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Vale: Caroline Flack

Death of Love Island UK host follows previous tragedies linked to ITV reality show.

Caroline Flack, best known as host of Love Island UK, has died, aged 40.

British reports suggest she died by suicide, discovered at her home in London on Saturday.

A statement from her family said: “We can confirm that our Caroline passed away today, 15 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.”

Her death comes days before she was due to face trial for assaulting her boyfriend. She was replaced as Love Island host in December after being charged with assault after an episode involving her boyfriend, the tennis star Lewis Burton.

She pleaded not guilty in court later the same month and was released on bail on the condition she did not contact Burton. Her solicitor made an application to have  bail conditions lifted, arguing that they remained a couple and wanted to spend Christmas together.

Last week, Burton posted a picture of the couple together with the caption “Happy Valentine’s Day”. Flack posted an image of her dog.

Flack, who also presented spinoffs for The X Factor, I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here, and Strictly Come Dancing, has also been a fixture in the British press.

Tabloids such as the Sun, which broke news of her death, moved swiftly to delete recent negative stories about her.

UK presenters making tributes include Davina McCall, Dan Walker, Eamonn Holmes, Phillip Schofield, Ant McPartlin, Declan Donnelly, Jonathan Ross, Dermot O’Leary, Zoe Ball and Krishnan Guru-Murthy.

Her death tragically comes after two previous Love Island contestants died by suicide, Sophie Gradon in 2018 and Mike Thalassitis in 2019. Their deaths stirred a debate in Britain over the ethics of reality television and the duty that broadcasters have to care for contestants.

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 announced that a highlights episode of Love Island that was due to air would no longer be shown. Channel 4 said that it would no longer air a TV series called The Surjury, featuring Flack as the host.

Love Island UK airs in Australia on 9GO!

Lifeline 13 11 14
Beyond Blue 1300 22 46 36

Source: The Guardian, NY Times, BBC

5 Responses

  1. Some news report are stating that she may have killed herself having getting trolled on social media, following her alleged assault on her boyfriend. How horribly sad! RIP Caroline!

    1. Yes the media who are always trying to attack their tabloid competition and get them shut down. With of course no evidence to back up their claims. Flack had a history of depression, was on trial for assault, had been dropped from her job and had her career damaged, likely even if she was acquitted. The court had refused to amend bail conditions allowing her to talk to her boyfriend and move back home with him. The matter was reported by all media as she was a well known TV personality.

      The Sun at least pointed out she is innocent till proven guilty, which is more than most media will do these days.

  2. Oh no, very sad to hear, I knew she had stepped aside for the current series due to the court case but expected she would return in a later series once that was resolved.
    Vale Caroline.

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