Love Island final: Tributes paid to Caroline Flack as winners are crowned
24 February 2020, 08:59
Thank you @LoveIsland for this beautiful tribute to Caroline and well done to @thewhitmore for getting through it ♥️
— Love Island 24/7 (@LoveIsland247) February 23, 2020
Caroline, we will always remember you. #LoveIsland #LoveIslandFinal pic.twitter.com/LB98HDkrDt
Love Island paid tribute to former host Caroline Flack last night as the winners of the first ever winter series of the show were crowned.
Presenter Laura Whitmore held back tears as she spoke about her close friend, who took her own life last weekend.
It comes as the contestants were told of Flack's death off camera before the live final on Sunday.
"The past week has been extremely difficult, coming to terms with the loss of our friend and colleague, Caroline," said Whitmore.
"Caroline loved Love Island. She loved love, and that's why tonight's final is dedicated to her.
"We're thinking of her family and everyone who knew her at this time," she continued.
A montage of Flack's time on the show was then played.
Flack was replaced by her friend Whitmore on the winter series of Love Island following the late star's arrest on an assault charge.
The former Love Island host was found dead at her rented flat last Saturday after taking her own life as she awaited trial for allegedly assaulting her boyfriend Lewis Burton, 27.
Following her death, two episodes were pulled from schedule. When the show returned, narrator Iain Stirling paid tribute to the presenter.
Last night, contestants Finley Tapp and Paige Turley won the first ever series of winter Love Island.
They beat fellow finalists Siannise Fudge and Luke Trotman, Luke Mabbott and Demi Jones, and Jess Gale and Ched Uzor to win £50,000.
After discovering they had won the public vote to be crowned the champions, Paige and Finn then had to decide whether to stick or split the cash prize.
They were asked by host Laura Whitmore whether this experience "was about love or money", and were each given an envelope - Paige's had the £50,000 prize, and Finn's had £0.
Paige, 22, then had to decide whether to keep the full prize for herself, or share it with Finn, 20.
She chose to share it with her partner, meaning they won £25,000 each.
Following their win, Finn joked: "How the f*** have I blagged that?"
Siannise and Luke T came in second place, while Luke M and Demi came in third place and Jess and Ched were fourth.
Earlier in the programme, Finn - a semi-professional footballer from Milton Keynes - had declared his love for Paige as the finalists made their declarations of love for each other.
Breaking down in tears in the pre-recorded segment, he said: "Paigey, I want you to know I love you."
Paige, a singer from West Lothian who previously dated chart-topping star Lewis Capaldi, told him: "You brought out a side to me that no-one has ever seen."
The final episode of the winter series of Love Island, which had taken place over six weeks and saw 32 islanders attempt to find love in the villa, also included clips of the finalists' last day together.
The girls were seen enjoying a spa day while the boys crafted their declarations of love.
They were also taught how to tango by professional dancers, a dance they would do later on while at the Love Island "prom".
This has been the first series to take place in winter and be filmed in South Africa.
During the finale, Whitmore confirmed the show would return to Mallorca for a new series this summer.
