this is bbc news. i martine croxall. the headlines at 7pm. the love island presenter, caroline flack, has been found dead at her london flat. the ao—year—old had been due to stand trial next month for assault. a lawyer for her family has confirmed that she took her own life. tributes have begun to flood in. itv this morning presenter phillip schofield wrote: "you poor darling girl. my heart is breaking." claudia winkleman tweeted: "such heartbreaking news." troops are deployed to west yorkshire as heavy rain and strong winds batter parts of the uk. forecasters predict a months worth of rain in some places. dozens of flood warnings are in place across britain. the first death from coronavirus in europe is recorded in france. people returning to beijing risk punishment if they don't go into quarantine for m days.

good evening, welcome to bbc news. caroline flack, the former itv and love island host, has been found dead in her london flat, her family have confirmed. she was due to stand trial on the 4th of march accused of assaulting her boyfriend. ms flack began presenting love island in 2015, having fronted a series of the x factor, and winning strictly come dancing in 2014. she stood down from the dating show after she was charged with assaulting her partner lewis burton in december. many celebrities are now paying tribute

to the presenter. amber davies, a former contestant on love island, the show that caroline flack presented said.. fellow presenter davina mccall, also one of the biggest names in tv, she says: ‘i'm so so sad to hear about caroline flack. i don't even know what to say. but my heart goes out to her friends and family x i might be a bit quiet tonight on social media .. just doesn't seem right." dan walker, the presenter of bbc breakfast, he says: ‘awful news about caroline flack. we really need to be better at taking care of each other. so sad.‘ our correspondent helena wilkinson with me — what more can you tell us? we have had confirmation of this news that caroline flack the hugely popular television presenter has been found dead at the age of a0. we've now had news that she took her own life at her flat. we have had a

statement from her family. in that statement from her family. in that statement they have said and it is pretty brief as you would expect given the circumstances of what has happened, her family has said given the circumstances of what has happened, herfamily has said "we can confirm that our caroline passed away today the 15th of february. we would ask that the press respect the privacy of the family at this difficult time, and we would ask they make no attempt to contact us and or photograph us." we have also in the last 15 minutes or so a statement from itv. caroline flack of course used to present the itv2 programme love island. however she stepped down from the studio separate she was arrested late last year. but in that statement, and itv spokeswoman has said "everybody at wealth island and itv is shocked and saddened by this desperately sad news. caroline was a much loved member of the love island team and oui’ member of the love island team and our sincere thoughts and condolences are with her family and friends." a

huge number of tributes to her of course. she was a huge popular television presenter. but she had a trial hanging over her. she was arrested in december of last year and she was facing one allegation of assault, assaulting her boyfriend. she appeared in court a couple of days before christmas on december the 23rd. she faced a magistrate at high berry magistrates‘ court to face a charge. she pleaded not guilty to that charge. in the public gallery a while that hearing was taking plate was her boyfriend lewis burton who is 27 and he did not agree with the prosecution. he did not want his girlfriend to be prosecuted. he wanted that case to be dropped against her. but as part of her bail conditions, she wasn‘t allowed any contact at all with her boyfriend until this upcoming trial which was listed for march the 3rd

was in about three weeks‘ time or so. was in about three weeks‘ time or so. i think one word really tonight, shocked at this news that caroline flack at the age of a0 has been found dead at her flat in flack at the age of a0 has been found dead at herflat in london stop what you were at that hearing on december the 23rd at highbury magistrates‘ court and it was incredibly pressurised for her even at that point. yes, it was a pretty short hearing two days before christmas the 23rd of december, she had to make her way out of the car and walking to the court building. as she walked up, she was surrounded as you would imagine by a huge number of photographers, paparazzi, camera ci’ews, number of photographers, paparazzi, camera crews, all trying to get a picture of caroline flack because she is a household name and in this case, generated a huge amount of public interest. she clearly found that incredibly difficult because when she got into that quartz building, she went through the

