Caroline Flack: Former Love Island presenter found dead after taking her own life

Former Love Island presenter Caroline Flack has been found dead, her family has said.

They said: “We can confirm that our Caroline passed away today on the 15th February.

“We would ask that the press both respect the privacy of the family at this difficult time.”

A lawyer for the Flack family confirmed that the star took her own life and was found dead in her east London flat.

Saturday night’s episode of Love Island has not aired, out of respect to the 40-year-old.

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.”

Flack had taken a step back from her TV work over the last few months after being arrested and charged with assault.

The current winter series of the ITV dating show went ahead with filming in South Africa as planned, but with Irish presenter Laura Whitmore replacing Flack at the helm.

Flack’s death comes just weeks before she was due to go on trial for allegedly attacking her boyfriend Lewis Burton with a lamp at her flat in Islington, north London, on 12 December.

She had pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Following her death, Flack’s management have criticised prosecutors over what they called a “show trial”.

During a court appearance in December, the prosecutor had said that after being cautioned Flack had said “she will kill herself”, and called Mr Burton an “a*******” and “vile”.

The court also heard that when police first arrived to investigate the incident both Flack and Burton were “covered in blood”, and one officer “likened the scene to a horror movie”.

Burton, who received a head injury during the incident, said he had “never supported” Flack’s prosecution.

He has also previously spoken out in support of Flack, claiming she had become the subject of a “witch hunt”.

Flack’s death is the fourth to be linked to Love Island, after former contestants Mike Thalassitis and Sophie Graydon took their own lives after appearing on the show.

Just days after Graydon’s funeral, her boyfriend 25-year-old Aaron Armstrong was found dead.

The chain of deaths led to scrutiny over ITV’s support for its reality stars, and TV regulator Ofcom have since suggested new rules in a bid to protect the “wellbeing and dignity” of reality show participants.

Flack had recently returned to social media after a seven-week silence, sharing her first post on Valentine’s Day.

She had shared four snaps alongside her French Bulldog Ruby, captioning it simply with a heart emoji.

The post has been liked over 100k times, but has the comments turned off.

Burton, who was a former professional tennis player and model, had contacted Flack via Instagram just days before, and posted a picture of him and Flack on 14 February writing: ‘Happy Valentine’s… Love You.’

Flack had been banned from contacting him as part of her bail.

Flack and Burton had been dating since the summer.

In a post before Christmas she had explained to her 2.3m followers: “Been advised not to go on social media… but I wanted to say happy Christmas to everyone who has been so incredibly kind to me this year…

“This kind of scrutiny and speculation is a lot for one person to take on their own, I’m a human being at the end of the day and I’m not going to be silenced when I have a story to tell and a life to keep going with.”

“I’m taking some time out to get feeling better and learn some lessons from situations I’ve got myself into to.

“I have nothing but love to give and best wishes for everyone.”

Flack was well-known for her troubled love life, and had previously dated Apprentice contestant Andrew Brady, with the couple getting engaged after just a few months, but they split up shortly after.

She also famously dated Harry Styles back in 2011.

Born in Enfield, Flack got her first TV break playing Bubbles on comedy sketch show Bo Selecta alongside Keith Lemon, before fronting the International Pepsi Chart Show and moving on to Channel 4’s E4 Music.

She later hosted Big Brother’s Little Brother and I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here and X Factor, going on to win Strictly Come Dancing in 2014.

In 2015 she began presenting Love Island, and has fronted the show through five series.

Following news of her death, tributes were paid from fellow celebrities.

Presenter Davina McCall tweeted: “I’m so so sad to hear about Caroline Flack. I don’t even know what to say. But my heart goes out to her friends and family x I might be a bit quiet tonight on social media .. just doesn’t seem right.”

Geordie presenting duo Ant and Dec said: “We are both devastated to hear the news about Caroline Flack. It is beyond sad. Beyond words. So tragic. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family. Rest In Peace Caroline.”

Claudia Winkleman wrote: “Such heartbreaking news. Sending so much love to Caroline’s family and friends. XXX”

Along with a black and white picture of the pair, Holly Willoughby posted on Instagram: “Utterly heart breaking… life is so precious and yet so fragile… huge love to Caroline’s family… “

Ex-Love Islander Wes Nelson wrote: “I can’t believe what I’m reading! Caroline Flack was an absolute diamond, my hearts genuinely broken! One of the warmest funniest people I’ve ever met, My tears, thoughts and prayers go out to her family at this extremely difficult time! I’m lost for words R.I.P”

Laura Whitmore, who replaced Flack as presenter of Love Island posted a picture of the two together along with a simple poem about loss and the message “I’m trying to find the words but I can’t”.

Flack leaves behind her twin sister Jody, elder brother Paul, elder sister Elizabeth and her parents Ian and Christine.

:: Anyone feeling emotionally distressed or suicidal can call Samaritans for help on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org in the UK. In the US, call the Samaritans branch in your area or 1 (800) 273-TALK.

(c) Sky News 2020: Caroline Flack: Former Love Island presenter found dead after taking her own life