Brother of late TV star Caroline Flack dies

Inquest opened into death of Paul Flack, who was found unresponsive at his Norwich home earlier this month

The brother of the late TV presenter Caroline Flack has died.

Paul Flack, 55, was found unresponsive at his home in Norwich on 21 June before later dying at the Norfolk and Norwich hospital, according to the Eastern Daily Press .

He was an artist and graphic designer and leaves behind his partner and two children.

After his sister’s death in 2020, Flack posted a childhood photograph of her on Instagram, writing: “This will be my last post here. May those who know feel shame for eternity. Love you Caroline.”

The tribute remained the final post on his Instagram account. He also appeared alongside his mother and sister in the 2021 documentary Caroline Flack: Her Life and Death, which explored the presenter’s life and mental health struggles and the events leading up to her suicide.

An inquest into his death was opened at Norfolk coroner’s court on Monday. The coroner, Yvonne Blake, told the hearing that further enquiries would be required before the circumstances surrounding his death can be fully established. The hearing was adjourned to 23 October.

Flack’s death comes six years after the loss of his younger sister, who presented many of UK television’s biggest reality shows and their spinoffs, from The X Factor to I’m a Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here Now! She also won the BBC show Strictly Come Dancing in 2014.

She was found dead in February 2020 aged 40 and a coroner later ruled she had taken her own life after learning that prosecutors were going to proceed with an assault charge.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) had recommended the former Love Island presenter receive a caution after an incident with her boyfriend, Lewis Burton. This was overturned, however, after an appeal from the Met, which instead charged her with assault by beating.

The force wwas ordered to apologise to Flack’s family after a review by the Independent Office for Police Conduct, which found there was not a “record of rationale” to appeal against the CPS decision.

Flack’s mother, Christine Flack, told the BBC she rejected the apology, while the Met said her arrest had been handled appropriately.

The tabloid press had repeatedly targeted Flack after her arrest for the alleged assault against her boyfriend, prompting her departure from Love Island.

Papers such as the Sun moved swiftly to delete negative coverage about Caroline Flack after her death.

In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on freephone 116 123. In the US, you can call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org . In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. Other international helplines can be found at befrienders.org