The “Love Island” host died in 2020 at the age of 40.

What happened to Caroline Flack? Hulu’s Search for the Truth explores the TV host’s life and death

The "Love Island" host died in 2020 at the age of 40.

By Allison DeGrushe

Allison DeGrushe

Allison DeGrushe is a timely SEO writer at **. She has been working at * *since 2025. Her work has previously appeared on Distractify.

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November 10, 2025 5:25 p.m. ET

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Caroline Flack attends the BRIT Awards at the O2 Arena on Feb. 20, 2019 in London. Credit:

Karwai Tang/WireImage

- Caroline Flack was a popular British TV presenter, best known for hosting *Love Island*.

- Flack died by suicide in February 2020 at age 40.

- Hulu's *Caroline Flack: Search for the Truth *reveals new details about Flack and the moments leading up to her death.**

Caroline Flack was one of Britain's biggest television stars, known as the host of shows like *The Xtra Factor* and *Love Island*. Behind Flack's contagious onscreen energy, however, she faced relentless scrutiny from both the media and the public.

Now, Hulu's *Caroline Flack: Search for the Truth* takes a closer look at the final chapter of the late TV host's life, exploring how the mounting pressures of fame, media attention, and personal pain collided in the years before her death at age 40.

Below, we look back at what happened to Caroline Flack, revisiting her rise on British TV to the events leading up to her tragic death.

Who was Caroline Flack?

Caroline Flack attends the Cosmopolitan Ultimate Women Of The Year Awards at One Mayfair on Dec. 2, 2015 in London.

Gareth Cattermole/Getty

Caroline Flack appeared on the British sketch comedy *Bo' Selecta!* (2002, 2004) before transitioning into a hosting career, with gigs on *Fash FC* (2003–2004), *I'm a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! NOW!* (2009–2010), *The Xtra Factor* (2011–2013), and *Love Island* (2015–2019).

Outside of hosting, Flack took part in several reality competitions, winning *Dancing on Wheels* in 2009 and *Strictly Come Dancing* in 2014.

Flack's personal life often drew media attention. She briefly dated Prince Harry in 2009, but had to stop once the romance became public. “I was no longer Caroline Flack, TV presenter, I was Caroline Flack, Prince Harry’s bit of rough," she wrote in her 2014 memoir, *Storm in a C-Cup. *

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'Love Island' opens with emotional tribute to late host Caroline Flack

In 2011, her relationship with One Direction member Harry Styles sparked controversy because of their age difference (he was 17, she was 31).

Flack later dated music manager Jack Street and rugby player Danny Cipriani. At one point, she was engaged to reality TV personality Andrew Brady. Her last known relationship before her death was with tennis player Lewis Burton.

Why was Caroline Flack arrested?

Caroline Flack at a recoupling in 'Love Island' season 5. ITV/Shutterstock

In December 2019, Flack was arrested and charged with assault following a confrontation with Burton. According to the docuseries, the dispute began after Flack saw a text from a woman on Burton's phone and thought he had been unfaithful. In the heat of the moment, Flack allegedly hit Burton with a phone and he sustained a minor head injury.

As tensions escalated, Burton called the police, despite her pleas not to. The docuseries claims that Flack, who had long dealt with mental health struggles, told a friend that she harmed herself after the police were notified.

Days after the incident, Flack stepped down as host of *Love Island. *She faced a storm of online abuse, even as Burton publicly defended her, claiming she'd become the subject of a "witch hunt."

She was later charged with assault, despite Burton not supporting the prosecution. Flack pleaded not guilty. The day before her hearing, Flack took to Instagram and shared that she was struggling. "This is the worst time of my life," she wrote, per Sky News. "I don't [know] where to go to. Where to look. Who to trust. Or who I even am."

In the docuseries, a friend recalls finding the TV host extremely unwell and distressed. Flack had allegedly "drank the minibar dry" and had taken "whatever tablets were there in the hotel room that had been prescribed to her." Fearing for Flack's life, the friend claims to have sought medical advice and was able to help Flack expel some of the medication.

At the hearing, the court released Flack on bail, with strict instructions not to contact Burton. She was set to stand trial on March 4, 2020.

What happened to Caroline Flack?

Caroline Flack celebrates the 90th Anniversary of JW Marriott Grosvenor House London on April 30, 2019 in London.

David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty

On Feb. 15, 2020, Flack died by suicide at age 40. Her family confirmed to the BBC that she was found dead in her London home. "We can confirm that our Caroline passed away today, the 15th of February," the family said in a statement. "We would ask that the press respect the privacy of the family at this difficult time and we would ask they make no attempt to contact us and/or photograph us."

In August 2020, coroner Mary Hassell highlighted the immense stress Flack endured in the months leading up to her death. Hassell argued, "Although [Flack's] general fluctuating [mental] state was a background and important in her death, I find the reason for her taking her life was she now knew she was being prosecuted for certainty, and she knew she would face the media, press, publicity — it would all come down upon her."

Many, including Flack's management, criticized the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) for pursuing the prosecution. "The Crown Prosecution Service pursued this when they knew not only how very vulnerable Caroline was but also that the alleged victim did not support the prosecution and had disputed the CPS version of events," read a statement from Francis Ridley of Money Talent Management (per the *Independent*). "The CPS should look at themselves today and how they pursued a show trial that was not only without merit but not in the public interest. And ultimately resulted in significant distress to Caroline."

Caroline Flack attends an exclusive dinner hosted by Gizzi Erskine to celebrate the launch of her new book 'Slow: Food Worth Taking Time Over' at Home House on Oct. 16, 2018 in London.

David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty

CPS shared a statement with the producers of the docuseries. "Caroline's death was a tragedy and our thoughts remain with her friends and family as they continue to come to terms with their loss and the circumstances that led to her death," reads the statement. "All decisions in this case were made on the basis of the medical opinion available to us at the time. A person's celebrity status never influences whether a case is taken forward. We are satisfied that the prosecution was correctly brought."

A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police added, "It is understandable that those closest to Caroline have questions about everything that happened to her in the months before she died, including the police investigation. We have been open to those questions and have engaged with a number of independent reviews and an inquest. While there was organizational learning for us on points of process, no misconduct has been identified."

Where can I watch Caroline Flack: Search for the Truth?

*Caroline Flack: Search for the Truth *is now streaming on Hulu.

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