Caroline Flack is reportedly set to face more heartbreak as sources have claimed Channel 4’s new series The Surjury could be axed after her assault charge.
The presenter, 40, announced she was set to host the controversial show back in October, which was expected to see young people pitch ideas for their ‘dream’ surgeries to convince a jury of peers and experts to approve their life-changing operations.
But insiders claim the show won’t air as executives ‘do not want to associate’ with the media personality – who pleaded not guilty to assaulting her boyfriend Lewis Burton, 27, on Monday.
Drama: Caroline Flack is reportedly set to face more heartbreak as sources have claimed Channel 4’s new series The Surjury could be axed after her assault charge
A source told The Sun: ‘Caroline’s looming court case and the bad publicity surrounding her has left a dark cloud over the show and Channel 4 do not want to associate themselves with Caroline at this time.
‘It’s a devastating blow for her as it was a huge break into the mainstream. There have been on-going discussions and some people on the production team have admitted they don’t think it’ll ever air.’
A spokeswoman for Channel 4 also confirmed to the publication: ‘The Surjury is not currently scheduled.’
The show was scheduled to see participants go under the knife if they are given the thumbs-up by a 12-strong jury.
Troubled: Insiders claim the show won’t air as executives ‘do not want to associate’ with the host, 40 – who pleaded not guilty to assaulting her boyfriend Lewis Burton, 27, on Monday
In good spirits: The ITV star gushed to fans: ‘Over the Mooooooon to be hosting my first @channel4 show ❤️ #thesurjury @gemflossi @styledbynana @nisha_stylist’
Contestants have to secure 75 per cent of the jury vote to get their procedure, and then will be invited back to ‘show off the results’ after a few months.
Gobstopper Television is also filming a U.S. version of the format, according to Deadline.
Earlier this year, medical professionals warned of the potential harm of the programme, saying it glamorises and trivialises life-changing procedures, and could lead to a rise in botched surgeries.
Channel 4 director Ian Katz said the aim of the broadcaster was to ‘make entertaining, mischievous and innovative shows about the big issues and arguments in Britain today’.
MailOnline has contacted representatives for Caroline and Channel 4 for further comment.
On Thursday, Caroline liked several cryptic tweets after being forced to spend Christmas apart from her beau Lewis as bail conditions mean she can’t contact him.
Caroline took to Twitter over the festive season to like several cryptic tweets including messages about being ‘on your own’ during the festive season and ‘being on the road to emotional recovery’.
Cryptic: Caroline Flack has liked several cryptic tweets after being forced to spend Christmas apart from her boyfriend Lewis Burton (pictured outside Highbury Magistrates’ Court on Monday)
The presenter showed support to Rose McGowan’s empowering tweet about ‘dark times’ and ‘getting the other side’.
It read: ‘Today I celebrate. I have love in my life, I’m on the road to emotional recovery, and I have mad love for all of you out there who keep me going in dark times.
‘I wish you all peace and a big ray of hope. Here’s to getting the other side. Love, Rose.’
Banned: The Love Island host, 40, pleaded not guilty to assaulting her beau, 27, at Highbury Magistrates’ Court on Monday but bail conditions mean she can’t contact him (pictured together at Winter Wonderland earlier in December)
Twitter activity: Caroline took to Twitter over Christmas to like several cryptic tweets including Rose McGowan’s empowering tweet about ‘dark times’ and ‘getting the other side’
Alone: While Caroline also liked Lorraine presenter Dan Wootton’s tweet about being alone over Christmas, it said: ‘And if you are on your own this Christmas, just remember you are never alone’
While Caroline also liked Lorraine presenter Dan Wootton’s tweet about being alone over Christmas, it said: ‘And if you are on your own this Christmas, just remember you are never alone.’
It comes after Caroline’s boyfriend Lewis said he’s ‘gutted’ they have had to spend Christmas apart on Wednesday.
Taking to Instagram, the tennis player said that he didn’t press charges after the incident at her Islington home in scenes later described by police as ‘a horror movie.’
‘Gutted’: It comes after Caroline’s boyfriend Lewis said he’s ‘gutted’ they have had to spend Christmas apart on Wednesday (pictured together at Winter Wonderland earlier in December)
Sharing a picture of Caroline – who has now stepped down from the hit ITV2 show – holding two teddy bears, Lewis wrote: ‘Gutted I can’t spend Christmas with you.
‘I want to repeat I never pressed charges and asked the other day for the bail conditions to be dropped but no1 listened to me. I want this all to be over. [sic]’
It comes after Caroline also made an Instagram post, insisting that she will ‘not be silenced’ on Christmas Eve.
But Caroline remained defiant as she spoke to her followers the following evening, despite admitting she still has ‘some lessons’ to learn.
No contact: Caroline, pictured leaving court on Monday, was told she isn’t able to contact Lewis directly or indirectly and has been prevented from attending his address
Sharing an old image of herself on the red carpet, she wrote: ‘Been advised not to go on social media … but I wanted to say happy Christmas to everyone who has been so incredibly kind to me this year…..
