Former Love Island host Caroline Flack has died after taking her own life, her family confirmed on Saturday.
A lawyer for the family confirmed her death was by suicide after she was found unresponsive in her East London home. She was just 40 years old.
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“We can confirm that our Caroline passed away today, the 15th of February,” the family said in a statement. 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.”
Caroline presented The Xtra Factor, co-hosted The X Factor in 2015 with Olly Murs, and won Strictly Come Dancing in 2014.
“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 stepped down as host of the dating show in 2019 following her arrest on a domestic assault charge. Following her arrest, the TV icon had reportedly reached “rock bottom” and was devastated in the weeks leading up to her trial.
As a result, ITV has pulled the plug on Saturday night’s airing of Love Island and Channel 4 announced their upcoming series The Surjury, starring Flack, will no longer air.
“Under the circumstances, we have decided not to broadcast The Surjury,” the broadcaster said in a statement.
Laura Whitmore, who took over as host for Flack, tweeted out her condolences as did other stars.
https://twitter.com/thewhitmore/status/1228755419629309953
So so devastating. Can’t believe I’m writing RIP Caroline Flack, she was an amazing woman and always someone I looked up to in our line of work, She gave me advice on how to handle trolls & papers writing bullshit multiple times and I can’t even imagine how she would have felt..
— Maya Jama (@MayaJama) February 15, 2020
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
XX— antanddec (@antanddec) February 15, 2020
Tragically sad news about Caroline Flack. Heartbreaking to think she felt so alone. We have to be kinder and more compassionate to those who are struggling. Rest In Peace Dancing Queen x
— Katherine Jenkins (@KathJenkins) February 15, 2020
https://twitter.com/BrunoTonioli/status/1228763352450699264
Flack’s tragic death comes a year and a half after series two Love Island contestant Sophie Gradon killed herself after mixing alcohol and cocaine and 10 months after series three contestant Mike Thalassitis died of a suicide.
