Love Island’s crew have been ‘reassured’ on the show’s future and told their ‘jobs are safe’ following former presenter Caroline Flack’s tragic death.
Staff on the ITV2 reality series described the mood on set in Cape Town, South Africa, as ‘on the floor’ and ‘incredibly low’ as they got back to work ahead of tonight’s episode.
Production have been told the show will not be axed and the summer series is set to go ahead as planned while ITV2 bosses look to recruit winter host Laura Whitmore, 34, on a permanent basis.
According to those working on set, Caroline’s tribute will be a montage and aired at the top of the show, and her former co-star Iain Stirling, 32, has narrated tonight’s episode as normal.
‘The mood is on the floor, it’s horrible’: Love Island’s crew have been ‘reassured’ on the show’s future and told their ‘jobs are safe’ following former presenter Caroline Flack’s tragic death
A source told MailOnline: ‘The mood on set is on the floor, it’s horrible.
‘Staff are feeling homesick for the first time ever after Caroline’s death – all they want now is to be back at home with their loved ones.
‘Seniors are constantly checking everyone’s OK but obviously it’s all workers can think about.
‘Although final decisions for the show are yet to be made, staff have been reassured the summer series will go ahead as planned and their jobs are safe.
‘Tonight’s episode of Love Island will begin with a montage of Caroline, that producers are hoping will be a fitting tribute to the star.’
‘Their jobs are safe’: Production have been reassured the show will not be axed as bosses look to recruit winter series host Laura Whitmore, 34, on a permanent basis
Poignant: ITV released the above statement which said that Love Island would return on Monday night and will include a tribute to the former presenter
Contestants on the current series of Love Island still haven’t been told of Caroline’s death. It is not yet clear whether they will be informed at a later date.
An insider told MailOnline: ‘Love Island bosses will not be telling stars of the current series.’
ITV cancelled Love Island Unseen Bits which usually airs on Saturday night and axed Sunday’s episode after Caroline, 40, who fronted the dating series for five years, died on Saturday at her home in east London.
Love Island will return on Monday evening as planned, after current host Laura paid tribute to Caroline, and called the show to work on ‘loving and caring and safe and protected.’
In a heartfelt speech on her BBC 5 Live show, Laura said: ‘Caroline loved to love, that’s all she wanted.
‘It’s all staff can think about’: Caroline, who tragically took her own life on Saturday, fronted the ITV2 dating series for five years, and was loved and respected by cast and crew
In the dark: Contestants on the current series of Love Island still haven’t been told of Caroline’s death. It is not yet clear whether they will be informed at a later date
‘Which is why a show like Love Island was important to her because the show is about finding love, friendship and having a laugh.
‘The problem wasn’t the show. The show to work on is loving and caring and safe and protected. The problem is the outside world is not.’
It has been claimed that Caroline took her own life just minutes after her close friend Lou Teasdale, 36, left her flat, where she had been staying with the star over Valentine’s Day.
The distraught TV presenter was understood to be horrified by the prospect of a ‘show trial’ over an alleged assault on her boyfriend and was worried she could not cope with the fallout.
Friends said she was tormented over the idea of a jury being shown police ‘body cam’ footage taken during the night she was accused of attacking Lewis Burton, 27 and had hoped the trial would not go ahead.
Heartbroken Lewis, who has vowed to get answers following her death, begged the CPS not to press charges, and raged against a court ban which kept them apart over Christmas and Valentine’s Day.
In a statement posted to Instagram on Sunday, Lewis said: ‘My heart is broken we had something so special. I am so lost for words, I am in so much pain, I miss you so much.
‘I know you felt safe with me you always said I don’t think about anything else when I am with you and I was not allowed to be there this time I kept asking and asking.
‘I will be your voice baby, I promise I will ask all the questions you wanted and I will get all the answers nothing will bring you back but I will try make you proud everyday. I love you with all my heart.’
Tribute: Caroline’s boyfriend Lewis Burton, 27, said he was ‘heartbroken’ as he posted a statement to his Instagram page on Sunday