Louise Redknapp, Pixie Lott and Ashley Roberts lead the stars at Flackstock Festival

Louise Redknapp looked incredible as she led the stars attending the Flackstock Festival at Englefield House in Reading on Monday, in memory of the late Caroline Flack who took her own life in February 2020 aged 40.

The singer, 47, flashed a hint of her midriff in a cropped black circus blazer which she teamed up with a matching top and coordinating trousers before taking to the stage to belt out her chart-topping hits.

She was certainly in good company with Pixie Lott, 31, also catching the eye in a thigh-skimming floral minidress featuring a ruffled collar, while Ashley Roberts, 40, exhibited her bronzed legs in a red cutout minidress.

The Mama Do songstress, who beamed from ear-to-ear while modelling the red-and-blue number, soon posed alongside Strictly pro Aljaž Škorjanec, who donned a white T-shirt and black trousers with braces.

Kimberly Wyatt, who featured in the Pussycat Dolls with Ashley until their recent split, sent temperatures soaring in a pair of thigh-high cream boots which she wore with matching hot pants and a V-neck sweater.

Layering the knitted number beneath a white shirt, the Buttons songstress cosied up to her husband Max Rogers, who ensured to stand out from the crowd in a zebra print shirt.

Also in attendance were Tom Grennan, Leigh Francis (Keith Lemon), Janette Manrara, Dermot O’Leary, Howard Donald, Joel Dommett, Rylan Clark and Fleur East, who performed on stage.

The festival celebrated Caroline’s life with acts from the worlds of comedy, dance and music – who are raising funds for charities Mind, Samaritans, Choose Love and the Charlie Waller Trust.

Opening the event, Caroline’s sister Jody told the crowd that everyone performing was a friend of Caroline’s, saying it was an ideal day ‘full of dancing’.

She told the PA news agency: ‘This is who she was, this is what she liked, we are sort of encapsulating her today.

‘We have tried to do that from the very beginning, our motto was ‘What would Caroline do’ the whole way through.

‘Today is definitely a good day, there is a lot of bad ones there have been but today is a good one.’

Jody added that there would ‘hopefully’ be another Flackstock in the future.

Pixie dedicated Use Somebody by Kings of Leon to Caroline during her set, telling the crowd: ‘We are all here for the amazing Caroline Flack, I love you so much Cazza.’

The festival committee comprised Caroline’s mother Christine and sister Jody, as well as her close friends Dawn O’Porter, Natalie Pinkham, Anna Blue and Sarah Tyekiff.

Writer Dawn told the PA news agency: ‘She was such a loved TV personality and I think her death affected so many people, I think it reminded people that what you see is not necessarily what you get.

‘I think everyone assumed that Caroline was extremely okay when she wasn’t and I think a lot of people have taken a lot from that.

‘She loved festivals more than anything in the world so we thought she should just get her one of her own.

‘The line-up is mostly her friends, Caroline knew so many people and especially doing The X Factor the amount of people she knew from all the jobs she did so we got together and just asked everyone and pretty much everyone we asked said yes.

‘In terms of trying to book a line-up it really came to us. It is everything I expected but it is so emotional, I keep going up and down.’

TV presenter Natalie told the PA news agency: ‘We didn’t get the chance to give her a proper send-off like so many people we didn’t get that opportunity, but I think there is a wider issue here which is mental health, I think Covid and lockdown proved that no-one is impervious to mental health struggles.

‘We really wanted to make the conversation a positive one but push it forward. The BeKind hashtag trended after she died but I didn’t want it to be a transient thing and I think it is so important to bolster it with something a couple years on.

‘I dreamt about Caroline a lot after she died and this idea came about bringing friends and family together a bit like a memorial service but also that raises a lot of money and awareness for mental health causes.

‘It has been a really positive amazing process. Everyone we asked said yes and that is testament to her personality and how positive Caroline was but also how much people want to counter all the negativity, its been great.’

