Caroline Flack has said working on The X Factor has made her realise her own strength – because of the criticism she faces as a woman on TV.

Since returning to the ITV singing contest fold this year as co-presenter alongside Olly Murs, she has had to face the strong opinions of viewers.

Caroline Flack and Olly Murs host X Factor
Caroline Flack and Olly Murs host The X Factor (ITV)

She told Cosmopolitan: “The X Factor has made me realise how strong I am. The show elicits strong opinions, and often they aren’t nice. But you can’t let it get to you. People don’t have to like you.”

Caroline, 36, also believes being a woman makes her a target.

“It’s a lot harder to be a woman on TV,” she said. “We have to face more criticism. I have a private message group with Dawn O’Porter, Gemma Cairney, Laura Whitmore and Gizzi Erskine, and we support each other.”

Last week she spoke out on Twitter about online abuse attacking her weight and appearance.

She explained how she maintains a sense of perspective, saying: “Work is not my life. You have to separate the two.

“Things happen every now and then, like a friend being upset, to remind you that getting a line wrong isn’t too bad.”

A picture of Caroline Flack and Pasha Kovalev on Strictly
Caroline Flack wowed the judges with her performances (Guy Levy/BBC)

Caroline also looked back at her time on Strictly Come Dancing, which she won in 2014 with professional dance partner Pasha Kovalev.

“Before Strictly I kept my feelings locked up,” she said. “My dance partner Pasha taught me to be more open and I surprised myself. I took myself less seriously and gained confidence.”