Strictly Come Dancing airs tribute to Caroline Flack as fans left heartbroken: ‘She lit up the ballroom’

Caroline Flack won Strictly in 2014 (Picture: BBC)

Strictly Come Dancing has shared a heartbreaking tribute to Caroline Flack.

The Love Island host, who tragically died in February this year, won the show in 2014, lifting the Glitterball trophy with her partner Pasha Kovalev.

In the retrospective of Strictly, looking back at highlights from the past 16 years, the final episode closed with a poignant tribute to the Love Island presenter.

Viewers were shown the late presenter’s incredible showdance to Robbie Williams’ Angels with Pasha and the moment the pair won the series.

Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly introduced the tribute, after remembering the champions they’ve seen over the years.

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‘We’ve had some spectacular dancers and incredible champions over the years,’ Tess said, with Claudia adding: ‘But there is one who stands out amongst them all.

‘In 2014 she became the first celebrity to receive a perfect 40 for every single performance in the final.’

‘And she lit up the Strictly ballroom every single week,’ Tess reflected. ‘It is, of course, Caroline Flack.’

‘I love Caroline, she was such fun,’ Bruno Tonioli said. ‘Great to be with, I mean she really was a joy.’

Janette Manrara added: ‘Caroline Flack, whenever she was around you, you couldn’t help but smile and laugh.’

Janette went on to hail her as: ‘One of the best dancers we’ve ever had come into Strictly Come Dancing.’

Caroline and Pasha lifted the coveted Glitterball trophy (Picture: PA)

‘She can turn her hand to any style of dance and be incredible,’ Craig Revel Horwood recalled. ‘To perform three dances in the final to that level is phenomenal.’

‘Watching her do that showdance and just how beautiful she looked in white is a memory I’m going to hold really close to my heart forever and ever,’ Janette added as she fought back tears.

Speaking about Caroline’s win, Janette recalled: ‘There was just something about Caroline that night. She was beaming and so for it to just culminate in that one moment…what an amazing moment for her.’

Viewers were heartbroken by the tribute (Picture: BBC)

‘We will always love Caroline and we will never forget her,’ added Bruno, before blowing a kiss to the camera and a smiling: ‘We love you, my love.’

Pasha said winning Strictly with the presenter was ‘incredible’ and stressed lifting the Gitterball trophy with Caroline ‘will always hold a special place in my heart’.

Viewers were left heartbroken by the tribute, with Rylan Clark-Neal tweeting: ‘Just watched the tribute on strictly to flack. Was lovely. Been an awful year for so many but let’s not forget flack amongst it. A diamond x’.

Another viewer said: ‘This was my most favourite episode of #Strictly ever. A fitting, most moving tribute to Caroline Flack on #WorldMentalHealthDay’.

‘Something incredibly poignant seeing Caroline Flack looking so vibrant & happy on #Strictly tonight,’ another added.

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One more said: ‘Watching Caroline Flack on #strictly has made me feel so sad. What a waste of a beautiful life.’

More: Strictly Come Dancing

At the time of her win, Caroline said: ‘This has been the best experience of my whole life, mostly because of Pasha, but also because of the other contestants. I’m so lucky to get to know this incredible bunch of people.’

Pasha recently appeared on Lorraine as he looked back at his time with Caroline on the show – and he had nothing but fond memories.

‘I loved dancing with Caroline,’ he said. ‘I think we brought something very special to the show when we were competing, and I think she absolutely deserved winning that year because she put everything she possibly had in her heart on the dance floor. It was spectacular.’

Strictly Come Dancing returns on Saturday, October 17 at 7.50pm on BBC One.

MORE: First look at Strictly Come Dancing’s emotional Caroline Flack tribute revealed

MORE: Pasha Kovalev remembers Caroline Flack’s triumph on Strictly Come Dancing: ‘She gave everything she had in her heart’

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