HELEN Flanagan admits it herself – she isn’t the best at being single.
In 2022, when she , after 13 years together, friends suggested she might want some time on her own.
But while former Corrie star says she loves being independent, she also craves affection and gets lonely without a partner, so it wasn’t long before she’d signed up to app Raya.
She says: “A lot of my friends were trying to put me on a man ban, which obviously didn’t work! I was hurting from the break-up, I was confused and I’ve always just wanted to be loved, so I started dating.
“I’m one of these people who always has a boyfriend. I don’t know why I’m like that.
“Maybe it’s down to my , which makes me quite impulsive. I’m just not good at being single, and when I’ve got a boyfriend I’m always obsessed with him.
“When I was on last year, they said I was ‘co-dependent’, and I’m not sure how I feel about that – it doesn’t sound very attractive does it?!”;
As she ventured back on to the dating scene, Helen, now 34, who is quickly realised that playing the game was very different from how she remembered.
Having got together with footballer Scott when she was just 19, she’d been out of the loop for a long time and found she had a lot to learn.
“I met a lot of d**kheads,”; she says, laughing. “Basically, guys who weren’t very nice or kind.
“I think I’d been so settled in my bubble with Scott that I didn’t know what warning signs to look out for.
“I promise you, I can spot them a mile off now.”;
As it happened, love turned up when Helen was least expecting it. , 45, in a bar in Alderley Edge a year ago.
The two got chatting and have been together ever since.
Helen says he makes her happy, but she’s reluctant to look too far into the future, adding that they’re no longer living together after construction worker Robbie temporarily moved in with her last September.
“He’s a kind, genuine person, he makes me laugh and he’s brilliant with my kids.
“He makes me feel good about myself and loved. I also love having a boyfriend who has a ‘normal’ job.
“But no one is perfect and I don’t want to say I think this is forever, because it puts too much pressure on us.
“I’d asked him to stay for a while, because I often get quite scared in the house on my own and feel safer with a man there.
“But Matilda is very sensitive and a proper daddy’s girl, and she struggles with not seeing Scott as often as she’d like.
“I always think about how she feels when she misses her dad, and having my boyfriend there maybe doesn’t help her.
“When you’re a mum, you do what you’ve got to do for your kids – I will always put mine first.
“Living apart keeps things fresh, because we have more date nights. Also, I still co-sleep with my kids, so they can get back into bed with me now, which they love.”;
Helen has met Robbie’s ex-wife and they got on well.
But Robbie and Scott haven’t been introduced (“I think that would be too weird,”; she says), and although there are reports that .
She says calling time on their relationship was the toughest decision she’s ever made, and learning to navigate co-parenting has been a complicated and emotional journey.
However, they’ve finally reached a place where they’re able to talk to each other directly, which is a world away from when relations were at an all-time low and the two of them were only communicating via their mothers – Scott had even blocked Helen’s phone number.
I’ll always be sad it didn’t work out with Scott, but we’re happier apart
One sign of how far they’ve come was Charlie’s fourth birthday party last month, which they were able to attend together – something that would have been unthinkable at one stage.
“Me and Scott really loved each other, but we were always quietly breaking up and then getting back together, so it had been a long time coming.
“In the end, it was me who decided [to break up]. I’ll always be sad it didn’t work out, and we still have love for each other, but we’re happier apart.
“I think it just takes time. We’re getting on OK and can talk and each other.
“I’ll send him pictures of the kids and things are easier. Break-ups are so sad, and if you can deal with it in a way where you’re on good terms, it’s better for your mental and 100% better for the kids.”;
Anger, sadness and heartbreak
She adds: “Don’t get me wrong, sometimes we still end up telling each other to f**k off! But we’ve managed to keep things quite nice and we’ve been fair to each other.
“It’s helped that our families get on and I have a good relationship with his mum.”;
Could she see them being friends again at some stage?
“I hope so. It’s nice if you can still have that. Sometimes, no matter how much you love someone, things just don’t work out.
“But we’ve got three beautiful kids.
“You go through so many feelings after a break-up – anger, sadness, heartbreak – and then I think you eventually arrive at a little bit of peace.”;
Footballer Scott, 36, plays for and is based in the south west, which means Helen, who lives near , does the day-to-day parenting with help from her mum.
And although Scott provides financial support for their children, Helen has to earn her own living – something she prides herself on.
It is one of the reasons it was so painful when a .
In the hope that the judge would not issue a ban, Helen’s solicitor prepared a mitigation plea revealing sensitive details about her personal life and income – she hadn’t been aware the statement could be reported in the press and was devastated when the information was made public.
“I was absolutely mortified,”; she says. “If I’d known that could be reported, I would never have said anything – I would have saved my dignity and said nothing, because it was humiliating.
“I’m a very proud person – I work hard and I’m an independent woman.
“I’ve always worked, even when I didn’t have to when I was with Scott.
“I think people look at me, see I’ve worked on TV and assume I’m loaded. That’s not the case – I wasn’t married to my ex and we’re still sorting things out [financially].
