REFLECTIONS ON WORKING WITH TRAGIC TV HOST

A NEW documentary on tragic television star Caroline Flack hit our screens yesterday. Airing exclusively on Disney+, Caroline Flack: Search For The Truth follows Caroline's mother Christine as she investigates the truth about her daughter's final months. Here, journalist MARK JEFFERIES reflects on the Caroline he knew...

- MARK JEFFERIES

Mum Christine with Caroline

CAROLINE Flack was the kind of celebrity who was always busy, but made time for journalists and helped me quite a few times.

Once, when we were together in New York for the X Factor in 2013, she had to speak to myself and another journalist.

Rather than give us our allotted 15 minutes, she stayed for lunch and after the work chat was out the way, we were free to talk about TV and have a bit of a gossip about other stuff going on at ITV.

Another time, around that period, I was at a private party thrown by Gary Barlow. She was there with a boyfriend but Harry Styles was also there.

They had split up but were clearly still good friends. At one point, Harry got behind the bar and was serving us all shots.

Caroline thought it hilarious that I couldn't write anything about it.

And then there were the early Love Island years. Caroline had found a show she loved and would tour the house with us before sitting down to chat.

I interviewed her on and off for around 15 years and I could call or message her for a favour. She once gave me the initials of a music star doing I'm a Celebrity, refusing to give me a full name as it felt like a betrayal, but teasing me enough to set a fun challenge.