Olly Murs shares heartfelt tribute to Caroline Flack after emotional Flackstock performance

Virgin Radio

23 Jul 2024, 07:52

Olly Murs has paid tribute to his friend and The X Factor co-star Caroline Flack after the third Flackstock festival took place on Monday (22nd July). 

The annual event brings stars from across music, comedy and dance to remember the TV presenter, who sadly died in 2020 aged 40. This year’s Flackstock, which took place at Englefield House in Berkshire, included performances from Tom Walker, Shaznay Lewis and Chesney Hawkes, and helped to raise money for mental health charities.

Singer Olly also hit the stage to celebrate Caroline, and prior to his set, he took to Instagram to share a touching tribute to his friend, uploading a number of videos of the late star singing over the years. 

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The Soccer Aid star wrote: “Been reminiscing a lot these last few weeks knowing Flackstock is today! Caz loved singing, we did it so much, didn’t always capture those moments on camera but I did capture them as memories which I’ll never forget. So I thought I’d put some of these clips on here that I found of her beautiful voice! 

“She sang more than me when I was around her. Today will be hard, it’s really odd feeling for me, I have this feeling of wanting to do this gig for her, for her family and for us to remember what a crazy funny kind mad hilarious woman she was but also feeling I’d rather this festival not be here, and that Caz was still here with us. I’ve never felt emotions like this before a gig!”

He continued: “Although hard this festival is a special event, which brings everyone together not just to celebrate her life but help those out there that are struggling too, the amazing charities that are involved in this can really help people. I’m honoured to be here and I know she will be drinking a pina colada tonight watching x miss ya caz.”

Fans rushed to share their love and support to Olly, with one commenting: “She’d be so proud of you and smiling at how your keeping her memory alive.”

Another penned: “Will never stop missing her beautiful presence in the world. thinking of you. she’s always going to be watching over you.”

Once Olly had finished off his Flackstock performance, he returned to social media to share a late-night Instagram Story, telling fans: “Wow, what a night tonight, I just wanted to come on here and say thank you to everyone that came to Flackstock."

"It was an emotional one tonight, the weirdest feeling this gig tonight, I've never had a feeling like it in all the years I've been performing. This is Caroline's festival, it's in her name, it's for her and her family and all the incredible charities. I was very emotional going into it but I just think that you guys pulled through for me. The fans were incredible tonight, thank you for the love, the support."

Olly and Caroline shared the stage as hosts of The X Factor’s Xtra Factor spin-off before presenting the main show in 2015. Prior to her death, Caroline was known for hosting the likes of Love Island and I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! NOW! and won Strictly Come Dancing in 2014.