security barriers and she just burst into tears. you could see the pressure, she then went into court, stood in the dock and as the case was laid out against her by the prosecution, there were times where she burst into tears, she would cry, she burst into tears, she would cry, she would look back at her boyfriend who was in the public gallery. it was very clear that it was a difficult process for her and she did have that trial, and she had that child that she was facing on march the 3rd that was listed for a day and a half. important to point out that she pleaded not guilty at that hearing just before christmas. a huge amount of scrutiny of caroline flack on social media and herfamily as caroline flack on social media and her family as well during a very pressurised time. a presenter who took overfor pressurised time. a presenter who took over for caroline flack on the winter series of love island was borrow whitmore. she took over because caroline flack stood down

from that while she was awaiting this court hearing that took place that helena was talking about due to plate —— take place on march the ath. laura whitmore has tweeted... she has followed it there with a broken hearted emoji. a huge number of tributes as helena was insane. we would hear from helena of tributes as helena was insane. we would hearfrom helena in a little while. helena, thank you for the moment though. well, a short time ago i spoke to the tv critic, scott ryan, and asked him why caroline flack was such a popular presenter? many people have pointed out she was incredibly sweet and genuine and really kind in person and that she would essentially was incredibly approachable. i think when you are oi'i approachable. i think when you are on reality tv, you do meet a lot of people in the line of your work. and i think it is a very intimate media where you are able to have a close

relationship with a lot of the contestants are a lot of the people behind the camera as much as in front of the camera and i think it is the real wide shock of sources and the surprise to lots of people in terms of what has been reported this evening in terms of the fact that we don't know what is going out with some of the te macro generally in theirown with some of the te macro generally in their own way. and i think it is really important about seeking out help for people with mental health following this news this evening from what they have seen. we know of course that she had been presenting love island, she stepped down from presenting that show after she was alleged to have assaulted her boyfriend of lewis burton at her then flat which was in north london in december. she had entered a not guilty plea to the assault charge at high berry court, a magistrates' court and she was released on bail

with conditions that stopped her from having any contact with lewis burton ahead of a trial. —— highbury court. and of course scott ryan who is with us, the television critic, a very well— known from presenting love island. but also she did when strictly come dancing as well, didn't she, which would show would have brought her also to a different audience? absolutely, she had been so audience? absolutely, she had been so successful on strictly come dancing. but also she has... she was presenting on the x factor, she has been an itv2 for many years and she has also started out on cbbc as a kids presenter. write back from, relief, the fame academy in 2008. the fact that she has been so widely seen by many people, love island is

not a show that is typical for itv2 viewers, particular young viewers that have been seen incredibly wide with a large suresh of the public as long as a strictly with a family audience that machine has been widely known by a lot of people and this is such a shock because everyone knows who caroline flack is. tv critic scott ryan. i‘m joined by the entertainment journalist, caroline frost... what a toxic story this is turned into. just horrendous when you think of everything that love island is supposed to be which is fun, glamour, romance, sunshine, beautiful people and at the centre of it such a fitting sort of a bully a beauty into houses caroline flack, the central reason as why they show is enjoyed such a successful reboot. she said for in so seamlessly,

hosted, have fun, and be good but the contestants... and you look at what became an increasingly pressurised personal life coming in today‘s news. and you realise not in gold... you hear how she was generous, kind and funny she was in tributes. she had an extraordinary career that had gone on for years and years. she was not one of these per centres who is a flash in the pan, she started often cbbc with sam and mark. she did i'm a celebrity on the side of that, the xtra factor... she won strictly come dancing in 201a. she has been one of those centralfigures. we do not 201a. she has been one of those central figures. we do not have 201a. she has been one of those centralfigures. we do not have many women who are in those roles and yet she seemed to do it effortlessly on screen at least. and i think there will be many people for whom this will be many people for whom this will be many people for whom this will be a huge is shock because such afamiliar will be a huge is shock because such a familiar presence on screen and of

