NEW Love Island host Laura Whitmore has paid tribute to troubled Caroline Flack as she prepares to replace her on the ITV2 show. Laura, 34, said Caroline had been “incredibly gracious” since she quit after being charged with assaulting boyfriend Lewis Burton. In an exclusive interview, Laura told The Sun: “I know she’s got a […]
NEW Love Island host Laura Whitmore has paid tribute to troubled Caroline Flack as she prepares to replace her on the ITV2 show.
Laura, 34, said Caroline had been “incredibly gracious” since she quit after being charged with assaulting boyfriend Lewis Burton.
In an exclusive interview, Laura told The Sun: “I know she’s got a strong network of people around her who are supporting her throughout all of this.
“She has been incredibly gracious and supportive of me taking on the role for the winter series.
“She’s a brilliant host and I just hope that I can give the role the justice it deserves while she is taking some time off.”
The Irish star is said to be earning £500,000 for deputising for Caroline, 40, who stepped down after cops were called to her London home after she allegedly hit Lewis, 26, with a lamp while he slept.
Former I’m A Celebrity spin-off host Laura flies to South Africa today to present the first winter edition of the show, which starts on Sunday.
But she says it was her boyfriend Iain Stirling, 31 — the voiceover for the hit dating show — who she first consulted about taking the plum job.
Laura said: “When I initially got the call, I had a conversation with Iain. It’s his show. I said, ‘How would you feel about it?’ We both agreed straight away.”
Bookies have priced Laura at 1/50 to host the summer series too, which will air just months after Caroline faces court in March.
But Laura is just trying to “get through” the next six weeks of the winter show.
She added: “I haven’t thought about it in a wider context, other than let’s enjoy the show.
“It’s cold and dark and miserable outside and it’s a perfect time in the schedule to have a show like this.”
