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Laura Whitmore has shared the last text messages between her and Caroline Flack on the five-year anniversary of her death.

Flack, who was best known for presenting ITV’s Love Island, took her own life on 15 February 2020, aged 40.

The Irish TV presenter shared a photo of the pair together, along with a series of screenshots of their WhatsApp conversation, in which she told Flack she had been offered the Love Island presenting role.

In the messages, Flack said it was “perfect” that Whitmore would be doing the show alongside her husband Iain Stirling, who narrates the series, and followed up the message with a series of love hearts.

Flack hosted the reality dating show between 2015 and 2019. Whitmore took over in 2020. Maya Jama stepped into the role in 2023.

In her Instagram post, Whitmore, 39, said: “I got a new phone this month and as I was trying to download WhatsApp messages from my cloud loads of old messages came up.

“Ones I thought I lost a few years ago and no longer had. It really hit me hard.

“Looking at messages I’ve never publicly shared as they were private messages. Media outlets wrote a lot far from the actual truth.

“I think they show a side to Caroline which is nice to remember. Hence I’m sharing now.”

Caroline Flack attending the Virgin TV British Academy Television Awards 2018 held at the Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, London. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday May 13, 2018. See PA story SHOWBIZ Bafta. Photo credit should read: Ian West/PA Wire
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Pic: PA

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Whitmore said she had met Flack when she took over hosting duties for I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! NOW!.

“She was as supportive of me doing that role back then as she was when she supported me doing Love Island in 2020,” she said.

“Both were great shows with hundreds of people working on them and relying on the show going ahead.

“I will always be so thankful of the last messages between me and Caroline.”

She continued: “Every time I’ve been asked to speak about the situation or be part of a documentary I decline.

“I’ve already said all I can say on the tragedy and don’t want words to be misconstrued and need to look after my own mental health.

“This was the last correspondence I ever had with her.”

“The last message from her to me were love hearts,” she said.

“I’d like to think wherever she is now, she’s at peace and somewhere lovely like I hoped.

“I’m sad when I see the press and social media be so divisive and that we still haven’t learned from Caroline’s treatment before her death when it comes to women in the spotlight.

“Today I choose to remember these messages and thank the cloud for giving them back to me.”

Caroline Flack pictured on Valentine's Day. Pic: @molliegroz
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Caroline Flack pictured on Valentine’s Day 2020. Pic: @molliegroz

Flack’s family previously released an unpublished Instagram post she had written describing the stress of her arrest for common assault, while her former boyfriend Danny Cipriani also shared their final messages.

A friend also shared her “final photo” taken just hours before her death.

After Flack’s death a coroner ruled she took her own life after learning prosecutors were going to press ahead with an assault charge over an incident involving her boyfriend, Lewis Burton.

Born in Enfield, Flack got her first TV break playing Bubbles on comedy sketch show Bo Selecta alongside Leigh Francis, before fronting the International Pepsi Chart Show and moving on to Channel 4’s E4 Music.

She later hosted Big Brother’s Little Brother, I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here and X Factor, going on to win Strictly Come Dancing in 2014.

An upcoming Disney+ documentary follows Flack’s mother as she tries to understand events in the final months of her daughter’s life, while also celebrating her career.

Christine Flack unveiled a suicide prevention bench in north London last September in honour of her daughter.

Anyone feeling emotionally distressed or suicidal can call Samaritans for help on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org in the UK. In the US, call the Samaritans branch in your area or 1 (800) 273-TALK

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Oasis fans may have been misled, watchdog says as it calls for Ticketmaster changes

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Oasis fans may have been misled, watchdog says as it calls for Ticketmaster changes

Ticketmaster may have misled music fans over Oasis concert ticket prices, a competition watchdog investigation has found.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has urged the online platform to change the way it labels its tickets and provide better pricing information to fans.

The CMA has been investigating the site following widespread complaints about the sale of Oasis gig tickets last year, which saw over 900,000 tickets purchased through the site.

Screengrab taken from the Ticketmaster.ie website at 0804 of their virtual waiting room as Oasis fans across the UK and Ireland who missed out on pre-sale tickets will be attempting to secure their place at the band's reunion concerts during Saturday's general sale. Issue date: Saturday August 31, 2024.
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Over 900,000 tickets were purchased through the Ticketmaster site

Liam and Noel Gallagher announced the band would reunite for a tour in 2025, but fans suffered various problems when trying to get tickets, including some ending up paying as much as £355 for tickets originally advertised for £148 on Ticketmaster.

The controversy prompted the CMA to look at how ‘dynamic pricing’ – a form of surge pricing – may have been used, and whether the sale by Ticketmaster may have breached consumer protection law.

While the investigation is still ongoing, the CMA said it is “concerned” Ticketmaster may have breached consumer protection law.

It said the company labelled certain seated tickets as “platinum” and sold them for nearly two-and-a-half times the price of equivalent standard tickets, without explaining why they were more expensive.

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“This risked giving consumers the misleading impression that platinum tickets were better,” it said.

Noel and Liam Gallagher pictured a Wembley Stadium in 2008. Pic: Zak Hussein/PA
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Noel and Liam Gallagher pictured at Wembley in 2009 – the year the band broke up. Pic: PA

It also found Ticketmaster did not inform fans that there were two categories of standing tickets at different prices, and there was no evidence that it used dynamic pricing.

“Many fans were under the impression that Ticketmaster used an algorithmic pricing model during the Oasis sale, with ticket prices adjusted in real time according to changing conditions like high demand,” the watchdog said.

