Caroline’s laughter filled our house Student pal’ s shock
CAROLINE Flack’s flatmate from their stage school days has fondly told how the young hopeful’s laugh rang around their house.
Bernadette Battom shared a pad with 16-year-old Caroline, who was taking her first steps to TV stardom.
And Bernadette, now 42, has never forgotten the nowfamous chuckle of the Love Island presenter, 40, who took her own life last week.
Speaking exclusively to the Sunday People, Caroline’s old mate said: “She was so full of happiness, energy and drive.
“I remember her laugh coming from all the rooms across the house.
Caroline was clearly a star in the making as the pair trained in acting, singing and dancing at Bodywork Company Theatre School while sharing a house in Cambridge with three other aspiring performers in 1996.
Bernadette said: “She was this bundle of confidence and always got picked for everything.
“We worked so hard and were coming home exhausted so we didn’t go out loads or party.
Caroline knew where she wanted to go and was focused on that.
“She wasn’t the tidiest housemate.
I would look in her room at the mess and think ‘How does she find anything?’ But she was very popular. People were drawn to her.”
Despite being one of the youngest on the course, Caroline’s talent stood out from the moment she performed Don’t Rain On My Parade from the musical Funny Girl in class.
Bernadette recalled: “Everyone knows that is a difficult song. But she really sang it. I was blown away.
“We were all envious because for her, performing was effortless – she was just there to fine-tune her skills.” Bernadette, of Balsham, Cambs, said she was stunned to hear about Caroline’s tragic death.
The married mumof-three, who is now a Tesco worker and teaching assistant, said: “If you told me back then this was going to happen I would never have believed it.”
Caroline died at her flat in London while awaiting trial on a charge of assaulting her boyfriend. An inquest has been opened and adjourned.
CELEBRITY: Caroline 13 years after stage school everyone I was absolutely shocked by the news of what happened to Caroline.
“All the recent events just seemed so unreal. I’d been friends with Caroline for many years, since before telly happened.
“In more recent times I’d not seen Caroline as much as I had years ago but it was always like old times when I saw her.
“So someone on Twitter said wouldn’t it be great to do a festival for Flack. Which I thought was a great idea. I don’t know how it would work or what I could do?”
Keith has also launched a T-shirt featuring one of his sketches of Caroline with her words “be kind”.
She wrote on Instagram in December: “In a world where you can be anything, be kind.”
All proceeds will go to the Samaritans counselling organisation.
A source said the festival would feature talks on mental health and encourage others to live by Caroline’s message of kindness.