Olly Murs pays tribute to late friend Caroline Flack on 'hardest day of the year'

The singer shared an old photo of him and Flack to mark the anniversary of the day she died

Olly Murs and Caroline Flack arriving at the X Factor auditions held at Wembley Arena in London.
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.

Olly Murs said he could still hear Caroline Flack’s laughter as he paid tribute to her three years after her death.

The singer was close to Love Island host Flack - who took her own life in 2020 - and they co-presented the X Factor spin-off show, The Xtra Factor, in 2011 and 2012.

Marking the anniversary of her death, he shared a black and white image on Instagram that showed them facing each other and smiling.

Read more: Olly Murs tearful as he shares moving message from late friend Caroline Flack

“Hardest day of the year,” said the star.

“Three years of pain that never goes away but that smile and laughter I can still see and hear everyday!”

“Miss ya Caz,” Murs added.

Writer and TV star Dawn O’Porter also marked the anniversary, saying she would miss Flack “forever and ever and ever”.

“At this exact time three years ago I got the call,” she wrote on Instagram alongside an image of the late star.

LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 06:  Caroline Flack and Dawn O'Porter attend the launch of Dawn O'Porter's BOB pop up boutique at Seven Dials, with Caorunn Gin and anCnoc vinatage Whisky, Vidal Sassoon and  Smashbox on May 6, 2015 in London, England.  (Photo by Tristan Fewings/Getty Images for BOB By Dawn O'Porter)
Caroline Flack and Dawn O'Porter were friends. (Getty Images)

“Life changed forever.

"A switch turned off that would never go back on.

"A laugh that took up so much space went quiet.

"The sound of tiny feet faded away.

Caroline Flack poses for photographers upon arrival at the Glamour Woman of the Year Awards in London, Tuesday, June 7, 2016. (Photo by Joel Ryan/Invision/AP)
Caroline Flack died in 2020. (Invision/AP)

"Burgers and red wine felt sad. Karaoke was pointless. All the things that felt good, felt wrong.

"The world went mad."

The star said that "joy has made a comeback now, in a different way".

"We work harder to create it," she said.

"We can celebrate her greatness along with our sadness. We’re all doing our very best.

"But still all I want in the whole wide world is for my phone to flash with a message from ‘Flackster’ saying ‘none of that was real’."

Read more: Olly Murs completes charity trek in memory of 'very special' Caroline Flack

“Miss her loads every single day and always will forever and ever and ever," she went on.

Flack was found dead in her London flat on 15 February 2020, at the age of 40.

For confidential emotional support contact The Samaritans at any time by calling 116 123 or emailing jo@samaritans.org.

Watch: Olly Murs left shaken after being attacked by a peanut while performing at an 18th birthday party