Laura Whitmore says she ‘just wants privacy’ to mourn Caroline Flack after being followed by paparazzi

Presenter uploaded footage of her confrontation with a photographer in South Africa

Laura Whitmore has made a plea for privacy after being followed by paparazzi in a Cape Town airport.

The Love Island presenter was reuniting with her boyfriend, the show’s narrator Iain Stirling, for the first time since the death of Caroline Flack, who took her own life last week.

Whitmore has uploaded footage of a paparazzo following the couple through the airport in her latest Instagram story, alongside a written call for privacy so she can mourn the loss of her friend.

In the video, taken by Stirling, a photographer can be seen taking pictures of the pair.

The statement reads: “I landed in Cape Town this morning and it is the first time I’ve been with Iain since Caroline passed away. It’s been really hard being apart. At the airport a photographer took pictures of us both and we tried to ignore it but he continued to follow us as we got coffee and left the building.

“So I asked him would he stop as he had what he wanted. I said we were mourning a friend and could he allow us space. He said, ‘Can you give me a reaction. It’s a public place and I can take pictures if I want.’

“I have never courted the paparazzi but understand at work events it comes with the territory. But this morning was too much. Iain filmed him and he didn’t like it.

“I don’t like attacking people but we need to call people out when they do things like this. Iain and I just wanted some privacy.”

On Monday night’s episode of Love Island, narrator Stirling opened the show with a tribute to Flack, saying he was “absolutely devastated by the tragic news” of her death.

Whitmore used her BBC Radio 5 Live show to call out clickbait news and online trolls following the tragedy.

Stirling and Whitmore will present the final of Love Island this Sunday 23 February.

If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, you can reach out for confidential support at Samaritans by calling 116 123 or visiting their website.