Rylan Clark-Neal reveals his ‘complete shock’ at learning of Caroline Flack’s tragic death during his weekly radio show
- The former Love Island host took her own life on Saturday after a friend who was staying with her went to the shops, leaving the star alone at her London flat
- Host Rylan, 31, is believed to have met the ITV star when he competed on 2012’s edition of The X Factor, while she hosted the competition series’ sister show
- If you have been affected by this story, you can call the Samaritans on 116 123 or visit www.samaritans.org
Rylan Clark-Neal shared his ‘complete shock’ at learning of Caroline Flack’s death during his radio show.
The host, 31, was presenting his Saturday show when he was told the news of the Love Island star’s tragic passing, with a stunned Rylan having to play music for the last part of the programme.
He tweeted on Saturday: ‘Apologies for the last 15 mins of my show. I’d been informed of the news and was and still am in complete shock.’
Emotional: Rylan Clark-Neal shared his ‘complete shock’ at learning of Caroline Flack’s death during his radio show (pictured together)
‘Gutted. So sad. Sleep well Flack x’, Caroline’s grieving friend wrote on his widely-followed social media account.
Rylan is believed to have met the ITV veteran when he competed on 2012’s edition of The X Factor, while she hosted the competition series’ sister show The Xtra Factor.
TV star Caroline took her own life on Saturday after a worried friend who was staying with her went to the shops, leaving the ex-Love Island presenter alone at her London flat.
It came just hours after she was told she would face trial for allegedly assaulting her boyfriend Lewis Burton last year – a claim she denied.
‘Gutted’: The host, 31, was presenting his Saturday show when he was told the news of the Love Island star’s tragic passing (pictured in July)
Heartbreaking: ‘Apologies for the last 15 mins of my show. I’d been informed of the news and was and still am in complete shock’, he tweeted on Saturday
Her management have slammed the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) for pursuing the ‘show trial’ after former tennis player Lewis, 27, said he did not want to press charges.
The ex-sportsman had said she hit him with a lamp at her former home in Islington in December before asking the CPS not to press charges.
Caroline had been described by friends as feeling ‘she was on her own’ and ‘couldn’t see a way out,’ according to The Mirror.
It was also understood she had been struggling with her mental health and using anti-depressants before her death.
Friendship: Rylan met the ITV veteran when he competed on 2012’s edition of The X Factor, while she hosted series’ sister show (pictured with Matt Richardson on Sunday Side Up)
Tragic news: The Love Island host was found dead just hours after finding out she would face trial over the alleged assault of her boyfriend Lewis Burton (pictured in October 2019)
The TV presenter’s death was confirmed by a lawyer for the family. The Flack family said in a statement: ‘We can confirm that our Caroline passed away today on the 15th February. We would ask that the press respect the privacy of the family at this difficult time.’
Love Island – the ITV2 dating series she hosted from its revival in 2015 until late 2019 – also released a statement which said: ‘Everybody at Love Island and ITV is shocked and saddened by this desperately sad news.
‘Caroline was a much loved member of the Love Island team and our sincere thoughts and condolences are with her family and friends.’
If you have been affected by this story, you can call the Samaritans on 116 123 or visit www.samaritans.org.
Caroline Flack’s Turbulent Love Life
Prince Harry, aged 34
Thje Prince romanced Caroline in 2009
- Caroline revealed she was introduced to Prince Harry by their mutual friend Natalie Pinkham, a Formula One correspondent for Sky Sports.
- Sparks flew when the pair enjoyed a night out a decade ago in 2009, shortly after Caroline had split from another ex.
- She later penned in her book: ‘Once the story got out, that was it. We had to stop seeing each other.
- ‘I was no longer Caroline Flack, TV presenter. I was Caroline Flack, Prince Harry’s bit of rough.’
Olly Murs, aged 34
Olly and Caroline were colleagues when romance rumours began to fly
- Caroline candidly admitted she nearly slept with Olly when they presented The Xtra Factor together in 2011.
- They shared a kiss as they toasted her Cosmopolitan Ultimate Women Award with a private moment in the photobooth in November 2015.
- The pair’s on-screen chemistry was all everyone could talk about when they hosted The Xtra Factor together from 2011 until 2012.
- Rumours were swirling the pair were in the throes of love as they hosted The X Factor together in 2015 for a year.
Harry Styles, aged 24
Harry and Caroline dated in 2011
- Back in 2011, Caroline was 31 when she started romancing 17-year-old Harry.
- The television host admitted she knew the singer had a crush on her before she pursued a romance with the heartthrob.
- She said of their brief fling in The Sun on Sunday: ‘I already knew that he had a crush on me, he’s made it pretty obvious as he’s said it in magazines.
- ‘I’ve never felt I was much older than Harry. I still feel 18 and I probably act that way half the time.
- ‘Although it was just a bit of fun we decided it was best to keep it to ourselves as we were both working for Simon Cowell.’
Jack Street, aged 31
Jack and Caroline split, rekindled and split again
- The Love Island host caught Jack’s eye when he was only 26 years old.
- Caroline and Jack’s love story goes back until 2014 and the couple dated happily for 18 months before their abrupt split.
- They briefly rekindled the flames of their love in 2015 but the damage couldn’t be repaired and they went their separate ways for good.
Andrew Brady, aged 28
Andrew proposed to Caroline in 2018
- Caroline was 38 while Andrew was 27 when they first started dating.
- The Love Island personality and the Apprentice star had a rocky on/off romance which had a heartbreaking end for the pair of them.
- The couple got engaged in April 2018 after just a few weeks of dating but they separated from each other a numerous times last year.
- Now Andrew has jetted off to Australia on a one-way ticket to get a fresh start in 2019 after they finally called it quits on their romance forever.
- Caroline got rid of the final traces of her ex as she proudly showed off she had his initials ‘AB’ erased from her wrist.
AJ was seen with Caroline at NTAs 2019
AJ Pritchard, aged 24
- In January 2018, Caroline was snapped chatting cozily to Strictly Come Dancing pro AJ, who is 24.
- They were said to be getting close at the National Television Awards after-party at London ‘s The O2 with sources saying they locked lips.
- Insiders at the bash claim the duo moved around for some privacy before they were spotted in the alleged clinch behind the scenes.