course yes, she had her tales and become as famous as she had a string of very famous equally high—profile boyfriends but she wrote about it, she has already had an autobiography out that those you the time she has spent in the public eye. and she said she did not go out with any more chaps than any other single theory attractive young woman of her age particular is someone as in demand as her. but i guess pressure as we have seen so many times with too many of these stories, there is a chasm between the public persona and all of the glamour that we want to associate with these shows and their stars and the pressures and their stars and the pressures and the personal demons of the going along side and windows clash and the intention is so huge and so in demand, that can turn into a negative currency with upon consequences. “— negative currency with upon consequences. —— and the attention is so huge. jonathan ross has said he had been in touch with caroline flack recently and he added in a message on twitter "i am very sad to

hear that karen fact is dead..." —— caroline flack. what is so wonderful and so set and makes it all the worse is so many people like her that you saw on tv was the real thing, a genuine person. she looked younger than her yea rs. a0 person. she looked younger than her years. a0 is no or that are, she was younger, petite, she was always smiling and very funny on suite ten macro screen, and inclusive would be how you describe her hostess out, she did not hog the limelight and wa nted she did not hog the limelight and wanted to be and all of the steams and she sure the joke rather than still the best lines for herself. and i think her career could have gone onto even more interesting things. she had already done her time and all those big shows. she could handle anything and there aren‘t that many people who can do that. so yes i mean the tv world and whatever she wanted to do in the entertainment industry would carry

on being her oyster site but if that is not the real person your single use and get found out, once you? it is quite unforgiving, that kind of scrutiny on screen and off and i think she has proved yourself. the fa ct think she has proved yourself. the fact that she wasn‘t such a popular winner of strictly in 201a, she won with a maximum score, shejust seemed to have it all. and of the great tricks is to make it look effortless and that is something she achieved as well. you hear these terribly sad stories that are coming out today and you just realise that there is a lot more work and that there is a lot more work and that there is a human who is toiling away at the centre of all of that. she had to disappear from social media it seems. she was not really posting things on twitter or even instagram which would have been very sad for herfans of which would have been very sad for her fans of course. but she was keeping her head down. which was wise. and waiting for this try to get through on march the ath which we have said, her boyfriend lewis

burton who she is alleged to have assaulted said he didn‘t want the charges pressed or this case to be brought. these are the pictures from december the 23rd when she was leaving highbury magistrates‘ court. we heard from helena wilkinson over corresponded talking about that and as you can see the incredible interest from the media as she was trying to leave that preliminary hearing at the magistrates‘ court ahead of the child that was due to ta ke ahead of the child that was due to take place in about three weeks‘ time. —— ahead of the trial. we have had a lot of tributes from people in the public eye as well who will understand the kind of pressure is that you can be under when you are insta ntly that you can be under when you are instantly recognise. i think there are two things to say about that. we hope that we want to have to imagine the pressure of having to go through a high—profile courtroom appearance like that and you can imagine it can be herfriend us anyway

like that and you can imagine it can be her friend us anyway and then for it to be happening with so many flashbulbs in your face it to be happening with so many flashbulbs in yourface knowing it to be happening with so many flashbulbs in your face knowing you are the centre so much speculation, so much scrutiny, so much interest, that would have added untold pressure that i think you can imagine how awful it would be anyway without being a public figure. but also mentioning social media, social media for the most part was her friend. as you say her fans reached out to her, she was on instagram only on thursday two short days ago posting a picture of yourself i think with her pet dog for subject at 130,000 likes. so when in the wind is blowing well, it is a wonderfulforce of wind is blowing well, it is a wonderful force of support of affection but of course those eye balls affection but of course those eyeballs don‘t go away. that does mean that those people are always there clamouring to know what is going on in your life and perhaps on the days that you are not feeling it your best, then that scrutiny and that attention must all be adding to u ntold that attention must all be adding to untold pressure. it is a sad tale. susanna reeves, i tv presenter tweeted "my heart is absolutely

