Coronation Street and Holby City star John Michie has said his ‘world has been shattered’ after the sudden death of his daughter at Bestival.
But Mr Michie and his family believe Louella Michie, 25, was not murdered even though police have arrested a 28-year-old on suspicion of killing her.
Dancer and model Miss Michie was found dead in isolated woodland on the edge of the family-friendly music festival in Dorset at 1am yesterday.
Her actor father and his wife Carol, 60, drove 130 miles from their London home to the site having reportedly received a panicked phone call and a WhatsApp map pinpointing her location from the friend now believed to be in custody.
A family friend told MailOnline today: ‘No one can quite believe that Louella has gone. John and the family are struggling and are in tears. John said his world has been shattered. The whole family feel that way,’
The source said he could not confirm claims she died of an accidental drugs overdose but said: ‘The family all think it is an accidental death’.
Louella Michie, 25, has been confirmed as the woman who was found dead in a wooded area of Bestival music festival, in Dorset
John Michie and daughters Louella, left, and Daisy, right, arrive at Banqueting House in London for Plan UK’s Because I am a Girl Gala Dinner 2014
Family handout photo of Louella Michie, the daughter of former Coronation Street and Taggart star John Michie
Michie posted a heartbreaking picture of his daughter excitedly sewing her outfit for Bestival days to his Instagram account on Wednesday
Michie is best known as playing Rovers Return landlord Karl Munro where he had the distinction of burning down the street’s favourite pub
Woman for all seasons: Pictures from her Instagram account she her on summer travels (left) and on a snowboarding break (right)
Paying tribute to Louella, her father described her as ‘so very positive, so bright, so out there’
Police began looking for her when friends said she had disappeared after watching the Pet Shop Boys on Sunday night at Bestival, held on the Lulworth Estate on the Jurassic Coast.
Her parents were refused entry to the site by security but Louella’s fully clothed body was found at around 1am yesterday and a 28-year-old man known to her was arrested.
The 60-year-old actor, who is back in London, breaks down in tears as he tries to console his wife Carole and two other children.
Mr Michie, who played lovable rogue Karl Munro in the long running soap, now faces the traumatic ordeal today of identifying his 25 year old daughter.
A family source told MailOnline: ‘It is just unreal. Louella’s brother and sister are in absolute pieces but they all think it is an accidental death.’
Police in Dorset have arrested a 28 year old man on suspicion of murder – but the Mitchie family believe he is innocent and do not believe the dancer was the victim of murder.
‘They don’t for one minute believe that it was murder. The police have to do their job but the family fully expect him to be released. This was an accidental death and there was no murder,’ said the family friend.
He was unable to comment on reports that Louella could have died from an accidental drug overdose. The man arrested was found by her body.
‘From what we have been told he was with her and was trying to help her. We know the police have to make sure and they only reason they arrested him on suspicion of murder was because he was with the body,’ said the friend.
The family friend said Michie will travel to Dorset today from his North London home to identify and collect his daughter’s body.
The man arrested by police at the Bestival music festival on the Lulworth Estate, Dorset, is believed to be a former boyfriend of Louella.
‘They were in a relationship, then broke up but remained good friends. He is known and liked by the family,’ said the source.
‘He is a nice guy and the family expect him to be released soon once the police have completed their inquiries. ‘
Louella pictured having fun on London Bridge, with Tower Bridge visible behind her
She was the oldest daughter of Mr Michie and Carol Fletcher, who was previously a dancer for television troupe Hot Gossip
(Left to right) Sam, Daisy and John Michie, Carol Fletcher and Louella Michie Celebrities arrive at David Gest’s Celebrity Dinner Party at the Tower Hilton on Tooley Street, London, in April 2015
Her father had posted a heartbreaking picture of her excitedly sewing her outfit to his Instagram account on Wednesday, with the caption ‘Sewing for Bestival’.
Mr Michie told The Sun last night: ‘We’ve lost our angel. It’s not murder – they were friends.
‘It was just a tragic mistake, a tragic accident. She touched so many lives. She was so very positive, so bright. She had such energy. The tributes to her have been incredible.’
A source told newspaper her death could be linked to an unknown substance, which was ‘too powerful’.
Sources close to the family revealed that her parents dashed to the site as soon as they received the news.
Mr Michie, who also starred in Coronation Street and Holby City, and his partner Carol, 66, a former dancer, have two other children, Daisy, 28, and Sam, 26.
They were being comforted by friends at their north London home.
The alarm was raised at the festival shortly before 1am yesterday when Miss Michie disappeared shortly after the headline set by the Pet Shop Boys.
On-site police were alerted and her body was found on the edge of the site, which covers hundreds of acres close to the tourist landmark Durdle Door.
Yesterday, the woodland where her body was found had been cordoned off and forensic officers were combing the site.
The 25-year-old was an avid supporter of Arsenal Football Club (pictured alongside a fellow Gunners fan)
. Her social media profiles show her attending Glastonbury (left) and a string of other festivals and trendy gigs over the summer
Det Chief Inspector Sarah Derbyshire said: ‘Following the discovery of the woman’s body we have now launched an investigation into her death. We have specially trained officers supporting her family at this very difficult time.
