Caroline Flack reduced to tears from online abuse during X-Factor

'There is a difference between opinion and abuse'

Flack and Olly Murs are the current presenters of The X-Factor (Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)

Caroline Flack says she was reduced to tears by comments from online trolls who scrutinised her appearance while she was presenting The X Factor.

Flack, who co-hosted the talent show with singer Olly Murs, was subject to body-shaming and criticism of her appearance on social media.

She was forced to defend herself on Twitter after one episode in November where she wrote: “Never said I’m the prettiest or thinnest or anything special… But thank God I’m not horrible.”

However, despite putting on a brave face, Flack told the Daily Mirror the criticism affected her so much so that she cried after the first Sunday night results show due to the shock of the cruel comments.

“I cried after the first live Sunday night. The reaction was quite overwhelming because I didn’t think people would be talking about how I look, how I stand, how I walk or how I laugh.”

She continued: “Not everyone is going to like you all the time, not everyone is going to think you’re beautiful, but there is a difference between opinion and abuse. Opinion is fine but I need to stop giving the negative people air time because they love it.”

Flack’s career started in 2002 when she starred in Bo’ Selecta! with Leigh Francis (better known now as Keith Lemon), she has also hosted ITV spin-off shows I’m a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here Now and The Xtra Factor.

In 2013, this time appearing as a contestant, she won Strictly Come Dancing.

The presenter, 36, says that although she may be subject to scrutiny over her appearance she hasn’t been on the receiving end of ageism, a rarity for a woman in showbusiness.

“I’ve never been affected by ageism, and if anything in my 20s I was always told I looked too young… in terms of female presenters, I have only ever experienced positivity — we are all really supportive of one another.”