Caroline Flack was one of the most recognised faces on UK television, having graced TV screens in shows from Love Island to The X Factor, I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here’s spin-off show as well as Strictly Come Dancing.
Sadly, the Love Island host, 40, died by suicide on Saturday, 18 days before she was due to face trial after being charged with assault following a row with her boyfriend, Lewis Burton. She had denied the charge.
Fans and her celebrity mates have been sharing tributes to the late star, with Olly Murs recalling his time alongside Caroline on the X Factor spin-off show Xtra Factor.
The star got her big break in Leigh Francis’s sketch series Bo Selecta, before moving on to present on Channel 4 – hosting The Games: Live at Trackside on E4 with Justin Lee Collins.
While her time in the spotlight was at times marred by controversy, over her decade-plus in the entertainment industry she’s still served up some brilliant TV moments.
The Love Island slow-mo walk
No list about Caroline’s best moments on or off the TV would be complete without kicking things off with her Love Island slow motion walk.
When you think of Love Island, you think of the former host – who had been replaced by Laura Whitmore for the winter series – strutting her stuff into the villa to deliver some news (often bad) to the Islanders.
Oh, go on, one more time for posterity.
Winning Strictly Come Dancing
The presenter was a contestant in the 2014 series of the show, dancing with pro partner Pasha Kovalev. The pair went on to win the series ahead of fellow finalists Simon Webbe, Frankie Bridge and Mark Wright, nabbing the coveted Glitterball trophy.
While Caroline performed many impressive routines during her time on the show, it was her Charleston to Istanbul (Not Constantinople) which remains the most memorable.
The routine was originally performed during an ‘around the world’ themed edition of the show and Caroline and Pasha reprised it in the final – with the routine, their last one of the series, nabbing them the title.
And that dance to Angels
That’s it. That’s the post.
West End debut in Chicago
Caroline had one month to prepare for her West End debut as Roxie Hart in Chicago, famously sharing her nerves after having only one rehearsal before landing on the stage.
No pressure.
Fortunately, Caroline seemed to hit the ground running as she later revealed it was a ‘wonderful experience’.
The TV host told her Instagram followers: ‘Opening night was a truly wonderful experience! Thank you to all the @chicagoonstage company for just being absolutely lovely. Dream come true for me … and let’s do it again.’
That Caroline had some pipes.
Caroline’s Celebrity Bake Off dry biscuits
Caroline had Great British Bake Off fans in stitches when she revealed her 3D Me bake which was, simply, not gorgeous.
The star was on the celebrity version of the show last year for Stand Up 2 Cancer and was instructed, alongside the likes of Krishnan Guru-Murthy and Nicola Adams, to create an edible version of herself.
Easy enough, right?
Her idea was to use orange and rosemary biscuits, chocolate ganache, fondant and candy floss to create her biscuit-made self portrait, telling the camera: ‘I’m not the most creative person in here, so I’ve decided to go for taste over look.’
That may have just been the understatement of the year.
Her time on The Xtra Factor
How many came to welcome Caroline into their lounges during prime-time, the host helmed the X Factor spin-off show alongside Olly Murs from 2011.
She landed the hosting job of The Xtra Factor on ITV2, alongside Olly Murs, replacing Konnie Huq, and stayed on in the job until 2014, when she was replaced by Sarah Jane Crawford.
The following year, it was announced that following Dermot O’Leary’s shock departure from The X Factor, Caroline and Olly would become hosts of the main show. However, the position was ill-fated, with the pair’s hosting skills criticised heavily, and Dermot returned the following year.
But her time on X Factor produced some cracking TV with the pair delighting audiences.
There is no one moment, this is just a general snaps.
Love Island wins Bafta for best reality show
Not only the host of one of the biggest shows on TV, but she celebrated big when Love Island took home the reality & constructed factual gong back in 2018.
So much so her dress raced her to the stage and she very nearly tripped.
But she didn’t.
Phew.
Once finally on stage and joined by Islanders Chris Hughes and Marcel Somerville, alongside voiceover star Iain Stirling, Caroline joked about the gown as she started her acceptance speech.
‘I knew this dress was a bad idea. Wow a BAFTA on behalf of all of us thank you so much,’ she said.
‘It’s been so brilliant watching this show grown over the last three years. A huge thank you to all the Islanders for giving so much of themselves.’
Her rage following Casa Amor as she sided with Amber Gill
Love Island viewers cheered on Caroline Flack after she spoke for the nation with a face like thunder over Michael Griffiths ditching Amber Gill and leaving her single on last year’s show.
The TV host had her arm around Amber’s waist as she rejoined the group after deciding not to choose another boy but stick with Michael, only to have it blow up.
Fireman Michael, who had chosen to partner up with Joanna Chimonides, laid into Amber for her childlike behaviour in front of the group, adding that he’d ‘bitten his tongue’ during their romance.
Caroline was obviously uncomfortable with the situation and later spoke up asking if he was happy with Amber before they headed into Casa Amor – to which he said yes.
While she tried to remain neutral, it was clear Flack was livid.
