The daughter of Holby City actor John Michie apparently took an "illegal substance" before her death at Bestival, her family has said.

Louella Eve Fletcher-Michie, 25, was found dead in a wooded area on the edge of the festival site at Lulworth Castle, Dorset, on Monday.

Dorset Police arrested musician Ceon Broughton, 28, who was known to Ms Michie, on suspicion of her murder and supplying a class A drug.

Mr Broughton, from London, was released under investigation on Tuesday after a post-mortem examination showed no clear signs of assault.

In a statement released through Mr Michie's agent, the family said: "Our hearts are broken by this horrific tragedy.

"We do not believe there to have been any malice intended in Louella and Ceon's weekend at Bestival.

"They appear to have taken an illegal substance but we would appreciate cautious and sensitive reporting until the facts are known.

"Louella inspired all who knew her with her joy of life. The family would like to thank everyone for their heartfelt tributes and messages."

Police said further tests, including a toxicology report, will take place over coming weeks to establish if there were any substances in Ms Michie's system or other suspicious circumstances.

Ex-Coronation Street actor Mr Michie, 60, and his wife Carol - a former Hot Gossip singer - have two other children, Daisy and Sam.

As reported, police probing the death of a TV star’s daughter at Bestival have been questioning a man on suspicion of supplying a Class A drug.

The body of Louella Eve Fletcher-Michie, daughter of Holby City actor John Michie, was found in woods on the edge of the festival site at Lulworth in the early hours of Monday.

A post-mortem examination showed no clear signs of assault, police said.

A 28-year-old man from London, who was known to Ms Fletcher-Michie, was arrested on suspicion of murder on Monday.

Police said the man, who had been in custody under caution, had also being interviewed on suspicion of supplying a controlled Class A drug.

Officers said tonight the man had been 'released under investigation'.

Dorset Echo:

SITE: Aerial picture of Bestival showing where the body of Louella Fletcher-Michie was found  Picture: BNPS

It comes as tributes pour in for Miss Fletcher-Michie, 25, who worked as a dancer and model.

Police said further examinations, including a toxicology report, will take place over the coming weeks in order to establish whether there are any substances in her system or other suspicious circumstances.

Detective Chief Inspector Sarah Derbyshire, of Dorset Police, said earlier: “Detectives are working tirelessly to investigate the full circumstances surrounding this tragic death. A post mortem examination took place that was inconclusive and therefore we need to undertake a number of other examinations before we can establish why she died.

“The 28-year-old man arrested is in addition being interviewed on suspicion of supply of a controlled drug.

“He was known to Louella. We continue to work with the festival organisers and our thoughts are with Louella’s family at this extremely difficult time. We would ask that their privacy is respected.”

Her 60-year-old father said that the family had “lost an angel”, but that the death of Louella was “not murder”.
He said: “We’ve lost our angel. It’s not murder – they were friends. It was just a tragic mistake, a tragic accident."

He added: "She touched so many lives. She was so very positive, so bright, so out there. She had such energy. The tributes to her have been incredible.”

Mr Michie, 66, played Karl Munro in Coronation Street from 2011 to 2013, having previously starred as Detective Inspector Robbie Ross in drama series Taggart from 1998 to 2010.

He currently plays neurosurgeon Guy Self in BBC medical drama Holby City.

Actor and director Richard Wilson, a close family friend, was the godfather of Ms Michie.

In a statement he said: “Richard Wilson was very, very attached to her and does not feel able to comment at this present time.”

Mr Wilson is believed to have first met Mr Michie on the set of period drama film A Passage To India in 1984.

In an interview in 2012, Mr Michie told how his daughter Louella was born when he was acting in Mr Wilson’s play Women Laughing in 1992.

Chriss and Tiffany Campbell-Welch, the directors of Tiffany Theatre College, paid tribute to former student Ms Fletcher-Michie.

“Louella was a very gifted student, a beautiful young lady with a sweet soul who was well loved by everyone, peers and mentors alike,” they said.

“She had a wonderful ability to light up the room with her smile and make everyone feel happy.”

PHILIP Hutchinson, a DJ who performed at Bestival under the stage name DJ GG, said he believed people had been going to the woodland where Ms Michie’s body was found to take drugs.

Last Friday, the first night of the festival, Dorset Police had warned people about rogue pale blue ecstasy pills that were in circulation at Bestival and asked anyone who came across them to dispose of them.

Mr Hutchinson, 47, from Guildford, Surrey, said: “I finished my DJ set and went back to the camp site at 2.30am.

“A policeman with a torch was there looking in tents. They said they were investigating a missing person and that we would find out all about it in the morning.

“Clearly it was a lot more important than just a missing person.

“We later saw two policemen milling around in the brambles behind our campsite with torches and that was the area where the police cordon was in the morning.

“We thought it couldn’t have been a murder because there were only three policemen there. There were no people in white forensic suits and a forensic tent.

“I am sure people were going there to do drugs.”

THIS is the first year the festival - which included performances from the Pet Shop Boys, Dizzee Rascal, The xx and Rag ‘n’ Bone Man - was held at the Lulworth site after relocating from the Isle of Wight.

Bestival organisers have said they are “devastated” following Miss Fletcher-Michie’s death.

Officers at the music event were alerted just before 1am on Monday to a concern for the welfare of a 25-year-old woman from London who had attended the festival.

Sadly, following a search of the area the body of the woman was located in a wooded area on the edge of the festival site.

Her family have been informed and the coroner has been notified.

Speaking at the Bestival site yesterday, Detective Chief Inspector Chris Weeks of Dorset Police would not comment on how the woman died, but said that a post-mortem was being carried out.

He added: "Dorset Police are working in partnership with Bestival to make sure that the investigation continues successfully."

Dorset Echo:

ENQUIRIES: Police outside the festival site on Monday

In a statement, Bestival said: "The team at Bestival are devastated to hear about this tragic news.

"We continue to support the police in their ongoing investigation and our thoughts and prayers are with all the woman's family and friends."

Festival founder Rob da Bank tweeted a link to the statement, which was posted on the festival's Facebook page.

The four-day festival came to an end on Sunday night with the last of the festival goers leaving the site on Monday.

Among them was Des Thomas, 22, who reacted to the news by saying: "That's so sad. It must be horrible for her family and friends."

A person who works near the festival site said: "My heart goes out to her friends and family – they must be devastated.”

Bestival was first held at Robin Hill country park on the Isle of Wight in 2004 but moved to Lulworth this year.

Lulworth Castle is already the home of Bestival's sister event, the smaller family- friendly Camp Bestival held at the end of July.

Both festivals were founded by the DJ Rob da Bank.

The 2017 event, which featured a giant Kanye West head and a bouncy castle large enough for 100 people, was expected to attract around 30,000 festival-goers.

Organisers are due to hold the first Bestival Bali in Indonesia at the end of September.

Bestival was hit by heavy rain and high winds in its Dorset debut at the weekend with the site swamped in mud.

The main arena was evacuated on Sunday over safety fears.

On Sunday afternoon, performances on the main Castle Stage were halted before the main arena was completely evacuated due to the strength of the winds.

Most of the acts were able to be rescheduled but Loyle Carner was unable to perform his set and apologised to his fans. 

Police investigating the death at the festival say anyone with information should contact Dorset Police at www.dorset.police.uk, via email 101@dorset.pnn.police.uk or by calling 101, quoting incident number 11:36.

Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 or via www.crimestoppers-uk.org