Remembering Caroline Flack's stunning Strictly Come Dancing victory in 2014

17 February 2020, 11:38

Caroline Flack was one of the UK's most famous and popular TV personalities, having been the original host of the revamped Love Island and having a stint as a co-host of The X Factor during her too-short career.

Following her death at the age of 40 on Sunday (February 16), we've taken a look back at one of her most memorable TV appearances: her successful time as a contestant on Strictly Come Dancing in 2014.

A year before she started hosting Love Island, Caroline teamed up with Pasha Kovalev on Strictly, and ended up winning the competition after a series of stunning performances.

After a couple of decent performances with scores under 40, it was week 3's Movie Week which had people stand up and take notice, with Caroline scoring a huge 42 out of 50 (it was that weird week when Donny Osmond became a fifth judge), for her Rumba to Aerosmith's 'I Don't Want to Miss a Thing'.

Caroline Flack & Pasha Rumba to ‘Don't Want to Miss a Thing’ - Strictly Come Dancing: 2014 - BBC One

She followed this up with a 33 out of 40 for her Quickstep to 'We Go Together' from Grease, followed by a 34 for her Paso Doble to Paul McCartney's 'Live and Let Die'.

After a couple of dips, Caroline took it to another level with a 37 for her Jive to Elton John's 'Crocodile Rock'.

For the 'Around the World' Week, Caroline scored the highest score of the series so far with 39 for her Charleston to 'Instanbul (Not Constantinople)', which saw her being tipped to win the series.

Caroline Flack & Pasha Kovalev Charleston to 'Istanbul' - Strictly Come Dancing: 2014 - BBC One

After another 39 and 35, she finally scored a perfect 40 for her Salsa to Ricky Martin's 'Maria'.

She saved her best till last, with two perfect 40s in semi-finals week, including her incredible - and now, very poignant - Showdance to 'Angels' by Robbie Williams.

Caroline Flack & Pasha Kovalev's Showdance to 'Angels' - Strictly Come Dancing: 2014 - BBC One

The final saw her score yet another 40 for a repeat of her famous Charleston, and she was crowned the winner over Simon Webbe and Frankie Bridge in the final.

Caroline returned for the 2018 Christmas special, this time with Gorka Marquez. Despite scoring another perfect 40, she had to settle for second place behind Aston Merrygold.

Caroline Flack always had a passion for dancing, despite not being a professional. Before Strictly, she had also won the BBC Three competition Dancing on Wheels, in which she danced with wheelchair-user James O'Shea.

James and Caroline's Foxtrot - Dancing On Wheels - Series 1 Episode 2 Highlight - BBC Three

Caroline leaves behind a legacy of fantastic TV moments, and it will forever be a shame that we will never get to see just how many talents she had up her sleeve.