Strictly Come Dancing viewers were deeply moved by a tribute to late TV presenter Caroline Flack, who was remembered in a special Christmas episode.
The programme, which aired on Christmas Day and marked the 25 best moments of the show, paid tribute to the former winner by revisiting her “beautiful” showdance, as well as her Charlseton.
Flack took her own life, aged 40, on 15 February.
Her death was ruled as a suicide. The coroner said she had experienced “fluctuating ill health” and had also been “distressed” over the trial she faced for the alleged assault of her boyfriend, Lewis Buron.
Her showdance, performed with professional partner Pasha Kovalev to Beverley Knight’s rendition of “Angels”, was praised by her fellow stars of the show as they reflected on her time on the contest.
Former winner Alesha Dixon said: “What was so beautiful about Caroline and Pasha's showdance is she was her authentic self within the dance, you could see her heart, you could see her passion.”
Judge Craig Revel Horwood said he believed it was the first time a contemporary dance had been done in “a beautiful and imaginative way”.
“In the dance Caroline managed to show her real emotions, and I think that's the key, why the audience could connect to it and feel exactly what was going on in the dance,” Kovalev said.
“The final dance was beautiful, I think at that point she really believed she is a dancer.”
Fans shared their feelings on Twitter, with one writing that she and her mother were in “floods” of tears at the tribute.
“Not a dry eye in the house watching Caroline Flack on Strictly Come Dancing, just heartbreaking,” another wrote.
“I was watching the Christmas Strictly Come Dancing, and my heart just broke again for beautiful Caroline Flack during her show dance to Angels. To anyone struggling today, please seek help,” one said.
If you or someone you know is struggling, you can get confidential support from the Samaritans 24 hours a day, 365 days a year on 116 123, or on their website samaritans.org.