broken for subsequent 130,000 likes. so when the wind is blowing well, it isa so when the wind is blowing well, it is a wonderfulforce so when the wind is blowing well, it is a wonderful force of support of affection but of course those eye balls affection but of course those eyeballs don‘t go away. that does mean that those people are always there clamouring to know what is going on in your life and perhaps on the days that you are not feeling at your best, then thatt the days that you are not feeling at your best, then that t scrutiny and that attention must all be adding to u ntold that attention must all be adding to untold pressure. it is a sad tale. susanna reeves, itp presenter tweeted "my heart is absolutely broken for and everyone who else are." —— that she said she wanted to talk with the impacts that scrutiny had had on her and the family and then seemed to withdraw from that and it seemed to change her mind and now herfamily and it seemed to change her mind and now her family very much are asking to be left alone. you really do hope that everybody just she to be left alone. you really do hope that everybodyjust she had broken her self—imposed blackout that she said she wanted to talk with the impact that scrutiny had had on her and the family and then seemed to withdraw from that and it seemed to change her mind and herfamily very much are asking to be left alone. you really do hope that everybody just takes to think very aware sitting here that we cannot cross that line. to my mind, this is a story as an entertainmentjournalist about the scrutiny of public figures and if there is anything we can do better to support all people including people as we have seen, these reality tv shows, they are chequered stories of both glamour and ambition and dreams coming true for some. at untold pressure i feel very aware sitting here that we

cannot cross that line. to my mind, this is a story as an entertainment journalist about the scrutiny of public figures and if there is anything we can do better to support all people including people as we have seen, these reality tv shows, they are chequered stories of both glamour and ambition and dreams coming true for some. but untold pressure and a lot of personal cost is at the root of them as well. i wa nt to is at the root of them as well. i want to stay very much on this line of discussing it. you can only guess at anything about that. but in terms of the pressure on these rowdy tv co ntesta nts, of the pressure on these rowdy tv contestants, somebody said to me as social media of course i, every personal story is so personal that you don‘t want to venture into what might somebody behave in a happy or sad way. i don‘t want to claim to know anything about that. but in terms of the pressure on these rowdy tv contestants, somebody said to me is social media of course i have share ofjust talk is social media of course i have share of just talk about this today, that the contestants, they do not know any better but surely the professionals do. and i say to that but imagine what does this tell you if even of the show, a two will will is finding it so hard to cope with the scrutiny. it makes you realise that to be in any way participating in it, i think everybody has to take stock both as somebody wanting to go into that sort of show and take part of it in anyway but also assists observers. two words, be kind for some caroline frost, thanks for much for coming entertainment industry

vetera n for coming entertainment industry veteran if you will will is finding it so hard to cope with the scrutiny. it makes you realise that to be in any way participating in it, i think everybody has to take stock both as somebody wanting to go into that sort of show and take part of it in any way but also assists observers. two words, be kind for some caroline frost, thanks for much for you are watching bbc news. 19 minutes past seven.. the army have been called in to help shore up flood defences across west yorkshire, with large parts of the uk expected to be hit by severe rain and wind from storm dennis. the regular troops and reservists have been deployed to ilkley and calderdale. the highways agency has warned of hazardous driving conditions and north wales police has urged people not to go out unless it‘s absolutely neccessary. matches in the scottish premiership at rangers and motherwell have been called off. there are more than 250 flood warnings and alerts in place across the uk. and wind speeds are forecast to reach 70mph along coastlines. there is also travel disruption with british airways and easyjet cancelling flights across the country. with easyjet confirming they have cancelled 23a flights in and out of the uk. phil bodmer is in hebden bridge in

west yorkshire for us this evening. no need to ask what the conditions are like. we can see it behind you feel. what are people doing to protect their properties? martin it is as you say an absolutely filthy night here in the calder valley. this is hebden bridge, we have been talking to a bar understanding and his cafe all night and invited us and where it is warm at least. he was flooded this time last weekend although the business is close tonight, he says he is going to stay in there all night and just watch the water. this is hebden water which runs into the river calder about half a mile downstream from where i am standing now. i have to tell you, that fast flowing water has risen several inches in the last hour and has risen several inches in the last hourand a has risen several inches in the last hour and a half or so. that gives you some idea of the amount of water now down off the steep side valley that follows in through the calder valley in places like my thin droid and also down to salisbury bridge. this is where the problems have been