Celebrity appearances also included Professor Green, TV presenter Dermot, Kirsty Gallacher, Paddy McGuinness, Noel Fielding and June Sarpong.

Love Island presenter Caroline, who took her own life at the age of 40 in February 2020, was crowned the winner of Strictly in 2014 alongside her professional partner Pasha Kovalev.

Aljaž told the PA news agency: ‘We were really lucky that we became such great friends after Strictly.

‘I think it was meant to be, we started hanging out straight after the show, especially Janette and Caroline they were close so its a beautiful feeling to be here today in her memory and celebrate what she loved doing so much, music festivals and dancing she would have loved that.’

Janette added: ‘Every time we hung out non-work wise the first thing she would do was pop on a song start singing, start dancing, she loved music, she loved singing and dancing so I think today is a perfect celebration of that part of her.

‘I think every single person performing today knew how special she was and that’s probably why the yes’s came so quick. She loved being at festivals so what better way to celebrate her than having one.’

The married couple later performed a dance on stage to Footloose before teaching the crowd some salsa steps and coordinating a festival dance with Dommett and Keith Lemon joining the pair on stage.

TV presenter Rylan also took to the stage, telling the crowd: ‘I tell you what if she was here she wouldn’t remember any of it, you know what she was like. This is unreal.

‘When they asked me to come I said absolutely even though I have a 6pm flight to Scotland.’

Funds raised will be equally split between the charities Choose Love, Mind, Samaritans and the Charlie Waller Trust.

The festival had a mindfulness set up by the charity Mind featuring workshops all day guaranteed to ‘charge your soul and mind,’ Dawn told the crowd.

It was also announced that Sky were recording the festival for a documentary broadcasting in August.

Money raised from Flackstock will be split equally between the charities Choose Love, Mind, Samaritans and Charlie Waller Trust – four worthy outlets that held a special place in Caroline’s heart.

It comes after Caroline’s friends paid tribute to her on the day of the Flackstock festival, a day held to celebrate her life. 

Louise and Sky News presenter Sarah-Jane Mee were among those paying tribute to the presenter.

Singer Louise took to Instagram on Monday and shared a throwback snap of her and Caroline together as she remembered her late friend.

Alongside the photo, she wrote: ‘Today is all for you my girl. See you later @flackstock let’s do our girl proud!’ 

TV presenter Laura Jackson commented on the post and wrote: ‘Ah she would love these pics! Sad to miss you all today, have fun for Carrie ❤️’.

Sarah-Jane also shared some throwback photos of her and Caroline alongside Natalie Pinkham, who helped to organise the special event.

Sarah-Jane wrote:  ‘A big day today for those who knew and loved Caroline Flack ❤️

‘@Flackstockis a chance to remember and celebrate Carrie with all the things she loved family, friends, music, dancing, and comedy.

‘In awe of her sister from another mister @Natalie_Pinkham in pulling this all together. Flacky would have been so proud!’ 

Caroline’s mother Christine said ahead of the event: ‘My Caroline was never more herself or happier than at a music festival with her sister and her friends.

‘Flackstock is the wonderful idea of those who knew her best and the perfect way to remember her singing, dancing and most of all laughing.

‘Not only is Flackstock the most positive way to honour Carrie, but charities that she loved will benefit from the proceeds.

‘A big thank you to everyone involved for all their hard work – to Natalie for the mad idea, Giles Cooper Entertainment and Englefield House who saved the day, Live Nation and to all the brilliant sponsors.

‘My family are so proud that so many people who knew Carrie loved her so very much.’

Ian O’Reilly, Head of Community & Events Fundraising at Mind, said: ‘Every donation that Mind receives through Flackstock will allow us to be there for even more people when they need us.

‘This includes through services like the Mind Infoline, legal line and our online peer support community for adults, Side by Side.

‘The money will also enable us to continue to campaign to improve services and provide information and support.

‘We are honoured to be involved and we can’t wait for the festival to get started.’

For confidential support, call the Samaritans on 116123 or visit a local Samaritans branch. See www.samaritans.org for details.