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ITV Love Island fans 'disappointed' as Caroline Flack 'snubbed' in anniversary special

Fans of the ITV dating show have been left disappointed after the broadcaster failed to pay tribute to late Love Island presenter Caroline Flack in the anniversary special

Love Island fans were left baffled after an ITV special failed to pay tribute to Caroline Flack.

The much-loved host of the hit dating show, which catapulted stars like Molly-Mae Hague, Tommy Fury, Olivia Attwood, Amber Gill, and Maura Higgins into the limelight, died in 2020 at the age of 40.

Caroline was at the helm of Love Island from its 2015 reboot but stepped back in 2019 before the sixth series following assault allegations involving her then-partner Lewis Burton.

Laura Whitmore filled Caroline's shoes as presenter, with Maya Jama taking the reins from 2022.

With a fresh batch of Love Island set to sizzle on screens next week, ITV rolled out Love Island: Decade of Love, toasting to ten years of sun, snogs, and scandal.

Yet despite featuring Caroline in clips alongside the show's alumni and most memorable moments, viewers were shocked by the absence of a heartfelt homage to the late presenter.

[Caroline Flack]

Caroline Flack died by suicide at the age of 40(Image: PA)

Fans also noted the lack of nods to former Islanders Mike Thalassitis and Sophie Gradon. Model Gradon, who graced the villa in 2016's second series, died in 2018 at the age of 32, while footballer Thalassitis, known for his stints on Celebs Go Dating and 2017's Love Island, died in 2019 at the age of 26.

"Ten years of Love Island and no sign of Caroline Flack," one viewer tweeted.

Another expressed disappointment: "@LoveIsland really disappointed there was nothing on Caroline Flack in the birthday episode.

"Did anyone else think there would be like an in memoriam thing at the end for Caroline Flack? Kind of weird there wasn't?" one viewer queried.

In response to this, another user chimed in: "I'm shocked they didn't even pay tribute to her, Mike and Sophie."

[Caroline Flack]

Caroline hosted Love Island when it was revived in 2015(Image: ITV)

Another fan expressed their disappointment, writing: "I've said this at the end of the day without Caroline there would be no #LoveIsland like they could of done a slide show or something to acknowledge her but they didn't they could of payed tribute to Mike and Sophie im so disappointed it's as if none of them even al exist." (sic)

"I don't like that they didn't do a mini tribute to Caroline Flack, she was basically responsible for the show coming back," another viewer added.

Some fans appreciated seeing snippets of Caroline in the special, with one commenting, "Aw, Caroline. She was Love Island. She genuinely cared about everyone."

Caroline stepped down from Love Island in December 2019, following charges of assault by the police.

At the time, she stated: "In order not to detract attention from the upcoming series, I feel the best thing I can do is to stand down for series 6."

[Caroline Flack]

Caroline stepped down from Love Island months before her death(Image: ITV)

She acknowledged the "significant number of media reports and allegations in regards to my personal life", but also expressed gratitude for the "never experienced such kindness and love in my whole life" she had received.

Earlier this year, Laura commemorated the anniversary of Caroline's passing with a post sharing one of their last exchanges.

She revealed: "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.

"Messages I thought I'd lost a few years ago, and no longer have. It really hit me hard. Looking at messages I've never publicly shared, as they were private messages. Media outlets wrote a lot far from the actual truth.

"I think they show a side to Caroline which is nice to remember. Hence, I'm sharing now."

[Laura Whitmore and Caroline Flack]

Laura Whitmore shared some of her last messages with Caroline(Image: Getty Images)

She continued: "She wasn't perfect and I didn't know her as well as others, but I knew she had her demons."

The messages showed Flack wishing Laura good luck with the new role, expressing her happiness that she was taking over as the host of Love Island.

Laura concluded: "I'd like to think wherever she is now, she's at peace and somewhere lovely like I hoped.

"I'm sad when I see the press and social media be so divisive, and that we still haven't learned from Caroline's treatment before her death, when it comes to women in the spotlight.

"Today, I choose to remember these messages and thank the cloud for giving them back to me."

The Daily Star has approached ITV for comment.

Love Island: A Decade of Love is available to watch on ITVX.

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