Love Island’s Tom Powell says being in the spotlight impacted late ex Sophie Gradon’s mental health

Tom Powell has opened up about the death of his ex-girlfriend Sophie Gradon in new Channel 4 documentary Life After Love Island: UNTOLD.

The former Love Island star hooked up with Sophie on the show’s second season in 2016 and they dated for six months.

Sophie took her own life in June 2018 and was found by her boyfriend and his brother at their home in Ponteland, Northumberland.

Horrifying: Tom Powell has opened up about the death of his ex-girlfriend Sophie Gradon in new Channel 4 documentary Life After Love Island: UNTOLD

Her boyfriend was found hanged three weeks later after also using cocaine and alcohol, and the coroner made a similar verdict when inquiring into his death.

Detective Sergeant Neill Jobling told the inquest Sophie had previously had mental health issues, including low self-esteem and anxiety, and was prescribed medication for it, which she was still taking when she died.

Speaking about her, Tom said: “We dated about six months after that, we never really lost touch.”

Recalling the morning of her death, he described talking to Sophie’s parents as “the hardest thing”.

Former romance: The former Love Island star hooked up with Sophie on the show’s second season in 2016 and they dated for six months (Tom pictured with Sophie on the show in 2016)

He said: “I still remember that morning, well I woke up around 9am to a text message from Emma, ​​one of the girls from the show, and she said, ‘Tom, I’m so sorry.’

“I woke up the next day and I had phone calls from her parents and it was really hard. Talking to her parents was the hardest thing I think.’

Continuing to talk about how being on Love Island had affected Sophie, Tom said: “The impact of being in the spotlight affected Sophie, I know it was because we were together.

“She used to hate anyone who knew her business.”

Tragic: Sophie took her own life in June 2018 and was found at her home in Ponteland, Northumberland by her boyfriend and his brother (pictured on Love Island 2016)

He previously spoke to former Big Brother star Simon Gross about Sophie’s death on his Love Island Instagram Live series last year.

Tom said he doesn’t think the suicides of Sophie or Caroline Flack and Mike Thalassitis were linked to Love Island.

He insisted: “I don’t think Sophie’s death, or that of Mike or Caroline, was due to the show. Sophie had her own problems, she would come down very badly.

He added: “We’ve spoken every week without exception and she’s been seeing me. She was the kindest soul I ever met!’

Fame: Tom went on to talk about how being on Love Island had affected Sophie, saying: “The impact of being in the spotlight affected Sophie, I know it was because we were together.”