ITV bosses have cancelled tonight’s episode of Love Island but have confirmed it will return to our TV screens tomorrow after they came to the decision with Caroline Flack’s team.
The decision to axe the show tonight, which was scheduled for its usual 9pm slot on ITV2 tonight, comes after the 40-year-old host of the show took her own life yesterday.
Caroline was found dead in her London home on Saturday, with her family lawyer confirming she killed herself.
Hours after her death was announced, ITV decided against airing the Saturday special of Love Island Unseen Bits.
And now the channel has revealed it work with Caroline’s representatives to come to the conclusion that tonight’s show will be axed but the series will continue from tomorrow.
An ITV spokesperson: said “Many people at ITV knew Caroline well and held her in great affection. All of us are absolutely devastated at this tragic news.
ITV have said Caroline Flack’s representatives worked with them to make the decision (Image: Paul / SplashNews.com)
“After careful consultation between Caroline’s representatives and the Love Island production team and given how close we still are to the news of Caroline’s tragic death we have decided not to broadcast tonight’s Love Island out of respect for Caroline’s family.
“Love Island will return tomorrow night which will include a tribute to Caroline who will be forever in our hearts.”
Caroline became the face of the series back in 2015, presenting the spin-off show Love Island Aftersun and joining the Islanders for each recoupling.
She stepped down from the role ahead of the winter edition of the series, after she was arrested at her London home following an alleged altercation with her boyfriend last December.
Caroline’s longtime friend Laura Whitmore was cast as the presenter in her place.
Caroline has hosted Love Island for its first five seasons, taking a step back for its latest winter series (Image: PA)
Following the news of her death, ITV released a statement, paying tribute to her legacy on the network.
It read: “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.”
The show has been plagued by controversy in recent years, following the deaths of two former contestants.
Sophie Gradon, 32, took her own life in 2018, having appeared on the second season of the reality show two years previously.
Caroline’s boyfriend Lewis Burton shared a heart-wrenching tribute where he stated he is ‘heartbroken’ (Image: Instagram)
The following year, Mike Thalassitis, 26, took his own life after featuring in the 2017 installment of the show.
Love Island’’ original series first aired in 2005, following a group of celebrity singletons over five weeks on an island in Fiji.
The series was revived in 2015, broadcasted each summer before ITV made the decision to introduce a winter edition last year.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
