Helen Flanagan has shared a further personal update after posting an emotional video on Monday about her struggles with co-parenting and being away from her children. The mum of three broke down on Instagram as she explained that her anxiety was bad recently and she was feeling overwhelmed.
The former Coronation Street star shares three children with her ex-partner, Scott Sinclair. They have two daughters together, nine-year-old Matilda, six-year-old Delilah and son Charlie who is three years old. Helen separated from the footballer in 2022 after 13 years together and getting engaged.
In the tearful video, she admitted she thinks the time away from her children will allow her to be more “clear-headed” when they return. She continued this sentiment in a more upbeat video shared yesterday.
The actress told Instagram followers that she relies on social media to make connections with others, saying: “I feel like I have been sharing my life on social media for such a long time and I do actually put my life on, I don’t sugar-coat anything and I do keep it real.
“I do like to connect with other women and thank you so much for your lovely messages and it made me feel like I wasn’t on my own.”
Opening up about the emotions she has shown recently, she added: “I don’t usually like to cry but I do like to share my real life on here and actually be myself.
“After crying, I’ve actually got a really working week – this is the thing with my ADHD, when I look at my working week I realise I actually needed the childcare.
“I am on a really big shoot today for something really exciting, really exciting. That’s today which I am buzzing about. For me, especially with the kids when the kids are away, my work just saves me, my work is like my everything. I need my work, I need that focus.”
The Rosie Webster actress continued: “This is my ADHD brain, I really needed the childcare actually.” Helen has been open her fears concerning what her children will think of her when she is older.
She told followers: “I don’t want my kids looking back and thinking ‘mummy was always stressed, mummy was shouting’ because actually, mummy really loves you but mum just feels she’s spinning loads of plates”, and admitted “with having ADHD I really struggle to regulate my emotions.”
The mum of three recently split from ex-footballer Robbie Talbot. Robbie, who used to play for Marine FC had a relationship with Helen during and after her stint on the E4 reality show, Celebs Go Dating, which was broadcast last year.
She has also appeared on I’m A Celebrity South Africa in 2023 and Celebs Go Dating in 2024, but is most known for being a part of the Webster family on Coronation Street.
She played the role of Rosie Webster on the Cobbles from 2000 to 2012 and from 2017 to 2018. After going on maternity leave in 2018, she did not return to the role.