because in the last week or so. more than 1100 properties across the valley martin flooded this time last week. and where i‘m standing now, i would be wasted deep in water. at the moment the level is contained but local people tell us that this watcher under flood conditions will rise very quickly. that is why some of the people behind me, you cannot see them, are staying in their shops, their businesses, and they are waiting, watching, and hoping that those scenes of last week are not repeated. but i have to tell you, the wind is getting up, it is gusty and it seems the storm dennis is now beginning to throw everything it can at us. we were hearing after storm ciara last week this is the last thing that some parts of the country really needed. indeed so, andi country really needed. indeed so, and i think people cannot believe it is happening all over again. and this is one of those areas in the amber weather warning for parts of scotland, wales and the southwest of england. we are hearing and we are going to check this out a little

later on that burnley road going up towards todd minton in the west, thatis towards todd minton in the west, that is now under flood. national rail have also told us tonight that train services between hebden bridge and rochdale heading into lancashire are suspended. i have to say there are suspended. i have to say there are not many people around tonight. i think people who live locally are watching and waiting but even visitors have decided to stay indoors where it is warm, dry, and save and maybe not venture out tonight. we talked to a local bar owner who said he is going to shut up owner who said he is going to shut up shop early sippy because there we re up shop early sippy because there were no customers around tonight for some the advice is perhaps people taking heat if that is a stay indoors which is perhaps the best thing to do. phil, thank you very much. do take care and i hope that people heed all those warnings. keep out of the way as you can hear, the advice you can see why. that is phil bodmer and hebden bridge. 0ur weather presenter chris fawkes is here. and simon calderfrom the

independent,. let‘s start with chris, the details of what the weather has been like today. we can see it coming, that huge weather system coming over from see it coming, that huge weather system coming overfrom the see it coming, that huge weather system coming over from the east coast of america. this is storm dennis, a deep area of low pressure. something at 125 millibars, a very powerful storm. today has brought widespread ran across all areas of the uk with an area particularly heavy rain going across north wales in north england at the moment. we had a custom point of 91 miles an hourin had a custom point of 91 miles an hour in the last or so around abby darren in the north—west of wales. i think the rains will ease across northern england tonight but of course that does not take into account what has fallen through today on ground that was already saturated after storm ciara. 0r today on ground that was already saturated after storm ciara. or that will be running down the weather —— river catchments. we could see for the proms even as weather improves across england. i think the worse is to come across wales, the west

midlands in south—west england overnight. that is where i am really worried about. let us talk about thatis worried about. let us talk about that is second but speak to simon about where the biggest problems have been today travel wise. let's just check with the railways and the we st just check with the railways and the west brom is hebden bridge road just hearing from phil. they stop trains from 5pm across to rochdale that will continue until tomorrow monday. we st coa st will continue until tomorrow monday. west coast mainland was blocked because of flooding in cambria, and a tree blocking the line between birmingham and none each and for some fortunately fewer fine chaplains than there were last weekend when the cause all sorts of mayhem on the transfers of —— of flying trampolines. the promise in the skies, 234 flight flying trampolines. the promise in the skies, 23a flight cancellations uneasyjet, the skies, 23a flight cancellations uneasy jet, another 118 tomorrow. that represents tens of thousands of people many of them families going on half term holidays. —— on easyjet. ski resorts to the alps, ca nary

easyjet. ski resorts to the alps, canary islands easyjet. ski resorts to the alps, ca nary islands who easyjet. ski resorts to the alps, canary islands who sippy cannot go there. lots of cancellations at gatwick with hebrew and british airways. we had the first two diversions into gatwick. if you have friends coming in from barcelona on the share is, they are going to heathrow. if you have friends coming in from rome into gatwick, they are in paris. what about the fairies? they have had a bumpy old day in every sense. in dover to calais, they have been... the fts has focused on dunkirk and across the irish sea it has been all over the place. lots of cancellations into ways and we have seen pretty much all of the fairies on the western isles either cancel or run it with severe delays. —— all the ferries on the i'll. you wouldn't want to be on both of these conditions. chris you are worried about aspects of the system overnight for some tell us what is like it to happen tomorrow stop at a slow moving parts of the weather system going across wales,