‘We are working closely with the festival organisers and I would appeal to anyone with any information about the incident to contact Dorset Police.’
Michie is best known as playing Rovers Return landlord Karl Munro where he had the distinction of burning down the street’s favourite pub in one of the soap’s most gripping storylines.
He also starred in Taggart playing DI Robbie Ross for 12 years, and is currently playing neurosurgeon Guy Self in BBC’s medical drama Holby City.
The 60-year-old has two other children, Daisy, 27, a stylist, and Sam, 26, a music video director.
Arsenal football fan Louella, the youngest of his three children, worked as a dancer and lived in north London.
Louella, whose godfather was One Foot In The Grave Star Richard Wilson, was able to perform an array of dance styles
As well as her celebrity parents, Louella leaves behind older siblings Daisy and Sam
Arsenal football fan Louella (pictured at a Halloween party), the youngest of his three children, worked as a dancer and also lived in North London
Her mother, Carol Fletcher, who was previously a dancer for television troupe Hot Gossip and Pan’s People (middle in right picture)
She inherited her expert dance ability from her mother and was represented by the Mass Movement agency.
Louella, whose godfather was One Foot In The Grave Star Richard Wilson, was able to perform ballet, bellydance, Bollywood, breakdancing, contemporary, disco, folk, jazz, rock and roll, salsa, swing, tango and tap genres.
She also worked as a model where her long blonde hair, green eyes and petite frame – a size eight – were much in demand through The Eye Casting.
She is understood to have worked for House of Voga, in London, where she led fitness classes.
Voga is a fusion of Yoga and Voguing, fitness and fashion, set to an 80s House beat and designed to empower, tone, get fit and stay flexible.
Last night her Instagram page, Voga Louella @houseofvogalondon, had been taken down.
Chizzy Akudolu, who starred alongside Louella’s father in Holby City and is on this year’s Strictly Come Dancing, posted a message on Twitter in support of her former colleague.
Chizzy Akudolu, who starred alongside Louella’s father in Holby City and is on this year’s Strictly Come Dancing, posted this message on Twitter
She also worked as a model where her long blonde hair, green eyes and petite frame, a size eight, were much in demand through The Eye Casting
She inherited her expert dance ability from her mother and was represented by the Mass Movement agency
Her father (pictured left, on the Alan Titchmarsh Show in 2014 and right, on Loose Women in the same year) has also appeared in Taggart and Casualty
She said: ‘A good mate just lost his daughter. I can’t imagine what he and his family are going through. Life man. Tell someone you love them. Do it now’.
In an earlier statement, his agent said: ‘Sadly, I can confirm the tragic death of John Michie’s daughter, Louella, at Bestival.
‘John and his wife Carol ask that the privacy of their family be respected at this traumatic time.’
Michie and Carol met when she did the choreography and John did the dancing and ate the crisps in a Walkers advert nearly 30 years ago.
He said: ‘I thought she was stunning and, when I found out she was in Hot Gossip, I thought, “Oh my God”.
‘I made sure I sat beside her at lunch and got her number.
She is understood to have worked for House of Voga, in London, where she led fitness classes
‘I told her I was organising a night at a rock ‘n’ roll club in London and asked her if she’d be interested since she was into dance. She said, “Yes”, and a few days later I called her.’
In an interview in 2012, John told how he and Carol never married because they were too busy bringing up their children.
All three were in show business – Daisy is a dancer, Sam went to film school and makes his own promos with rapper friends, while Louella also attended the Tiffany Theatre College.
Officers were called to the site just before 1am on Monday to reports revellers were concerned for the welfare of the 25-year-old.
Dorset Police said the arrest was ‘to enable officers to conduct an interview under caution to help establish the full circumstances’.
Some 30,000 revellers descended on the site for the four-day event but forensic officers were working at the scene as the festival came to a close and a cordon remains in place.
A spokesman for the event said the matter was currently being dealt with by Dorset Police.
Bestival Police last week issued a warning about a rogue batch of tablets found on the festival site, but drugs have not been linked to Louella’s death.
Officers tweeted a photo of a tablet and urged festival goers to dispose of them as they contained ‘unknown chemicals’.
‘We are working closely with the festival organisers and I would appeal to anyone with any information about the incident to contact Dorset Police.’
Some 30,000 revellers descended on the site for the four-day event but forensic officers were working at the scene as the festival came to a close and a cordon remains in place
Police said the body of the woman, who had attended Bestival, was found in a wooded area of the festival site in Lulworth, Dorset
A force spokesman said the woman’s family had been informed and the coroner had been notified of her death.
In a statement, Bestival said: ‘Following today’s news announcement, the team at Bestival are devastated to hear about this tragic news.
‘We continue to support the police in their ongoing investigation and our thoughts and prayers are with all the woman’s family and friends.’
Last year, organisers announced Bestival would be moved from the Isle of Wight, where it was previously held, to the Dorset site.
The line-up this year included The XX, Dizzee Rascal, Rag’n’Bone Man, Pet Shop Boys, Wiley and Laura Mvula.
On Sunday, festival organisers were forced to close the main arena, the Castle Stage and Ambient Forest due to high winds.
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