‘This kind of scrutiny and speculation is a lot to take on for one person to take on their own… I’m a human being at the end of the day and I’m not going to be silenced when I have a story to tell and a life to keep going with ….
‘I’m taking some time out to get feeling better and learn some lessons from situations I’ve got myself into to.I have nothing but love to give and best wishes for everyone.’
Sources close to the embattled presenter told MailOnline she is staying with friends in London over Christmas after being ordered by a judge not to contact boyfriend Lewis, who she denies clobbering with a lamp while he slept.
Speaking out: Caroline has insisted she will ‘not be silenced’ after taking to Instagram with a festive message for her fans on Christmas Eve
Difficult: The beleaguered presenter was at Highbury Magistrates’ Court on Monday, where she pleaded not guilty to assaulting model boyfriend Lewis Burton at her Islington home
Stepping out: Lewis was pictured leaving court after his girlfriend pleaded not guilty to assaulting him
However her latest post comes shortly after the presenter reconnected with her boyfriend on Instagram, just days after unfollowing him prior to her court appearance.
Despite being engulfed in a bruising court battle, Caroline will swallow her relationship heartbreak – and assault charge – to continue her tradition of volunteering.
Flack’s 2010 ‘lamp’ tweet resurfaces
Caroline Flack’s tweet from 2010 hailing her new lamp has resurfaced in the wake of her assault charge.
The Love Island host is accused of smacking boyfriend Lewis Burton with a lamp while her slept on December 12.
And it transpired that nine years ago the 40-year-old presenter tweeted about a lamp.
She tweeted: ‘I also love my new lamp’.
After Flack appeared at court yesterday, social media users leaped on the tweet.
One said: ‘That didn’t age very well’
She will spend Christmas Day helping at Golden Years, a Hackney-based charity which is throwing a lunch for socially isolated elderly people.
Finding volunteering ‘rewarding’, Caroline regularly gives up her time on December 25 and last year posted a picture of herself helping at a church in Stoke Newington.
Caroline and her partner were both allegedly covered in blood when police arrived at their flat in Islington, North London, on December 12 – with one officer describing the chaotic scene as ‘like a horror movie’.
On Monday she pleaded not guilty to common assault and was released on bail until her trial in March.
The presenter was accused of ‘going mad’ and smashing a glass after looking at texts which made her think Lewis was cheating – with him saying in a 999 call that she ‘tried to kill me, mate’, Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court heard.
Lewis was said to have been ‘almost begging the operator to send help’ with his face ‘covered in blood’, while Caroline – who has now been replaced as Love Island host by Laura Whitmore – allegedly had two cuts to her wrist.
After being taken into custody, ITV host Caroline – whom the court heard was ‘manipulative’ towards Lewis and accused him of ruining her life – allegedly flipped over a table and had to be restrained on the ground by police.
Her boyfriend was allegedly left with ‘significant head injuries’, but the court heard that she wants to ‘spend time’ with him over the Christmas and New Year period.
Charity: Finding volunteering ‘rewarding’, Caroline regularly gives up her time on December 25 and last year posted a picture of herself helping at a church in Stoke Newington (pictured)
Lewis posted a picture of himself kissing Caroline, hours after a judge said she was banned from contacting Mr Burton and from attending his address – which left both with their head in their hands.
He wrote on Instagram: ‘It’s heartbreaking I can’t see my girlfriend over Christmas. What I witnessed today was horrible.
‘She did not hit me with a lamp. Arguments do happen every day in every relationship. Gutted I am not allowed to protect her right now.’
Boyfriend: Lewis posted a picture of himself with Flack on his Instagram, writing: ‘It’s heartbreaking I can’t see my girlfriend over Christmas. What I witnessed today was horrible. Arguments do happen every day in every relationship. Gutted I am not allowed to protect her right now.’
She broke down in tears as she sat in the dock. Holding her hand in front of her eyes, she sniffed.
The judge gave Caroline’s legal team until January 20 next year to provide further evidence to the court.
She put her head in her hands as the judge refused an application to remove bail conditions preventing her from contacting Lewis directly or indirectly and from attending his address.
Lewis, in the public gallery, also put his hand to his face, before the couple left the courtroom separately.
Gone: Caroline has stepped down as host of the forthcoming winter Love Island, to be held in South Africa
Caroline was later seen grabbing coffee with friends in east London on Tuesday afternoon – a stark contrast to her tearful court appearance.
Despite a fraught few days, which have seen the TV star step down from her gig hosting Love Island this January and be replaced by close friend Laura Whitmore, Caroline managed to raise a smile.
The star looked casual figure in blue cut-off jeans and a matching black shirt and overcoat, and completed her casual look with classic red and white trainers.
She has been released on bail until her trial on March 4 next year.