Love Island returns to screens with emotional tribute to Caroline Flack two days after she took her own life after standing down from hosting the ITV2 show
- Love Island returned to screens tonight following the death of Caroline Flack
- Last night’s episode was cancelled after it was revealed the presenter had died
- Said the show would not be broadcast out of ‘respect for Caroline’s family’
Love Island returned to screens this evening with a touching tribute to its former presenter Caroline Flack.
Last night’s episode had been cancelled with producers stating it would ‘not be broadcast out of respect for Caroline’s family’.
Voice over Iain Sterling opened the show with a touching tribute to his former colleague, saying he hoped people would be kinder.
Flack, 40, was found dead inside the Stoke Newington property she had been living in on Saturday.
Her father Ian discovered the former Love Island host who had taken her own life while the friend who was staying with her ‘popped out to the shops’.
Earlier today ITV boss Kevin Lydo said everyone at the broadcaster was ‘devastated’ and are ‘still trying to process the tragic news’.
It was also said that producers had kept in close contact with Flack after she stepped down from the show due to her upcoming trial.
Caroline Flack was found dead at her London flat aged 40. She is pictured above in a promo shot for the 2019 series . She had previously presented ITV show Love Island
The TV presenter, aged 40, took her own life after a worried friend who was staying with her went to the shops, leaving her alone at her London home (pictured)
In a statement, Mr Lygo said: ‘Caroline was part of Love Island from the very beginning and her passion, dedication and boundless energy contributed to the show’s success.
‘After Caroline stepped down from the show ITV made it clear that the door was left open for her to return and the Love Island production team remained in regular contact with her and continued to offer support over the last few months.
‘Love Island will return tonight and will include a tribute to Caroline that the team in South Africa and Iain Stirling have put together.
‘Caroline loved Love Island and was very vocal in her support of the show. Viewers could relate to her and she to them and that was a big part of the programme’s success. We will all miss her very much.’
ITV have also worked with sponsor JustEat to replace the idents – a video informing the viewer what they are watching – with information about the Samaritans, so people who are struggling with their mental health can access help.
The broadcaster is facing a reality show crisis following Flack’s suicide, but after talks yesterday it decided to push ahead with the current series of Love Island.