Love Island calls in Samaritans
ITV ad breaks offer support after death of Caroline Flack
LOVE Island returned to screens last night following the death of Caroline Flack but contained details during the ad breaks on how to contact mental health charity Samaritans.
The ITV2 show, which was pulled off air over the weekend after the former presenter took her life, also featured a moving tribute to her.
Before it aired, ITV’s Director of Television Kevin Lygo said in a statement they had been in regular contact with Miss Flack after she stood down from hosting the reality TV show in December.
He said: ‘ITV made it clear the door was left open for her to return and the Love Island production team remained in regular contact with her and continued to offer support over the last few months.’
The broadcaster and sponsor, food delivery firm Just Eat, used the adverts to feature the helpline for the Samaritans for viewers who need support.
The messages also featured the hashtag ‘#BeKind’ – a phrase Miss Flack used in a social media post in December and which has been widely used by her fans in the days since her death at her home in north east London on Saturday.
ITV pulled the show for two nights after the troubled star took her life.
But it decided to resume the dating series last night, despite calls for it to be scrapped.
Flack, 40, presented five series of Love Island and stood down from the role last year after she was arrested for an alleged assault on boyfriend Lewis Burton, 27.
Show narrator Iain Stirling remembered Miss Flack’s ‘passion, warmth and infectious enthusiasm’ as the show paid tribute to her last night.
As footage of the sea and the sound of waves played, Stirling said: ‘We are all absolutely devastated by the tragic news that Caroline, a much loved member of our Love Island family, has passed away. Our thoughts are with her family and friends at this dreadful time.’
He went on: ‘Caroline I want to thank you for all the fun times we had making our favourite show.
‘You were a true friend to me. I’m going to miss you Caz.”
ITV has yet to make clear if Love Island’s summer series will go ahead. Just Eat said it remained committed to sponsoring the show.
Contestants on the current series have not yet been told of Miss Flack’s death, and it is not clear when they will be informed.
She was the fourth person with links to the show to take their life.
Contestants Sophie Gradon, 32, and Mike Thalassitis, 26, killed themselves after appearing on the show. Miss Gradon’s boyfriend Aaron Armstrong, 25, took his life weeks after her death.
The show has faced a backlash, including criticism from MPs and ex-contestant Malin Andersson.
The 26-year-old wrote on Twitter: ‘I just feel Love Island is in bad taste now. It may not be linked fully to these incidents. But I believe it just creates such a bad image for the younger generation.
‘It fuels insecurities, eating disorders and wants everyone being famous. I just feel like it’s come to an end now. Let’s see realness. Real life. The reality TV we’re seeing is not reality.’
MP Damian Collins, who was chair of the Department for Media Culture and Sport committee inquiry into duty of care on reality television last year, said: ‘Terrible news. Caroline’s life was lived under constant scrutiny. There needs to be greater consideration of the pressures that build around talented young people whose work places them into the public eye; and support for them when they face challenges.’
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said last night it was a ‘matter for ITV’ whether Love Island should be cancelled.
He added more must be done to tackle trolling and bullying online.
If you need support for anxiety, depression or other concerns, you can call the Samaritans free at any time on 116 123 or get further information from samaritans.org.