“The CMA has not found evidence that this was the case. Instead, Ticketmaster released a number of standing tickets at a lower price and, once they had sold out, then released the remaining standing tickets at a much higher price.”

Downing Street has said “everyone deserves a fair shot at getting tickets” for music and sport events.

Asked what message the prime minister had for fans affected by the Oasis sale, a Number 10 spokesman said: “In general terms, the chance to see your favourite musicians or sports teams live is something that all of us enjoy, and everyone deserves a fair shot at getting tickets.

“But for too long, fans have had to endure the misery of touts hoovering up tickets for resale at vastly inflated prices. We’ve also seen cases where a lack of transparency has meant customers have been caught unawares by last minute price rises for high demand events.”

The spokesman said there would be a full response to a consultation issued in due course.

At the time of the backlash, a spokesperson for Ticketmaster said: “Fans can resell their Oasis tickets at the full price they paid through Ticketmaster or Twickets.”

The gigs kick off this July in Cardiff, running until September when the band will perform two final Wembley Stadium shows.

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Laurence Fox charged with sexual offence

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Laurence Fox charged with sexual offence

Laurence Fox has been charged with a sexual offence, the Metropolitan Police have confirmed.

The charge, which has been brought under section 66A of the Sexual Offences Act 2003, relates to an image that was posted on social media in April last year.

The act makes it illegal to intentionally share sexual images of someone without their consent, with the aim of causing alarm, distress, or humiliation, or for sexual gratification.

Narinder Kaur reported the image to police last year. Pic: PA
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Narinder Kaur reported the image to police last year. Pic: PA

Presenter Narinder Kaur – who has waived her right to anonymity – alleges the image shows her as she got out of a taxi in 1996, and was taken without her knowledge and consent.

Kaur, 52, reported the image when it was shared online, triggering an 11-month investigation by the Metropolitan Police.

She has previously said she felt “violated, humiliated and degraded” by the incident.

Fox, 46, who has recently attempted to enter the world of politics, will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 24 April, where he is expected to enter a plea.

If convicted, he faces up to two years in prison and could be placed on the Sex Offenders Register.

The Metropolitan Police told Sky News in a statement: “A man has been charged with a sexual offence following an investigation by the Metropolitan Police.

“Laurence Fox, 46, will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 24 April charged with an offence contrary to section 66A of the Sexual Offences Act 2003.

“The charge relates to an image that was posted on social media platform in April 2024.”

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Oscar-winning Palestinian filmmaker Hamdan Ballal detained by Israeli military after being beaten up, say activists

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Oscar-winning Palestinian filmmaker Hamdan Ballal detained by Israeli military after being beaten up, say activists

An Oscar-winning Palestinian filmmaker has been held by the Israeli military in the occupied West Bank, according to activists.

Hamdan Ballal had earlier been beaten up by Israeli settlers who were among dozens who attacked the Palestinian village of Susya in the Masafer Yatta area and destroyed property, said the Centre for Jewish Nonviolence.

The activist group said Mr Ballal suffered a bleeding head in the assault, and as he was being treated in an ambulance, he and another Palestinian man were detained.

“We don’t know where Hamdan is because he was taken away in a blindfold,” said 28-year-old Josh Kimelman, who was at the scene.

Hamdan Ballal is detained in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Pic: Raviv Rose via AP
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Hamdan Ballal is detained in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Pic: Raviv Rose via AP

During the incident, around 10-20 masked settlers reportedly attacked Jewish activists with stones and sticks, smashing car windows and slashing tyres. One settler swung his fists at two activists before the pair rushed back to their vehicle, video provided by the Centre for Jewish Nonviolence showed.

The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said in a statement to Sky News that on Monday night “several terrorists hurled rocks at Israeli citizens, damaging their vehicles near Susya”.

The IDF also said a violent confrontation then broke out involving “mutual rock-hurling between Palestinians and Israelis at the scene”.

“IDF and Israeli Police forces arrived to disperse the confrontation, at this point, several terrorists began hurling rocks at the security forces,” according to the statement.

“In response, the forces apprehended three Palestinians suspected of hurling rocks at them, as well as an Israeli civilian involved in the violent confrontation. The detainees were taken for further questioning by the Israel police. An Israeli citizen was injured in the incident and was evacuated to receive medical treatment.

“Contrary to claims, no Palestinian was apprehended from inside an ambulance.”

Hamdan Ballal with fellow No Other Land filmmakers after their Academy Award success. Pic: AP
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(L-R) Basel Adra, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal and Yuval Abraham with their Oscars. Pic: AP

Best documentary

Mr Ballal is one of the co-directors of No Other Land which won the best documentary Oscar this year.

The film follows Masafer Yatta residents as they struggle to stop Israel’s army from demolishing their villages.

No Other Land has two Palestinian co-directors, Ballal and Basel Adra, both Masafar Yatta residents, and two Israeli directors, Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor.

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Hundreds of Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank in Israeli military operations during the Gaza war, and there has also been a rise in settler attacks on Palestinians.

There has also been a surge in Palestinian attacks on Israelis.

Red Cross office damaged

Meanwhile, in the southern Gazan city of Rafah, a Red Cross office was damaged by an explosive projectile.

The Israeli military said its forces fired at a building belonging to the charity after identifying suspects and sensing a threat.

But it admitted it had opened fire due to an incorrect identification.

“The structure’s ownership was unknown to the force at the time of the shooting,” the military added.

No one was injured, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross, which said the attack had a direct impact on its ability to operate.

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