Former Love Island host Caroline Flack dies at 40

The television star has been due to stand trial on March 4 after pleading not guilty to assault by beating following an early-morning altercation with her boyfriend Lewis Burton.

Her family confirmed her death in a statement.

It said: "We can confirm that our Caroline passed away today, the 15th of February.

"We would ask that the press respect the privacy of the family at this difficult time and we would ask they make no attempt to contact us and/or photograph us.

A lawyer for the Flack family confirmed that Caroline took her own life and was found in her east London flat on Saturday.

Following the news of Flack's death, an ITV spokeswoman 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."

This Morning presenter Phillip Schofield paid tribute to Flack with a post on his Instagram stories.

He added text above a message that Flack had posted on social media, which read: "In a world where you can be anything, be kind".

Schofield wrote: "You poor darling girl my heart is breaking #BeKind".

Former Love Island contestant Amber Davies, who won the ITV2 series in 2017, tweeted: "My heart is actually broken."

BBC Breakfast presenter Dan Walker was among the people paying tribute to Flackfollowing news of her death.

He tweeted: "Awful news about Caroline Flack. We really need to be better at taking care of each other. So sad".

Eamonn Holmes tweeted: "Caroline Flack .... Dear God. Shocked beyond belief. May she have found peace . #Rip Has to be repercussions for Love Island now surely?"

Radio and TV presenter Edith Bowman tweeted: "I can't quite believe what has happened. Caroline you didn't deserve this. Such sad and tragic news. Love to all her family.

"The media and social media have SO much to answer for. RIP Lovely Flack".

Former Love Island contestant Wes Nelson wrote a long message on Instagram next to a picture of himself with Flack.

He wrote: "I can't believe what I'm reading! Caroline Flack was an absolute diamond, my hearts genuinely broken! One of the warmest funniest people I've ever met, I have nothing but great memories! It was just weeks since we were chatting away!".

Davina McCall was among those paying tribute.

She tweeted: "I'm so so sad to hear about @carolineflack1.

"I don't even know what to say. But my heart goes out to her friends and family x I might be a bit quiet tonight on social media .. just doesn't seem right ."

Zoe Ball tweeted: "Devastating news about Caroline. Thoughts with her family and loved ones".

Derry Girls actress Nicola Coughlan tweeted: "I met Caroline Flack last summer, she was so sweet and genuine and couldn't have been kinder to me. She did not deserve this. It's absolutely devastating, all my love to her family and friends."

Flack is the fourth person linked to the ITV2 dating programme to have died.

Sophie Gradon, who appeared as a contestant in the show in 2016, was found hanged at her home in 2018 at the age of 32.

Her boyfriend Aaron Armstrong, who had found her body, went on to hang himself three weeks later. He was 25.

Mike Thalassitis, who appeared in the 2017 series, was 26 when he was found hanged in a park in March last year.

The troubled Love Island star stepped down from presenting the current winter series of the show after she was alleged to have assaulted her boyfriend Lewis Burton 27, at her then flat in Islington, north London, in December.

She entered a not guilty plea to the assault charge at Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court and she was released on bail, with conditions that stopped her having any contact with Burton ahead of a trial in March.

Burton, a former professional tennis player, had shared a post declaring his love for Flack on his Instagram Stories on Valentine's Day.

Along with a picture of the two of them together, he wrote: "Happy valentines, love you."

Flack had also taken to social media shortly before her death, sharing a collage of pictures of herself with her pet dog on Instagram on Thursday.

Laura Whitmore, who replaced Flack on Love Island for the latest series, tweeted "I'm trying to find the words but I can't", followed by a broken heart emoji.

Flack's TV presenting roles have included Gladiators, I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! NOW!, The X Factor and The Xtra Factor.

She won Strictly Come Dancing in 2014 while paired with professional dancer Pasha Kovalev.

The following year she joined the revival of dating reality show Love Island on ITV2.

She hosted the first five series of the popular programme - one of the most-watched reality shows in the UK in recent years and won a TV Bafta in 2018 - as well as its spin-off programme Aftersun.

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