Louise Redknapp posts another emotional tribute to her late friend Caroline Flack


Louise Redknapp has paid another emotional tribute to Caroline Flack, as the two-week anniversary of the former Love Island host’s death draws closer.

Louise, 45, posted a photo on Instagram of her on a night out with Caroline and comedian Keith Lemon and another pal.

She and Caroline looked relaxed and happy in the throwback, which Louise captioned: ‘Remembering one of my most favourite nights with this special lady and some of my favourite people.

‘Always thinking of you’: Louise Redknapp has paid another emotional tribute to Caroline Flack , as the two-week anniversary of the former Love Island host’s death draws closer

‘So grateful for my friendships @littleblondebear @keithlemon ❤️ Always thinking of you #BeKind’

Keith replied: ‘Ah lovely times x’ 

Caroline died, age 40, the day after Valentine’s Day, at her new flat in Stoke Newington, London, hours after she was told she would face trial over the alleged assault of boyfriend Lewis Burton last year – while the producer friend who was staying with her went to the shops.  

In a post the day after the news broke, Louise revealed the pair became good friends after Caroline reached out to her when she was going through a tough time after the breakdown of her 19-year marriage to Jamie Redknapp in 2017.      

Tribute: Louise posted a photo on Instagram of her on a night out with Caroline [pictured in 2016]

Tribute: Louise posted a photo on Instagram of her on a night out with Caroline [pictured in 2016]

Louise captioned her snap: 'Remembering one of my most favourite nights with this special lady and some of my favourite people'

Louise captioned her snap: ‘Remembering one of my most favourite nights with this special lady and some of my favourite people’

Louise wrote: ‘I’m not quite sure where to start with this it is so heartbreaking. 

‘Caroline when things were tough for me and you were going through equally such a tough time you reached out to me and it was so nice to have someone that had been there and been through the same emotions and feelings as me even though different circumstances.

‘I always think it takes a certain soul to be able to reach out to someone who they don’t really know that well and speak from the heart but you did that for me and from that moment a close friendship was founded. 

‘I feel so proud that I was someone that you felt you could trust and that you could speak to at any time about anything. 

She added: 'So grateful for my friendships @littleblondebear @keithlemon ❤️ Always thinking of you #BeKind'

She added: ‘So grateful for my friendships @littleblondebear @keithlemon ❤️ Always thinking of you #BeKind’

Best friends: Former Eternal singer Louise, 45, revealed the pair became good friends after Caroline reached out to her when she was going through a tough time after the breakdown of her 19-year marriage to Jamie Redknapp in 2017

Best friends: Former Eternal singer Louise, 45, revealed the pair became good friends after Caroline reached out to her when she was going through a tough time after the breakdown of her 19-year marriage to Jamie Redknapp in 2017

‘I know what really mattered to you was being loved and being cared for and I just wish you could see how loved you were by so many people . You didn’t deserve any of this what has happened. 

Louise praised Caroline for giving her the confidence to restart her music career after years out of the industry, and for empowering her during the journey.   

She continued: ‘You were the kindest, brightest fun and sincere friend I’ve met in this industry. You turned up to every show I ever did coming back in to the industry you helped me believe I could go back and do something I never thought I could do again. 

‘Whether it was a little DJ set, a west-end show or a music gig you were there being the brightest loudest biggest loyalest supporter. 

‘We spoke often about the people we wanted to become about being strong women about not letting people hurt us about standing up for what we believe in and supporting each other. 

She wrote: 'Caroline when things were tough for me and you were going through equally such a tough time you reached out to me and it was so nice'

She wrote: ‘Caroline when things were tough for me and you were going through equally such a tough time you reached out to me and it was so nice’

There for you: Louise praised Caroline for giving her the confidence to restart her music career after years out of the industry, and for empowering her during the journey

There for you: Louise praised Caroline for giving her the confidence to restart her music career after years out of the industry, and for empowering her during the journey

‘And i’m gonna do my best to be that person that you and I spoke about. I’m gonna try and do this for us for all the good things we said and the positive conversations we had you were an absolute star a nugget of gold. 

‘I feel really lucky to have had you as a friend, you were the girl that everybody wanted to be friends with and be in your corner on a night out. We would always have so much fun. 

‘I know this will be hard for everyone to come to terms with but all I can say is I will try and speak your messages, I will try and live by all the things that we spoke about and I will try to be your voice and best be person I can be for you . Caroline I was so proud to be your friend you were our girl!’  

