Olly Murs has received an outpouring of love and support after sharing an heartbreaking tribute to his friend Caroline Flack three years on from her tragic death. The Voice coach Olly, 38, posted a moving message on his Instagram with a gorgeous black and white photograph of the friends smiling together.
Olly and Caroline worked together on The X Factor's spin-off show, The Xtra Factor, before stepping up to present the main show together in 2015. Olly told how he misses his pal while saying today (Tuesday, February 15) is the "hardest day of the year" after "three years of pain" following her death.
Caroline, the popular host of Love Island, died by suicide on February 15, 2020 at the age of 40. Singer Olly, who shot to fame on the ITV talent show The X Factor in 2009, messaged: "Hardest day of the year 3 years of pain that never goes away but that smile and laughter I can still see and hear everyday! Miss ya Caz."
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Vicky Pattison told him: "Sending you loads of love mate." And Josh Cuthbert, who came fourth on the 2012 series of The X Factor with his band Triple J, said: "She will be forever missed. She was so lovely to me when I was on Xfactor. A pure soul."
In November Olly shared happy videos of the pair together on what would have been Caroline's 43rd birthday. Speaking to the Daily Star, the Troublemaker singer said last February: "God bless Caroline. I miss her every day and I think about her every day. I think about what I could have done to change things, what I could have said.
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"There are all sorts of questions I ask myself every day. It's always difficult." He added: "But there’s nothing I can do to bring her back. All I can do is keep living and keep her in my thoughts."
"If the music was on we was dancing! Happy birthday caz x," Olly penned alongside the video clips with a heart and sad face emoji. In September, fans were in tears as singer Olly delivered a sweet tribute to his late friend on The Voice.
The Essex-born singer took the microphone during the audition stages of the 2022 singing contest to perform in memory of Caroline. He told fellow coaches Sir Tom, Jones, Anne-Marie and Will-i.am that he was going to "pick a classic" song. He joked: "It's not one of my ones, obviously they're classics right?"
And he explained: "I'm going to sing this song, I want to dedicate to having you lot back. Also, I want to dedicate to my friend Caroline Flack." Olly then revealed his chosen song as the Neil Diamond classic Sweet Caroline, which has risen to prominence as England's football anthem.
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