Love Island pays moving tribute to Caroline Flack

TRAGEDY: Dating show narrator calls for people to be kinder and says ‘true friend’ will be missed

Love Island narrator Iain Stirling remembered Caroline Flack’s “passion, warmth and infectious enthusiasm” as the show paid tribute to her.

The ITV2 dating show did not air on Saturday or Sunday after former presenter Flack was found dead at her home in east London, having taken her own life.

It returned last night with a tribute to the TV star, who started hosting the programme in 2015.

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.

“Caroline and me were together from the very start of Love Island and her passion, warmth and infectious enthusiasm were a crucial part of what made this show connect with millions of viewers.”

He continued: “Like many of you right now we are all just trying to come to terms with what has happened.

“My only hope is that we can all try to be kinder, always show love and listen to one another.

“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.”

A picture of the presenter then appeared, with the words “Caroline Louise Flack 1979 - 2020”.

Russell Brand became the latest celebrity to pay tribute to Flack, calling her “a lovely little person, a real laugh, a dynamo”.

In a lengthy blog post on his website, Brand wrote: “I am angry and sad that Caroline Flack found herself in that place. I am sad because she was a lovely little person, a real laugh, a dynamo and the idea that she had been so drained of hope by her circumstances chokes me.

“I am angry because I have watched this play out before with vulnerable people in the public eye and I would like to slay with some righteous sword the salacious, foaming, incessant poking, trolling judgment that chased her to the grave.”

Brand, a TV presenter and actor whose film roles include Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Get Him To The Greek, said society’s “values” are in “serious need of re-evaluation”.

Prior to her death, ITV said the door was open for Flack to return to Love Island and that its production team “continued to offer her support”.

Flack stepped down from presenting the current winter series of the ITV2 dating show after an alleged assault.

The TV star pled not guilty to assaulting boyfriend Lewis Burton at a flat in north London during a court hearing in December.

Show narrator Iain Stirling said Caroline Flack was a much loved member of the Love Island family.