Caroline Flack quits Love Island after assault charge

The star said that standing down is "the best thing [she] can do" 
The Weekender

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Caroline Flack has announced that she is to stand down as the presenter of Love Island.

In a statement posted on Instagram, Flack said that she would not present the show's sixth season "in order to not detract attention" from the new series after she was arrested and charged with assault last week.

"There have been a significant number of media reports and allegations in regards to my personal life," she wrote.

"While matters were not as have been reported, I am committed to co-operating with the appropriate authorities and I can't comment further on these matters until the legal process is over.

Stepping down: Flack will not present the next series of Love Island
Instagram @carolineflack

"However, Love Island has been my world for the last five years, it's the best show on telly. In order to not detract from the upcoming series I feel the best thing I can do is to stand down for series 6. I want to wish the incredible team working on the show a fantastic series in Cape Town."

In a follow-up post, she said that she has "never experienced such kindness and love in my whole life, not just from friends and family who are always the greatest but also from total strangers who send messages to me offering help and understand."

"Please know that I see them," she wrote, adding: "And my boyfriend Lewis... I love you."

Caroline Flack - In pictures

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An ITV spokesperson told Standard Online: "ITV has a long standing relationship with Caroline and we understand and accept her decision. We will remain in contact with her over the coming months about future series of Love Island."

Flack was involved in an incident in north London in the early hours of Thursday (December 12) morning, according to the Metropolitan Police.

Officers were called to the scene in Islington at 5.25am after reports that a man was assaulted. He was not seriously injured.

She was charged with assault by beating on December 13 and is due to appear on bail at Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court on December 23.

Attention: Flack said she did not want to detract from the new series
Brett D. Cove / SplashNews.com

A London Ambulance spokeswoman said: "We were called yesterday (Thursday 12 December) at 5.28am to a residential address in Islington.

"We treated two people at the scene and took one person to hospital."

At the time, a spokesperson for Flack said in a statement: "We confirm that the police attended Caroline's home following a private domestic incident.

"She is co-operating with the appropriate people to resolve matters. We will not be making any further comment for legal reasons."

The 40-year-old has presented Love Island since ITV rebooted the popular dating show format in 2015. She has previously hosted The X Factor and its spin-off show, The Xtra Factor.

Love Island is set to return to ITV in January for its first ever winter edition, which will be filmed in Cape Town, South Africa

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