Ulrika Jonsson said that she feels very strongly she got the ‘essence’ of Caroline Flack despite never actually meeting her.
The TV star and ex-model, 52, admitted that Caroline’s colourful love life reminded her of when she was young, as she too was in constant search of love.
She wrote in The Sun: “I never met Caroline. Our paths on the showbiz circuit never crossed but I felt, very strongly, I got the ‘essence’ of this beautiful, sassy, desirable, gregarious woman.
“There were aspects of what I knew of her private life with which I utterly identified.
“She appeared to crash from exciting relationship into capricious romance all in search of loving and being loved — much like a young Ulrika Jonsson.”
(Image: Ken McKay/ITV/REX)
The Swedish-born presenter claimed her past relationships were broken “under the scrutiny” as she reveals some of her past romances that the media exposed.
She wrote: “I had relationships exposed via the media — think Sven, Prince Edward, Stan Collymore, my infidelity with Hunter of Gladiators.
“Some of my relationships did not survive because of it but that was because they were clearly not strong enough in the first place.”
And Ulrika said her crashing relationships contributed to her rise to the top, as she compared herself to Caroline’s past romances, claiming both her and the late TV presenter suffered public scrutiny when their relationships failed.
(Image: SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
She added: “I often think back to marriage break-ups and volatile relationships and acknowledge it all played a part in my rise to fame.”
And Caroline’s mental health hardships were chillingly echoed in Ulrika’s past experiences.
The mum-of-four also admitted that she’s been battling depression all her life, and has suffered from anxiety, insecurity, desolation and melancholy.
As Caroline’s sad death was announced by her family on February 15, her fans are remembering her honesty about her mental health struggles and how the Love Island star wore her heart, and her life, on her sleeve.
(Image: Dave Benett/Getty Images for JW Marriott Grosvenor House London)
Speaking in 2019, she said: “I have a great life, a lovely house, and I know I am very lucky. I don’t want anyone to ever think I am a victim, because I’m not.”
Describing her mental health battles, she said it all begun after she took home the Strictly glitterball.
She explained: “I felt like I was being held together by a piece of string which could snap at any time.
“People see the celebrity lifestyle and assume everything is perfect, but we’re just like everyone else. Everyone is battling something emotional behind closed doors — that’s life. Fame doesn’t make you happy.”
(Image: PA)
She continued: “Anti-depressants helped me get up in the morning, and stopped me from being sad, but what they also do is stop you from being happy.
“So I was just in this numb state. I stopped laughing at jokes, and that’s just not me.
“I came off them after six months, as I realised feeling something was better than feeling nothing at all.”
(Image: PA)
Caroline also felt the pressure from X Factor and was prescribed citalopran, medication used to treat depression and quash panic attacks
But the Love Island host wanted to end the stigma of struggling with mental health problems.
“There’s a stigma around it. I used to go to the chemist to collect my prescription on a Sunday, thinking the pharmacist had probably seen me on telly the night before.”
* Samaritans (116 123) operates a 24-hour service available every day of the year. If you prefer to write down how you’re feeling, or if you’re worried about being overheard on the phone, you can email Samaritans at jo@samaritans.org