“We just wanted to make it clear that, as a single mum of three, I needed a car to get about, but couldn’t afford a driver or taxis every day.”;
Helen says that the case came about after Robbie was twice caught speeding while driving her Audi, and when documents were sent to her address, she “naively”; thought he was the one who needed to fill them in, not realising that as the owner of the vehicle, it was her responsibility.
She was subsequently charged with two counts of failing to give information relating to the identification of a driver and Wirral Magistrates’ Court banned her from driving for six months.
“I’m a good person and I respect the law,”; she says. “I’ll take it on the chin, but what I was guilty of was making a mistake with the paperwork.
“It was a hard lesson and it put a lot of pressure on me and Robbie. I didn’t speak to him for two weeks, I was so furious.”;
While she serves the ban, Helen is travelling by train and (on Robbie’s account, she jokes), and she’s also taken control of her finances with some professional advice.
“I wasn’t very good at dealing with , but I’ve got an amazing financial advisor now, who has sorted things out for me.
“I’m not saying my job is hard, but I genuinely work every day, and for it to be implied that I didn’t, wasn’t nice. So January was a bit rubbish.”;
I get sent horrible sexual messages and d**k pics, which is just gross
Helen is certainly in a stronger place now, though, and there are plans for a return to acting very soon.
Last year she was forced to (she was replaced in the role of Miss Scarlett by Ellie Leach) after a reaction to her ADHD medication caused her to suffer an episode of psychosis.
“I was absolutely heartbroken, but I was so poorly and I had to prioritise my health,”; she says.
She’s also taken control of her debilitating premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) with natural remedies and is looking to move house, and possibly cities, for a fresh start.
‘It’s disgusting. Such odd behaviour'
One thing she never allows to get the better of her is the daily social media trolling she’s subjected to.
She reckons she’s built up such a tolerance to it over her years in the public eye, that now the nasty comments and judgement barely register.
“I’ve had some vile racist messages about my kids, and that’s the only time it gets to me.
“I also sometimes get horrible sexual messages, which make me feel uncomfortable.
“Men will send me d**k pics, which is just gross. What am I supposed to think? ‘Oh, that looks nice?!’
“It’s disgusting. Such odd behaviour.
“But these people are just sad and have no life. When I get mean comments, it doesn’t bother me because I’m so used to it. I’ve got such a thick skin now.
“I was on from the age of nine, and people would discuss my acne and how ugly I was.
“Then I did [in 2012] where I was absolutely fed to the lions!
“I get comments about my lips, although I’ve actually not had that much filler in them, just a tiny bit in the top one.
“And I got trolled to death when me and Robbie went out to a restaurant with his daughter, and people said it was inappropriate because I was wearing a mini-skirt. I mean. . .
“I don’t understand it. I’d never ever comment about how another woman looked. I know I’m a nice person and, because I’m quite comfortable in myself, none of that matters to me.
“It’s just social media! I honestly see it as a work thing and I can ignore it.”;
Just because I’m a mum, it doesn’t mean I can’t wear nice lingerie
Another topic that regularly attracts judgemental comments on , following post-split weight loss and all three children.
Lingerie shoots and nights out also provoke backlash, but Helen refuses to let the trolls dictate what she posts.
“I’d always had big boobs, but when I finished breastfeeding I was left with loose skin.
“It was really affecting my confidence and I was so self-conscious of them.
“The implants have just filled them back out and I think that’s what makes them look natural – they’re back to what they were supposed to be.
“No one should feel ashamed of having surgery. Just because I’m a mum, that doesn’t mean I can’t wear nice lingerie and feel empowered in that way. I’m also a bit of a rebel and if someone tells me not to do something, it makes me want to do it even more!”;
Despite what the trolls may think, in person, Helen is incredibly sweet, funny and generous with her time – Fabulous always looks forward to working with her.
She’s also a lot smarter than she’s given credit for. “Yeah, but I don’t do myself any favours, do I?”; she says with a smile.
She’s referring to her appearance last year on , when she was asked: “What are the White Cliffs of Dover made out of – chalk or cheese?”; Helen answered cheese.
“I hadn’t really heard the question. I mistakenly heard something about , thought of Cornish cheese and in panic mode, went with that.”;
She shrugs – this sort of stuff doesn’t faze her.
“Obviously, it made me sound stupid, but I can laugh about it. It was a job, I was paid and that meant I got to take my kids on holiday.”;
So really, who’s laughing now?
IN THE MAKE-UP CHAIR WITH HELEN
What are your bag essentials? Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Face Base, Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation, Exagger-Eyes Volume Mascara and Hourglass Arch Brow Shaping Gel.
Any heroes? I love Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm.
Favourite product? Laura Mercier Almond Coconut Serum body cream.
Do you have any beauty tips? Get yourself a good lady and daily collagen.
- Additional photography: Instagram/Helen Flanagan  
- Hair & make-up: Ashley Parkin (@Makeupbyashleyuk)  
- Styling: Lynne McKenna
-  Clothing: Helen's dress, Guess, bra, Boux Avenue; knickers, River Island
