 2014 while paired with professional dancer Pasha Kovalev.

The following year she joined the revival of dating reality show Love Island on ITV2.

She hosted the first five series of the popular programme – one of the most-watched reality shows in the UK in recent years and won a TV Bafta in 2018 – as well as its spin-off programme Aftersun.

Strictly presenters Tess Daly and Claudia Winkelman also paid tribute.

Winkelman tweeted: “Such heartbreaking news. Sending so much love to Caroline's family and friends. XXX”

Daly said she was “absolutely shocked and devastated at this tragic news”.

Others also paid their respects. Susanna Reid said: “My heart is absolutely broken for Caroline Flack and everybody who loves her.”

Amber Gill, who won Love Island last year, posted pictures of herself and Flack from the programme on Instagram.

She wrote: “A supportive friend in a time of need. An amazing woman. I have no words.

“You will be truly missed.”

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said on Sunday he was “so sad to see the news of Caroline Flack’s suicide”.

In a tweet he added: “We must do so much more as a society to look out for each other.”

Actor Miranda Hart also posted a statement, captioned: “And finally. And let us all be kind and in this together. Don’t bully the bullies. No one is perfect. We all make mistakes and always will.”

Friends and those who had worked with Flack also paid tribute.

For confidential emotional support at times of distress, contact The Samaritans at any time by calling 116 123 or emailing jo@samaritans.org