'I'm on a mission to make Gary Barlow cry': The world according to Caroline Flack
By Jon Wilde
Last updated at 10:00 PM on 15th October 2011
The presenter on being romantically linked to Prince Harry and why she's keen to see the X Factor judge in tears
'It did get strange when I'd read all the time that I was Prince Harry's new girlfriend. I met him a few times and we got on fine but we were never a couple,' said Caroline Flack
One thing Caroline Flack could never be accused of lacking is enthusiasm. Her lust for life is so contagious that, after meeting her, you feel like you’ve been plugged into the national grid for an hour.
Her natural joie de vivre at least partly explains why she is now so in demand as a TV presenter. Born in north London and raised in Norfolk, she studied drama and dance before setting her sights on television.
She got her big break playing Michael Jackson’s girlfriend on Bo’ Selecta!, then becoming a co-presenter on the Saturday-morning show TMi. In 2008 she joined Ian Wright as a co-host on Gladiators, then became the host of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! Now. She is best known for presenting The Xtra Factor with Olly Murs.
Now 30, she is currently single and lives in London.
'I'm the resident X Factor therapist,' said Caroline, pictured with Gary Barlow and Olly Murs
I’m no wild hell-raiser.
When I lived in Camden I used to drink at the Hawley Arms, a pub most associated with Amy Winehouse. From that, people assumed I must live a life of drugs and debauchery. I was never a close friend of Amy’s. We only met a few times and our lifestyles couldn’t have been more different. I had my share of fun in my twenties but I’ve never been a big drinker. I can’t hold my booze so I’m always the first one to go home. Most nights I’m happy to stay at home with a DVD and a bowl of lettuce.
I never dated Rolf Harris.
If you believe all you read I’ve dated every man on the planet – including Rolf. The truth is that I’ve never gone out with anyone famous. But I only need to be in the same postal district as a male celebrity and I’m rumoured to be dating them. I keep reading that my list of conquests reads like a showbiz Who’s Who. I’ve had one boyfriend in the past five years and he worked in a pub. I don’t let it annoy me. It did get strange when I’d read all the time that I was Prince Harry’s new girlfriend. I met him a few times and we got on fine but we were never a couple. But certain newspapers seemed to want to make me look as naughty as possible.
I’ve always believed hard work would pay off.
When it came to dancing and acting at school my sister was the talented one. To get even close to her I had to work incredibly hard. I’ve always felt the need to overcompensate but I know my limits. My first ambition was musical theatre but I realised quite early on that I wouldn’t make the grade. Television is where I’m most at home. I’m not one of those TV presenters who secretly yearns to be a Hollywood actress. Live telly is what I thrive on.
'I've never been a big drinker. I can't hold my booze so I'm always the first one to go home'
One thing I never want to do again is work in a pork factory.
Growing up in Norfolk there weren’t many weekend jobs for kids apart from factory work. I really wanted to earn my own money so, at 15, I started working in the local pork factory. I only lasted four weeks. It was extremely cold and not very satisfying. Luckily I didn’t work in the abattoir; I was mainly in charge of packing meat into boxes. It took me a few minutes to decide that this wasn’t how I wanted to be earning a living.
I once worked as a magician’s assistant.
Just after leaving college I saw an advert in the local paper and thought, ‘I have to do this.’ Part of the job involved lying down in a long box while the magician poked swords into it. I hate to destroy anyone’s illusions but there wasn’t much magic involved. I just had to squirm around inside the box to avoid the swords. The highlight of the show was ‘The Amazing Floating Lady’, where he waved his wand and a woman appeared to be suspended in mid-air. But I wasn’t chosen for that segment of the show. I did find out how he did it, though I’d rather not say – I don’t want members of the Magic Circle on my trail.
Dressing up as a banana is not as easy as it looks.
The great thing about doing kids’ TV is that you can come up with the daftest idea in the world and everyone happily goes along with it. I’ve worn quite a few ridiculous costumes in my career. One time I dressed up as an angry badger. Every time the music stopped I had to do an angry badger dance. Everyone seems to remember me dressed up as a banana. It does get uncomfortably warm inside a banana suit and it’s difficult to walk in a straight line. But I’d happily do it again.
I’m the resident X Factor therapist.
I’m the shoulder to cry on. I talk to people whose lives have just changed by appearing on the show. Emotions are running high. The trick is being able to listen. If someone’s had a ghastly time, sometimes it’s best to say nothing. They just need someone who is sympathetic. At the end of a day I have an awful lot of wet mascara on my shoulders.
I’m on a mission to make Gary Barlow cry.
He’s the only X Factor judge who has never shed a tear during the show. It doesn’t take much to bring a tear to my eye. If I see someone who is upset, that always makes me cry. But Gary has never turned on the waterworks. We’re very keen to see it happen but we don’t want to do anything too cruel to him. It might have to come down to a plate of raw onions held close to his face.
'Gary Barlow has never turned on the waterworks. We're very keen to see it happen'
Hypnotherapy cured my fear of spiders and insects.
Growing up, those creatures used to completely freak me out. A few years ago I decided to do something about it. The therapist put me under so I felt like I was somewhere between asleep and awake. She took me back to a time in my life when I first felt afraid of those things. Then I approached myself at that age and talked myself through my phobias. I’ve never been afraid since. When I’ve gone into the jungle to do I’m A Celebrity, there are spiders and insects everywhere. They still unsettle me but they don’t scare me. Even so, I always keep my Wellington boots on in my hotel room just in case.
You can’t beat the sound of vinyl records.
I’m not knocking the iPod. It’s such a wonderfully convenient device, especially when you’re travelling. CDs aren’t all bad either. They’re ideal for car journeys. But I love sitting in my lounge playing vinyl albums on my gorgeous old radiogram. My dad gave me his entire vinyl collection so I love picking through that, choosing an album, lifting the needle and enjoying the sound that CDs and the iPod can’t hope to compete with.
I play a mean poker hand.
My interest in the game began in 2004 when I hosted the European Poker Tour on TV. I visited all the best casinos in Europe, got to meet the best professionals in the business and became hooked. I got into the habit of having friends round on a Friday night to play poker. I usually ended the night with a few extra quid. But I’ll never be good enough to play professionally. My face is too easily readable.
I’m no stranger to roughing it.
Through my twenties I loved heading off to India on backpacking trips. My idea of paradise was a beach, a bed and a mosquito net. These days I prefer a little luxury. I’m more likely to stay in a nice hotel than a tent crawling with worms and spiders. In terms of roughing it, four days without a shower at Glastonbury is about my limit now.
‘The Xtra Factor’ is on Saturdays, ITV2 at 10pm
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