Lewis Burton is seen for the first time since Caroline Flack stepped down from Love Island

Caroline Flack’s boyfriend Lewis Burton looked stony-faced as he was seen for the first time since his girlfriend stepped down from hosting Love Island.

The tennis star, 27, was shopping in Kent following the news that Caroline, 40, had quit hosting the winter series of the show following her assault charge.

Lewis stepped out in a casual ensemble for his shopping trip, a day after he defended his girlfriend as ‘loyal and kind’ after she was charged. 

Taking to his Instagram Stories on Monday afternoon, Lewis told his followers: ‘I’m tired of the lies and abuse aimed at my girlfriend. This is not a witch hunt this someone’s life’.

Lewis also referred to Caroline’s ex fiancé Andrew Brady’s Instagram post over the weekend in which he published his confidentiality agreement, thought to be from when he and Caroline were engaged, with the caption: ‘Abuse has no agenda.’ 

MailOnline revealed Andrew texted Lewis to offer support following Caroline’s arrest, and asked if he had signed an NDA.

Lewis hit back on Instagram though, writing: ‘I have not signed any NDA. Why would I? Caroline is the most lovely girl. Loyal and kind. She doesn’t deserve any of this’.  

Lewis appeared downcast on his solo shopping trip as he checked his phone. 

Caroline decided to stand down from Love Island on Tuesday, four days after she was charged with assault following a row with Lewis at her home.  

The presenter, who was recently given a £1.2m deal to host two seasons of the show a year, is said to be ‘devastated’, but for now, is only standing down from the sixth series, which ITV confirmed will begin on January 12.  

Caroline broke her silence on Instagram on Tuesday and wrote: ‘There have been a significant number of media reports and allegations in regard to my personal life. 

‘While matters were not as have been reported I am committed to co-operating with the appropriate authorities and I can’t comment further on these matters until the legal process is over.

‘However Love Island has been my world for the last five years, it’s the best show on telly. In order not to detract attention from the upcoming series I feel the best thing I can do is stand down from Series 6. 

‘I want to wish the incredible team working on the show a fantastic series in Cape Town.’ 

Caroline continued: ‘And on a really personal level. I have never experienced such kindness and love in my whole life. 

‘Not just from friends and family who are always the greatest but also from total strangers who send messages to me offering help and understanding… Please know that I see them and my boyfriend Lewis. I love you x.’

An ITV spokesperson told MailOnline shortly after her post: ‘ITV has a long standing relationship with Caroline and we understand and accept her decision. 

‘We will remain in contact with her over the coming months about future series of Love Island.’ 

A source also told MailOnline:  ‘The door is firmly open to Caroline.’ 

It has now been reported that Caroline’s pal Laura Whitmore has had a secret meeting with Love Island bosses about taking over as host for the winter series.

The Irish presenter, 34, seems a fitting choice given she is dating the show’s voiceover presenter Iain Stirling.

A source told The Sun: ‘It’s an amazing job, every TV presenter in Britain wants it, so of course Laura was open to speaking to bosses about it.

‘She’s already had a chat about it – as soon as Caroline quit, they needed to sign someone up asap. 

‘Laura already knows the production crew from when she goes out to visit Iain on location, and bosses from her previous jobs on ITV.’

Laura has also emerged as the bookies favourite to take over from Caroline, with other contenders including Maya Jama and Emily Atack.

As well as losing this show, Caroline’s six-figure advertising deal with Polaroid sunglasses is said to be ‘on hold’ after the ‘private domestic incident’ took place.  

The Love Island host was due to fly out to South Africa in just a few weeks’ time to start filming the debut winter series of the ITV2 dating show.

No doubt this has proven to be a logistical nightmare for the channel as Caroline has already shot promotional scenes for the show.   

A source told MailOnline that the TV personality also had been lining up a ‘six-figure advertising deal with Polaroid’ which is now ‘on hold’ following her arrest. 

On the last series of Love Island, Polaroid collaborated with the show and a range of sunglasses was designed for the contestants which were then available to buy on the Love Island website.  

MailOnline has contacted a spokesperson for the brand and for Caroline Flack for comment. 

Caroline’s tennis-player/model boyfriend Lewis, 27, had defended her on Instagram Stories on Monday, writing that she’s ‘loyal and kind’ and saying she ‘doesn’t deserve this.’

However, the incident has raised questions about her future in TV at all. 

It’s unclear if she will still host new Channel 4, The Surjury. 

It will see young people pitch ideas for their ‘dream’ surgeries to convince a jury of peers and experts to approve their life-changing operations. 

Calls were already being made for her to be sacked permanently ahead of the announcement, particularly in light of the #MeToo era. 

Caroline’s announcement follows reports ITV were working on contingency plans in case she wouldn’t be returning to the show. 

She has been released on bail and is due to appear at Highbury Corner magistrates’ court on December 23.

A source previously said: ‘This is an absolute nightmare so close to the start of the series. Nobody knows exactly what has gone on, or how the court process will pan out. 

‘But it’s obviously too much of a risk not to have a back-up plan in place so those conversations have started straight away.

‘Laura Whitmore is among those reportedly being considered as a potential replacement.’

Caroline was pictured out in London’s Soho with her PR Nathan Charles on Monday, with a smile on her face. 

Her ex-boyfriend Andrew offered his support to Lewis and messaged the model’s phone, saying: ‘I’m sure this is just the tip of the iceberg.’

But Lewis responded to Andrew’s text telling him to ‘stay out of his business’.

A source close to Andrew told MailOnline: ‘Andrew wanted to be there for Lewis.

‘He text him saying if he wanted to chat then he’d be open to talking as he “knows what it’s like”… but he was also keen to quiz Lewis on whether he’d signed a non-disclosure agreement.

‘Lewis replied telling him to stay out of their business and made clear he’d not been asked to sign any documents.’

On Sunday, Andrew uploaded pictures of a confidentiality agreement, thought to be from when he and Caroline were engaged, with the caption: ‘Abuse has no gender.’

MailOnline can reveal that Andrew was not paid to sign the document and seemed happy enough to do so at the time.    

A spokesman for Flack told PA news agency in a statement: ‘We confirm that police attended Caroline’s home following a private domestic incident.

‘She is co-operating with the appropriate people to resolve matters. We will not be making any further comment for legal reasons.’

Six police cars were seen outside the TV presenter’s London home in the early hours of Thursday morning.

A man, believed to be Flack’s boyfriend, Lewis Burton, was treated for injuries, but his condition is not thought to be serious.

A Met Police spokesman told MailOnline: ‘Caroline Flack, 40, of Islington was charged on Friday, 13 December with assault by beating. She will appear on bail at Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court on Monday, 23 December.

‘This follows an incident at approximately 05:25hrs on Thursday, 12 December after reports of a man being assaulted. He was not seriously injured.’

The man was treated by paramedics and a London Ambulance Service spokesman said: ‘We were called yesterday (Thursday 12 December) at 5.28am to reports of a person unwell in Islington.

‘We sent an ambulance to the scene and took a person to hospital.’