Laura Whitmore has shared the emotional last messages she shared with her friend Caroline Flack before her death.
Caroline, a beloved TV personality, tragically passed away at the age of 40 in her home in North East London on February 15, 2020. Her death was formally declared a suicide during an inquest that took place in August of the same year.
Laura, who is 39 years old, took to Instagram recently to commemorate the fifth anniversary of Caroline’s passing. She shared a nostalgic photo of them together, accompanied by the final messages they exchanged.
The texts, sent just weeks before Caroline’s tragic death, showed the deep support and respect the two presenters had for each other.
One of the messages from Caroline, affectionately saved as ‘Flacky’ in Laura’s contacts, revealed Caroline’s desire for Laura to succeed her role on Love Island following Caroline’s decision to resign due to her arrest on assault charges.
She wrote: ‘I hope you are doing the job… I wouldn’t want it to be anyone else.’
Taking to Instagram on Saturday, Laura, 38, shared a sweet throwback photo of her and Caroline, giving fans a glimpse into their close friendship
Laura replied saying it was ‘such a lovely message’ and explained she had met with producers, but nothing was confirmed yet.
Later, after landing the role, Laura shared the news with Caroline before it became public and promised to ‘do my very best to give it the justice it deserves.’
Caroline simply replied with a red heart emoji and said: ‘I’m glad it’s you.’
Laura took over from Caroline as the host of Love Island in December 2019 but stepped down from her role after the 2022 series, with Maya Jama taking over.
In a lengthy caption alongside the post, Laura gushed over Caroline’s ‘support’ of her and admitted it had ‘really hit me hard’ reading back their touching final ever exchange.
‘I got a new phone this month and as I was trying to download WhatsApp messages from my cloud loads of old messages came up. Ones I thought I lost a few years ago and no longer had. It really hit me hard,’ she penned.
‘Looking at messages I’ve never publicly shared as they were private messages. I think they show a side to Caroline which is nice to remember. Hence I’m sharing now.
‘She wasn’t perfect and I didn’t know her as well as others but I knew she had her demons. I met Caroline in 2011 when I took over from her hosting I’m a celebrity get me out of here now.
‘She was as supportive of me doing that role back then as she was when she supported me doing Love Island in 2020.
The texts, sent just weeks before Caroline’s tragic death on February 15, 2020, show the deep support and respect the two presenters had for each other
Laura penned a heartfelt message alongside the post
‘Both were great shows with hundreds of people working on them and relying on the show going ahead.
‘I will always be so thankful of the last messages between me and Caroline. I never asked her about the court case – it wasn’t my business. I didn’t know her partner at the time and still don’t.’
Laura then revealed that she turned down the opportunity to appear in the upcoming Disney+ documentary about the late TV star.
She continued: ‘Every time I’ve been asked to speak about the situation or be part of a documentary I decline.
‘I’ve already said all I can say on the tragedy and don’t want words to be misconstrued and need to look after my own mental health. This was the last correspondence I ever had with her.
‘I really did hope she was somewhere lovely. A spa/retreat/rehab. I never knew the extent of her struggles or what was to come.
‘The last message from her to me were love hearts. I’d like to think wherever she is now, she’s at peace and somewhere lovely like I hoped.’
Laura Whitmore has shared the emotional unseen messages from her late friend and TV star Caroline Flack
Caroline (pictured in 2018) was died at her North East London home on February 15, 2020, at the age of 40 and her death was ruled a suicide in an inquest in August of that year
Caroline died by suicide amid amid a looming court case after allegedly hitting boyfriend Lewis Burton with a lamp (pictured together in 2019)
‘Today I choose to remember these messages and thank the cloud for giving them back to me,’ she concluded.
It’s been five years since TV star tragically died by suicide aged 40, amid a looming court case after allegedly hitting boyfriend Lewis Burton with a lamp.
In December, the Mail revealed that Caroline’s mother Christine is central to a new documentary about the presenter as they will try to give some answers as to why she died.
Disney revealed the film would include firsthand testimony, among them Caroline’s family and friends, as Christine embarks on a journey to uncover the truth around the circumstances that led to Caroline tragically taking her own life in 2020.
Christine said: ‘I still have so many questions about what happened to Caroline in her final months, and it’s something I feel deeply compelled to explore, even though I know it will be challenging.
‘I’m pleased to be working with the team at Curious Films once again, in the hope of bringing clarity and understanding to Carrie’s story, not just for her, but for everyone who cared about her.’
Gaby Aung, Senior Manager, Unscripted, Disney+ added: ‘We’re privileged to be working with Christine Flack and our production partners at Curious, as we follow a family’s pursuit for answers and celebrate Caroline’s legacy five years on from her tragic death.’
Questions have been raised as to why Lou Teasdale and fellow friend Mollie Grosberg left Caroline alone in her flat on the day she took her own life – with the Love Island star having made a previous suicide attempt the day before.
In December, the Mail revealed that Caroline’s mother Christine is central to the new documentary which will try to give some answers as to why she died
Disney confirmed the film would include first hand testimony, among them Caroline’s family and friends, as Christine embarks on a journey to uncover the truth
‘Why was it down to Caroline’s friends to look after her?’ a close pal of Lou, a stylist, asked MailOnline’s Katie Hind last month.
‘Where was her family? Louise had to get back to her young daughter, she couldn’t stay any longer. They had been with Caroline for hours and hours and they tried to get her to go to hospital but she wouldn’t.
‘They remained at her flat to make sure she was OK but they couldn’t stay there indefinitely, so they went.
‘It is devastating that they now have Caroline’s mother blaming them. Christine was once so close to Lou but not any more.
‘Caroline’s death has haunted her friends and changed their lives, and there is a view that she should be left to rest in peace. But this documentary is going to drag everything up and, whether it intends to or not, runs the risk of laying blame in certain places.’
Mollie, a production manager, who also stayed with Caroline that night, has openly said she will never get over her death.
‘She was a good friend to Caroline,’ said a friend of hers. ‘She would have done anything for her.’
After setting up an Ask Me Anything on Instagram last month, Lou responded to a fan who said: ‘If someone is intent on suicide, nothing will stop them. You did your best, dont 4get that [sic]’.
Reflecting on her experience, Lou responded: ‘Suicide has affected my life a lot over the past 10 years. As it does for many many people. If it’s not you suffering personally it’s someone around you.
‘I am currently working with an amazing charity Body and Soul.
Questions have been raised as to why Lou Teasdale (L) and fellow friend Mollie Grosberg, left Caroline (R) alone in her flat on the day she took her own life (pictured 2014)
After setting up an Ask Me Anything, Lou responded to a fan with a candid post about suicide and her charity work
‘Since experiencing and doing my best to care for two separate close friends around me attempting suicide numerous times without getting the professional help they need before inevitably seeing it through,’
‘I identified that between what our NHS and private health sectors offer and mental health “helplines” that raise millions of ££ a month in fundraising, there is quite literally NOTHING that actually works with and helps people who are suicidal.
‘Body and Soul offer a one-of-a-kind 6 month support programme for individuals who attempt suicide and boast a 100 per cent success rate with 0 reattempts from those who have been on their You Are Not Alone course.
‘They also offer free online workshops for people close to those who attempt who are, like me, completely unqualified but on front-line supporting someone going through this. I always say suicide is contagious.
‘One suicide creates enough trauma around those involved there becomes a risk of further suicides without proper support.
‘After researching a lot of different initiatives this is the only one that has stood out to me that has REAL on-the-ground impact with the work they do.
‘Reach out to them if you feel you need some help right now, or give them a follow and donate if you can. [sic]’
