Despite damning claims from her new man’s former girlfriend, Caroline’s going all in
Caroline Flack is breathing a sigh of relief after another wildly successful year of Love Island, but last week, her own dating life became just as dramatic as the reality show.
While it has only recently been revealed that Caroline is seeing a new man – 27-year-old model Lewis Burton – his ex-girlfriend has already spoken out against their relationship. Lauren Rose – who dated Lewis for six years – claimed that he was only "on the rebound" and "playing" both of them.
Check out: a look back at Caroline Flack ex boyfriends
Caroline Flack ex boyfriends SLIDER
1 of 10Prince Harry
Er, what??Caz and His Royal Highness Prince Harry were first linked in 2009 when they were introduced by a mutual friend. Writing in her autobiography, Storm in a C Cup, she wrote, "To meet a prince is so unlikely, it would be weird not to acknowledge it. However, once the story got out, that was it. We had to stop seeing each other. I was no longer Caroline Flack, TV presenter, I was Caroline Flack, Prince Harry's bit of rough."
2 of 10Olly Murs
Rumours started swirling about Caroline and her Xtra Factor co-host Olly Murs as soon as they started working together, with viewers quickly picking up on their undeniable chemistry. Speaking to heat magazine a few years later, she admitted that it was "a little bit flirty" in the beginning."I used to watch you on I'm A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here Now!, and thought you seemed like a top person," added Oli. ""Someone really lovely, who I could go out for a drink and have a laugh with.It's almost like when you think of girlfriends – you're the perfect girlfriend."
3 of 10Harry Styles
Who could forget this shock romance?Harry and Caz first hooked up a year after he came second on X Factor with band One Direction, but because of the age gap, they wanted to keep their relationship a secret.Caroline wrote, "I already knew that he had a crush on me, he's made it pretty obvious as he's said it in magazines and said it to friends. I've never felt I was much older than Harry. I still feel 18 and I probably act that way half the time. Although it was just a bit of fun we decided it was best to keep it to ourselves as we were both working for Simon Cowell."It began to go wrong when he was pictured coming out of my house one morning," she continued. "And that was that. In the street people started shouting 'paedophile' at me in the street and 'pervert'."
4 of 10James Arthur
Back of the queue, James – just like basically every other X Factor contestant ever, James admitted he had a HUGE crush on Flacky when he was competing on the show in 2012. "I think Caroline Flack is beautiful. Maybe we'll see in the future. Things like this have to develop," he said at the time.unfortunately Caz wasn't on board and her rep confirmed her and James were "definitely not a thing". Oops.
5 of 10Jack Street
Caroline moved in with Sam Smith's music manager Jack Street after a respectable eight months of dating in 2014.Sadly their relationship was dogged with cheating rumours,and things turned pretty nasty pretty publicly over social media when Jack tweeted encouraging his followers to vote for Caroline on Strictly Come Dancing, and she retaliated, "@jackb_street easing your guilt??? Fill yourself with GLEE Jack" – a reference to reports he had been pursuing Glee actress Dianna Agron during their relationship.
6 of 10Niall Horan
Four years after her controversial romance with Harry Styles, Caroline set tongues wagging when she was spotted flirting up a storm with fellow On Directioner Niall Horan.Apparently she was overheard saying "I'm old enough to be your mother!" and was "hugging him tightly and kissing him on the cheek".
7 of 10Andrew Brady
It was a whirlwind romance even by celebrity standards. After meeting Apprentice/Celebrity Big Brother star in January 2018, the couple were engaged just three months later but called off their relationship in July.They were on and off for a while after that, but ultimately it wasn't to last.
8 of 10AJ Pritchard
Caroline was spotted getting very close to Strictly professional dancer AJ Pritchard at the National Television Awards in 2019. She was photographed by a fan cosying up to AJ, 24, at the bar, giggling over Champagne before finding a quiet corner sofa to get better acquainted with the dancer.
9 of 10Danny Cipriani
In April 2018, the Flackster was linked to Rugby bad boy Danny Cipriani, who counts Katie Price and Kelly Brooke as exes.The couple were spotted on a romantic mini break at Somerset hotspot Babington House, where a source said, "Danny couldn't keep his hands off her."He's obviously very into her, and to be fair they make a great- looking couple. They did start tongues wagging quite quickly."Of course he does have a reputation as a lothario, but Caroline is clearly a confident woman who seems to be able to handle herself."