Caroline was taking anti-depressants as she battled mental health problems and was terrified of the prospect of her upcoming trial. 

The distraught TV presenter was understood to be horrified by the prospect of a ‘show trial’ over an alleged assault on her boyfriend and was worried she could not cope with the fallout.

Career resurgence: Louise and Jamie are pictured at the Brit Awards in 2016

Career resurgence: Louise and Jamie are pictured at the Brit Awards in 2016

Friends said she was tormented over the idea of a jury being shown police ‘body cam’ footage taken during the night she was accused of attacking Lewis Burton, 27. She had hoped the trial would not go ahead.  

A court had heard police found the pair covered in blood and that Miss Flack had cuts to her wrist. The revelations about her mental health prompted questions about whether she was given enough help to tackle her depression and panic attacks.

The footage was alleged to have shown the presenter is a state of distress and undress.

On the night of her arrest it was also reported that police had been concerned about ‘deep self inflicted wounds’ and Flack had been taken to hospital for urgent treatment. It was reported that Flack had been treated for 12 hours before she was deemed fit enough to be interviewed by officers under caution.

ITV cancelled scheduled Love Island episodes over the weekend she died, but the show continued to run the following week, up til its scheduled final last Sunday. 

CAROLINE FLACK: A CALL FOR HELP?

 

Caroline Flack spoke often about her struggles, both in interviews and on social media. 

Caroline said, following her Strictly success: ‘Fame doesn’t make you happy’

STRICTLY CURSE? 

The Strictly Come Dancing 2014 winner has said that she felt depressed following her victory on the BBC show.

After she won the series along with professional partner Pasha Kovalev, she admitted that she felt like she was ‘being held together by a piece of string which could snap at any time’.

In an unearthed interview cited by the Daily Star following her death, Caroline claimed that, ‘It all started the day after I won Strictly. I woke up and felt like somebody had covered my body in clingfilm. I couldn’t get up and just couldn’t pick myself up at all that next year.’

She went on: ‘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.

Ignored? 'When I actually reached out to someone they said I was draining,' Caroline admitted in October 2019

Ignored? ‘When I actually reached out to someone they said I was draining,’ Caroline admitted in October 2019

‘Fame doesn’t make you happy.’

‘BEING A BURDEN IS MY BIGGEST FEAR’

In an Instagram post she uploaded on 14  October 2019 – to mark World Mental Health Day – Caroline captioned a photo of herself: ‘Some days it’s hard to write your feelings of your not in the right place.

‘The last few weeks I’ve been in a really weird place… I find it hard to talk about it… I guess it’s anxiety and pressure of life… and when I actually reached out to someone they said I was draining.

‘I feel like this is why some people keep their emotions to themselves. I certainly hate talking about my feelings. And being a burden is my biggest fear…

‘I’m lucky to be able to pick myself up when things feel s**t. But what happens if someone can’t. Be nice to people. You never know what’s going on. Ever.’ [sic] 

SOCIAL SILENCE

Signs of suicide? She liked tweets about calling The Samaritans over Christmas

Signs of suicide? She liked tweets about calling The Samaritans over Christmas 

Caroline was told to stay off social media following her assault charge in December 2019.

However, she notably liked a string of tweets in the days afterwards, before Christmas, encouraging those feeling lonely over the holidays to seek help.

The tweets – posted by the likes of actress Sheridan Smith, journalist Stacey Dooley and comedian Luke Kempner – included the telephone number for The Samaritans’ suicide hotline.

She also posted to Instagram around the same time: ‘This kind of scrutiny and speculation is a lot to take on for one person to take on their own… I’m a human being at the end of the day and I’m not going to be silenced when I have a story to tell and a life to keep going with…

‘I’m taking some time out to get feeling better and learn some lessons from situations I’ve got myself into to. I have nothing but love to give and best wishes for everyone.’

SELF-HELP?

It was reported that Caroline had decided to write a book, during her recent time off.

‘Caroline has found the process incredibly cathartic,’ one of her friends told the Mail. ‘She wants it to be more than just a story about her. She wants to talk about the problems she’s encountered and how she’s overcome them.

‘She hopes to be able to help others who may be going through similar difficulties. Part self-help, part memoir is the style that Caroline is looking for.’