The documentary entitled, Caroline Flack: Her Life and Death, will air on Channel 4, 9pm Wednesday
Caroline Flack was a household name for more than a decade, presenting and appearing on all manner of popular TV shows.
From her early days on Bo’ Selecta! and TMi, to I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! Now!, X Factor and, most notably, Love Island.
Sadly, in February last year, the 40-year-old decided to end her life. This came after she had been suffering with her mental health, crucially, as a result of media and online abuse following assault charges lodged against her.
Whether the allegations were true or not, we’ll likely never know. Flack’s boyfriend, ultimately dropped the charges.
The programme
As for the documentary itself, the hour-long special airs tomorrow night (March 17th) at 9pm on Channel 4. As well as speaking with her mother, Christine, and twin sister, Jody, the programme will feature interviews with several notable showbiz names.
Among those known to appear are the likes of Olly Murs, Dermot O’Leary – both former colleagues and friends. However, it is likely there will be several other names that will appear. Laura Whitmore, who succeeded Flack on the I’m a Celeb after-show, put out this heartfelt tribute:
"I'm going to talk about her and give her the respect that she deserves and that she didn't always get"
Laura Whitmore pays an emotional tribute to her friend Caroline Flackhttps://t.co/w8LOPeWiEV pic.twitter.com/YCaVush3xM
— BBC News (UK) (@BBCNews) February 16, 2020
She wasn’t the only one to point out the glaringly obvious danger of social media’s role in people’s mental health.
Laura Woods also had this to say on TalkSport on the issue as a whole:
“The important thing when something like this happens is we open a door to a conversation on how we can move forward & be a more responsible culture.”
Laura Woods discusses social media, trolling and how it can affect a person’s mental health.
Brilliantly said @Laura_Woodsy 👏 pic.twitter.com/cGKxABOTVj
— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) February 17, 2020
Wider message
The point that both of them raise here is a crucial one: your words, opinions and actions you put out into the world can have a larger impact than you think.
Flack’s mother said of the documentary: “if it helps others have the courage to speak out it will have been worthwhile.”
She went on to describe the experience as “therapy” for the family.
She said that, still, “it doesn’t actually seem real” and even alluded to the ongoing Meghan Markle discussion:
“I look at the headlines about Meghan Markle and everything that is said about her and it just makes me think ‘have we learned nothing?’ The national press has been awful to her.”
She went on to say that when she criticised someone on the telly, “she would set me right and say I don’t actually know them and that is something we can all learn from”.
She concluded by reminding people to “be kind”, and by saying that “I think there are lots of people out there that will get the right message from the film and I do hope things will change”.