south wales in south—west bedminster night... connect that will bring pulses of heavy rain. you have 45 flood warnings and ingrid and forceful cycle neck another six in wales and keep going up hour by hour and 20 in scotland. this extra rain is going to make problems overnight. things will get a lot worse as the rain will be heavier overnight than it has been during the day today. and then tomorrow, we get stronger winds going through the english channel. if we are talking about ferries, that could be where bc disruption there. and then through sunday night, it will get even stronger winds going into sunday night. 70—80 mouse so this is a multiple day storm system. it will not be until monday until things calm down and see how bad things have got. we had to get there tomorrow as you say. if people are due to get there tomorrow as you say. if people do travel tomorrow, what are their chances and obviously all of those fights which have been cancelled, what can they do?m all of those fights which have been cancelled, what can they do? it is tricky, 118 easyjet cancellations that represents getting on for

20,000 people. they are going to have to find seats on other flights, very important to stress and i know a lot of people will be watching from various airport hotels wishing there were somewhere else tonight that the airline has to get you to your destination if they can offer your destination if they can offer you a fight the same day they have to look around and find a seat on other airlines. if they do not do that, then you can buy one and claim the money back for some british airways has also cancelled 20 fights tomorrow and an out of heathrow for some all these are proactive cancellations as chris was saying. strong winds and you have the busiest runway in the world that airport and the busiest two in heathrow, then you have to reduce the numberof heathrow, then you have to reduce the number of flights. —— the business firmly in the world in gatwick. 0n the runs ways the same messages last sunday, if you do not need to travel, than a good idea not to try and a lot of train operators sing your ticket will be valid on monday and on the britney ferries

will be trying to get to france...|j would will be trying to get to france...” would not go anywhere if i did not have to. a lot of people would simon calder thanks for coming in. chris fox, thank you for coming in. and for the latest information on storm dennis in your area, you can find more on your local bbc 0nline pages or tune into your local radio station. now it‘s time for a look at the weather with darren. storm dennis is arriving and the rain has been moving in as well and we will find river levels rising too. it is heading between scotland and iceland deepening rapidly which is why the winds have been strengthening and all that cloud has been bringing with it outbreaks of rain too. it is the rain that may well have the greater impact. these are the amber rain warnings for the met office covering their hills. we lose that warning in southern scotla nd lose that warning in southern scotland tomorrow is the wetter weather moves southwards and we pick up weather moves southwards and we pick up an amber rain when he for the dance in the south—east with the

heaviest of the rain likely to be over mid and south wales in the hills. and we have seen a lot of rain here already, rain covering the whole of the uk, not as wet for the eastern side of england but it will be windy everywhere, wiley 50—60 mph, more in westend around the coast. what you‘re weather arriving in the north—west of scotland, squally and thundery towards the end of the day, temperatures in double figures. find after that downpour inched scotland under the arm, thundershowers overnight... mainly affecting england and wales and develops widely again. heavy rain over the wheels in the west threatening some further flooding as well. it does turn colder in scotla nd well. it does turn colder in scotland and northern ireland with the showers and wintry over the hills the very mild, exceptionally across england and wales. a wet and windy start to tomorrow. that rain band than edges down towards the south—east and things may calm down for a little bit but there is lots of showers packing in from the north—west again wintry over the high ground in scotland. the winds

during the day probably easing off a touch for england and wales. not as windy, but the stronger winds will push back into scotland and northern ireland. those temperatures will be dropping away as we lose that wetter weather and introduce the showers, introducing colder air, so scotland and northern ireland only six or 7 degrees. and here is we at the centre of storm dennis, we get closer to sunday evening and sunday night, we may well find a squeeze in the winds gusting 70 or 80 mph in the winds gusting 70 or 80 mph in the north of scotland. as we move into monday itself, the storm tend to head away. strong to gale forest to head away. strong to gale forest to west to south—westerly winds, that brings sunshine and showers, may be some longer spells of rain that will continue into tuesday as well.