10 of 10Bradley Simmonds
There was some extra Love dramz on this year's Love Island as Caz was linked to Molly-Mae's ex, PT Bradley Simmonds. But she insisted she didn't want to complicate their friendship with romance, telling Cosmopolitan, "I wouldn't want to ruin it because he's the best thing. He's the only constant in my life right now."
Lewis and Caroline went "Instagram official" less than two weeks ago, when he shared a snap of them cuddled up together on a sunbed, but Lauren claims Lewis was still speaking to her at the time.
"He’s been wanting me back and asking to take me out," she claimed, insisting, "He’s still in love with me." She even revealed that Lewis had asked her to go on a romantic holiday to the Maldives with him just three weeks ago.
Caroline is said to have been "shocked to find out about Lauren at first", according to an insider close to the 39 year old.
"But she immediately confronted Lewis about it, who assured her she’s just bitter and that he’s not still in love with her, as she claims," the insider adds.
"He’s only got eyes for Caroline."
As heat magazine reported last week, Caroline is said to be smitten with her new beau, and our source tells us she really believes that he’s husband material. "She’s taken Lewis' word, as she’s falling hard for him, but there’s a little voice in her head that wonders if he could actually be on the rebound, as he only split up with Lauren a few months ago," the source reveals.
"Caroline is impulsive and believes in love at first sight. She knows it’s risky, but she’s willing to take the chance, as she’s still insisting that she thinks Lewis could be The One. She’s just hoping she’s enough to make him forget all about his ex."
Caroline recently told the publication how much of a hopeless romantic she is. "Even though I’ve had ups and downs in my love life, I still adore love, it’s the best feeling in the world," she said.
"Nothing is going to last forever, but sometimes it might. You just learn to, I don’t know, love love." But the TV presenter’s friends are worried that this latest whirlwind romance will end in tears.
It was only last year that she was left heartbroken after calling off her engagement to Celebrity Big Brother star Andrew Brady, 28. "Caroline’s friends are extremely worried that she’s in danger of having another relationship disaster," the insider explained.
"She’s desperate to find somebody, because she’d love to be married or engaged, and possibly thinking about family plans by the time she’s 40 in November, so she’s told mates that nothing is perfect and you just have to take life as it comes."
But the magazine is told that Caroline’s friends are concerned about the claims. Lauren even said that the former tennis player denied he was dating Caroline, despite pictures of them looking intimate. After Lauren directly asked him about his new romance, he apparently replied, "We are mates."
Lewis and Lauren – a singer/songwriter – met in a club when Lewis was still a professional tennis player. Lauren revealed, "I followed him around. I was supportive of his career, and he was supportive of mine. I had his back from day one. I gave up a lot for him."
Lewis became a model three years into their relationship – a career move that Lauren suggests changed his whole lifestyle. "It comes with the job of being a model, but when I first met him, he was so clean, he was a sportsman. He changed a lot. He kept going out until six in the morning. I’d be in bed waiting for him."
The publication has been told that these comments have rattled Caroline, but she’s keen to move on "Deep down, she’s feeling worried that his ex could cause trouble for her and Lewis," our source says.
"But rather than ask him any more questions about it, she’s just making sure they have the best time together, so he can forget all about Lauren.
"She wants them to go away somewhere exotic now that she’s wrapped Love Island, as well as taking him to loads of showbiz parties with her. She’s just hoping that he won’t dwell on the past."
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The source continues, "But her mates feel like she’s the one who’s putting in all the effort, and that he could end up just using her.
"They’re just hoping Lewis turns out to be genuine. But Caroline doesn’t want to listen to their concerns or any negativity. She thinks that life is too short and she wants to follow her heart.
"She feels like she’s running out of time, and she’s never been one to give up at the first hurdle or get scared off by things like a bitter ex-girlfriend."
The insider concludes, "Her friends have told her that they just hope he’s worth it. At the end of the day, they only want her to be happy and not go through yet another public relationship breakdown."