Laura Whitmore reflects on a ‘difficult year’ after close friend Caroline Flack’s death

Laura Whitmore has reflected on a difficult year in a new candid interview after losing her friend Caroline Flack and her cousin to coronavirus in Ireland.

Talking on Women’s Health Going for Goal podcast, the Irish presenter, 35, admitted that she struggled to deal with late Love Island host Caroline’s death, who tragically took her own life in February aged 40.

Laura, who has spent lockdown privately grieving, also emotionally shared that her cousin died from coronavirus in Ireland. He was in his 40s.

Talking about Caroline’s death, the TV star, who took over presenting from the late host for the winter edition of Love Island, said she ‘wasn’t in a position’ to grieve properly at the time.

She reflected: ‘I think at the time I didn’t deal with it because I probably wasn’t in a position where I could, because I was still doing this show [Love Island] and I really didn’t know…

‘I’ve never lost someone in my group of friends who is so young. It’s hard, I’d get tagged in something by a fan account of Caroline and I’ll think it’s Caroline and it’s only now it’s hit me that’s not her.’

Laura said she has used lockdown to grieve privately and it was important that she was forced to take a break.  

She said: ‘I feel it’s okay to do a grieve privately if you choose to… I found it really difficult because it [Caroline’s death] was so public, that’s why lockdown was really great if I’m honest because I had that privacy, and I had that time.’

Laura added: ‘I’m that person that doesn’t like to stay still and maybe to my detriment sometimes. I’ve always got a suitcase and I’m always going somewhere. 

‘I’ve been forced to stay still, and I think it’s been good for me… my body needed a break and needed a break badly when March came. I was forced to take a break. 

‘It has been so, so important for me to deal with things, a lot of things have happened this year.’

As well as grieving for late friend Caroline, Laura emotionally shared that she lost her cousin to coronavirus.

She said: ‘It’s been a difficult year for so many people, and a lot of people have lost people before their time. My cousin passed away of coronavirus during lockdown, he was only in his 40s in Ireland.’

Elsewhere during the chat, Laura spoke about her decision to stand up to social media trolls and said it is okay to say ‘I’ve had enough’.

She said: ‘I feel stronger by talking, by communicating, and realising that we’re all vulnerable. 

‘Sometimes you think when you’re in this industry, ‘Oh, you need to get a thick skin’, which I probably have built up a little bit, but it’s okay to feel sad and it’s okay for something to knock you.’

She added: ‘It’s okay to speak up and say, ‘Actually I’ve had enough’.’

Caroline tragically took her own life aged 40 in February 2020 after learning she would be facing trial for allegedly attacking then boyfriend Lewis Burton, 27. 

TV presenter Caroline was found dead on February 15, the day after hearing the Crown Prosecution Service would go ahead with a trial for allegedly attacking her model and former tennis player boyfriend Lewis in December.

Her death was ruled a suicide in an inquest in August this year, with coroner Mary Hassell, saying: ‘The key decision for me to make is whether Caroline took her own life. I have to be satisfied she acted in a way so as to cause her death, and secondly that she intended to cause her death.

‘In Caroline’s case I am entirely satisfied she intended to cause her own death. She hanged herself. She had only one expectation – her own death. There’s no doubt in my mind at all.’

The coroner said Flack had experienced ‘fluctuating ill health’ and was ‘distressed’ at the thought of facing a trial.

She said: ‘Caroline had fluctuating mental ill health, she had had struggles in the past.

‘She had had difficulties. In spite of the fact she may have led – to some – a charmed life, actually the more famous she got the more some of these difficulties increased – she had to deal with the media in a way most of us don’t.

‘It was played out in the national press – and that was incredibly difficult for her. She faced the prospect of not working in the job she loved, losing a great deal.

‘I find the reason for her taking her life was she now knew she was being prosecuted for certainty, and she knew she would face the media, press, publicity – it would all come down upon her. To me, that’s it in essence.’

Flack’s mother, Christine, wept as she told the coroner over video-link: ‘I totally agree, I think you got it spot on.

‘We know you are not allowed to say certain things and it’s up to us if we want to take it any further, and we don’t. You’re spot on.’

Concluding, the coroner recorded a death of suicide caused by hanging.

Mrs Hassell said: ‘Caroline hanged herself at home on the morning of February 15 because of an exacerbation of fluctuating ill health and distress.’

If you have been affected by this story, you can call the Samaritans on 116 123 or visit www.samaritans.org

Listen to the full Laura Whitmore interview on the Women’s Health Going for Goal podcast, available now.