Dermot O’Leary, Keith Lemon, Rylan and more gather to celebrate Caroline Flack’s life at Flackstock Festival-Emily Bashforth-Entertainment – Metro

Crowds gathered to honour the Love Island presenter (Picture: Getty/PA)

Caroline Flack’s friends, family and colleagues gathered together to celebrate her life with Flackstock Festival in Reading.

The likes of Rylan Clark, Dermot O’Leary, Keith Lemon and more turned up to show their support and to remember Flack fondly.

Also in attendance was Shaughna Phillips of Love Island, Strictly Come Dancing’s Janette Manrara and Aljaž Škorjanec, and Kimberly Wyatt of the Pussycat Dolls.

Held at Englefield House on July 25, Flackstock Festival was organised by Flack’s loved ones in her honour after she died by suicide in February 2020, aged 40.

Money raised from Flackstock will be split equally between four charities Choose Love, Mind, Samaritans and Charlie Waller Trust, all of which were special to the late TV presenter.

The Xtra Factor host’s mum Christine said she wanted to put on the event because ‘singing, dancing and most of all laughing’ where things her daughter loved to do the most.

Fellow X Factor host Dermot O’Leary showed up to honour Flack (Picture: Getty)

Rylan was all smiles as he enjoyed the comedy and live music (Picture: PA)

Close pal Dawn O’Porter wore a sparkly outfit to celebrate the presenter’s life (Picture: Getty)

‘My Caroline was never more herself or happier than at a music festival with her sister and her friends,’ she said.

‘Flackstock is the wonderful idea of those who knew her best and the perfect way to remember her singing, dancing and most of all laughing.’

In a bid to raise awareness of mental health issues, celebrity performers took to the stage at the event for live music and comedy.

Flack’s friend Keith Lemon took to the stage (Picture: PA)

Pussycat Doll Kimberly Wyatt donned her best festival gear (Picture: Getty)

Strictly’s Janette Manrara and Aljaž Škorjanec posed for a pic (Picture: Getty)

The Masked Singer’s Joel Dommett, Fleur East, Professor Green, Natalie Imbruglia, Paddy McGuinness, and close friend Dawn O’Porter were among those in the line-up.

Photos from the day show famous faces wearing big smiles as they enjoyed the live entertainment in an outdoor setting on a sunny day.

There was a McDonald’s van dishing out snacks, and VIP tents where friends and family could relax.

Love Island’s Shaughna Phillips posed outside the McDonald’s van (Picture: WireImage)

Louise Redknapp took to the stage to sing (Picture: WireImage)

The whole vibe of the festival looked super chilled, as members of the public took their own chairs and sat back to watch stars perform on big screens.

As well, a mural of Flack’s smiling face had been painted onto a wall, with space for anyone who wanted to to leave messages – many of them read, ‘Be kind’, a phrase that has become synonymous with Flack following her shock death.

A mural was painted on the wall for fans to leave messages (Picture: Getty)

Friends of Flack’s also took to social media to write tributes for her, including Louise Redknapp, who posted a selfie with the star, writing: ‘Today is for you, my girl’.

TV presenter Laura Jackson commented on her picture and wrote: ‘Ah she would love these pics! Sad to miss you all today, have fun for Carrie ❤️’.

Thanking those who made Flackstock possible, mum Christine added: ‘A big thank you to everyone involved for all their hard work – to Natalie for the mad idea, Giles Cooper Entertainment and Englefield House who saved the day, Live Nation and to all the brilliant sponsors.

Caroline Flack took her own life in February 2020 (Picture: ITV/REX)

‘My family are so proud that so many people who knew Carrie loved her so very much.’

Ian O’Reilly, head of community and events fundraising at mental health charity Mind, said: ‘Every donation that Mind receives through Flackstock will allow us to be there for even more people when they need us.

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‘This includes through services like the Mind Infoline, legal line and our online peer support community for adults, Side by Side.’

He said ‘the money will also enable us to continue to campaign to improve services and provide information and support.’

‘We are honoured to be involved’.

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