Viewers watching the 2020 TV BAFTAs on Friday evening were moved to tears as the Academy paid tribute to the media stars who passed away in 2019 and 2020 – including Love Island’s Caroline Flack.
The presenter tragically took her own life in February aged 40.
The In Memoriam section of the broadcast – which was the first to be presented virtually with social distancing in place – also featured the likes of Dame Vera Lynn, Gary Rhodes and Honor Blackman.
Tragic: Viewers watching the 2020 TV BAFTAs on Friday evening were moved to tears as the Academy paid tribute to the media stars who passed away in 2019 and 2020 – including Love Island’s Caroline Flack
‘I really find it hard to grasp the fact that Caroline Flack needs to be included in this montage. Incredibly sad,’ one viewer tweeted.
‘Oh Caroline #BaftaTV,’ another fan wrote, as a different show watcher penned: ‘Aw man seeing the #BAFTA tribute to Caroline Flack brought a tear to my eye. Reminder to always be kind!’
‘Watching the BAFTA’s tribute to the people we have lost this year and still so gutting how we lost Caroline Flack this year,’ wrote another.
Laura Whitmore, who took over Caroline’s role on Love Island, shared the tribute – as well as that of the late broadcaster Gay Byrne who was also remembered.
Heartbreaking: The presenter tragically took her own life in February aged 40
Emotional: ‘I really find it hard to grasp the fact that Caroline Flack needs to be included in this montage. Incredibly sad,’ one viewer tweeted
Paying her respects: Laura Whitmore, who took over Caroline’s role on Love Island, shared the tribute – as well as that of the late broadcaster Gay Byrne who was also remembered
Love Island was up for two BAFTAs, with Caroline’s former co-host Iain Stirling announcing that he was dedicating the award to her. It failed to scoop the gongs, however.
Iain said earlier this year of the nomination: ‘Delighted for everyone involved in the show that we’re up for another Bafta.
‘On a personal note, to be named here and considered one of the team when all I do is talk into a microphone for a few hours has touched me more than anyone will ever know.
‘Well done Love Island! Caroline – this one’s for you x [sic]’
Terribly sad: Viewers flocked to Twitter to pay their own tribute to the late star
Last month, Caroline’s mother, Christine, slammed the law chief who insisted he was right to prosecute the TV star, saying: ‘Why can’t you let my beautiful daughter rest in peace?’
Caroline killed herself hours after learning that lawyers were pressing ahead with an assault charge after an alleged altercation with her boyfriend, Lewis Burton, 27.
In a highly unusual intervention, Ed Beltrami, 52, suggested Caroline may have attacked Lewis again if the Crown Prosecution Service had not acted.
Mr Beltrami, who was North London area head of the CPS, claimed: ‘Domestic abuse has a high risk of repetition, a high risk of the offending escalating, so you have to look at that.’
Dedication: Love Island was up for two BAFTAs, with Caroline’s former co-host Iain Stirling announcing that he was dedicating the award to her
Iain said earlier this year: ‘Well done Love Island! Caroline – this one’s for you x’
Caroline’s devastated mother issued a powerful statement to the Eastern Daily Press criticising Mr Beltrami for his remarks.
She said: ‘It is deeply regrettable that Mr Beltrami could not have let my beautiful daughter rest in peace… [and that he should choose to repeat some of the untruths about my daughter.]
‘My daughter was unable to defend herself during her life and is unable to do so now. Shame on you.’
Caroline, who died on February 15, faced claims she allegedly attacked her boyfriend Lewis with a lamp.
She had pleaded not guilty to assault by beating but took her own life at her London home hours after learning prosecutors were proceeding with the case.
‘Why can’t you let my beautiful daughter rest in peace?’ Last month, Caroline’s mother, Christine, slammed the law chief who insisted he was right to prosecute the TV star
Mr Beltrami, who was North London area head of the CPS, claimed: ‘Domestic abuse has a high risk of repetition, a high risk of the offending escalating, so you have to look at that’
The popular TV host had strongly denied the charge and her family branded it a ‘show trial’. Lewis, who suffered minor injuries, refused to support the prosecution.
Mr Beltrami claimed never to have heard of Caroline in a newspaper interview, and insisted: ‘You’ve got to do what you think is right. You cannot do what you think is popular.’
Christine accused Mr Beltrami of ‘repeating false accusations’ and the CPS of ‘creating the toxic environment which ultimately led to Caroline’s death’
She continued: ‘The CPS released the demons that chased down Caroline.’
Caroline denied the assault charge. In an Instagram post, she admitted ‘responsibility for what happened’ but ‘was NOT a domestic abuser.’
***If you have been affected by this story, you can call the Samaritans on 116 123 or visit www.samaritans.org***