Former Coronation Street star Helen Flanagan has publicly criticised the long-running ITV soap for what she describes as the inappropriate sexualisation of her character when she was just a teenager. The actress, now 35, who is best known for playing Rosie Webster on the cobbled streets of Weatherfield, has opened up about her discomfort with scenes she filmed at age 16.
Concerns Over Teenage Sexualisation on Set
Helen Flanagan made her first appearance on Coronation Street in the year 2000 and starred on the popular programme until 2012, with a brief return in 2017. She has now revealed disturbing details about her early experiences on the show, particularly focusing on storylines that involved her character in sexual situations while she was still a minor.
Questioning the Morality of Teen Storylines
In a recent interview with The Mirror, Flanagan posed a poignant question about her treatment: "Was it morally right that I was expected to parade about in my knickers like some mad nymphomaniac when I was still just a teenager?" She elaborated on her concerns, explaining that she had to film intimate scenes with a significantly older male actor when she was only 16 years old.
The actress recalled that fellow cast member Alison King, who plays Carla Connor on the soap, once protested in the green room about how "disgusting" it was that producers were sexualising Flanagan when she was such a young girl. At the time, Flanagan admits she didn't fully comprehend King's concerns, but now understands the problematic nature of those early storylines.
Controversial Storyline Involving Teacher Grooming
The criticism centres particularly on a controversial storyline from 2006 in which Flanagan's then-15-year-old character Rosie Webster was groomed by her teacher John Stape, played by actor Graeme Hawley. The plot involved the teacher-student relationship being exposed, followed by Stape kidnapping and holding Rosie hostage after he was dismissed from his position. The character was later revealed to be a serial killer in subsequent storylines.
Flanagan has expressed discomfort with having to film what she describes as "sexualised" scenes with a "much older man" while she was still a teenager herself. She specifically mentioned having to perform kissing scenes and bedroom sequences that she now views as inappropriate given the age difference between herself and her co-star at the time.
Open to Coronation Street Return Despite Criticism
Despite her recent criticisms of the show's handling of her teenage storylines, Helen Flanagan has revealed that she remains open to returning to Coronation Street. It has been seven years since her last appearance on the soap, and the actress has indicated she would welcome the opportunity to reprise her role as Rosie Webster.
Flanagan, who still lives near the Salford-based set in Manchester, explained that returning to the show would be particularly convenient as she co-parents her three children with her ex-partner, former footballer Scott Sinclair. In an interview with The Sun, she stated: "I'd love to go back to Coronation Street, but they just haven't asked me and I live around the corner. I'd love to, if they asked me. I'd come back."
Potential Storyline Ideas for Character Return
The actress has even contemplated potential storylines for her character should she make a comeback to the ITV soap. Flanagan suggested that Rosie Webster could return as a single mother with a substantial storyline, perhaps involving her leaving her children with her on-screen mother Sally Webster while she reprises an iconic barmaid role at the Rovers Return.
This revelation about her willingness to return comes alongside other personal disclosures from Flanagan, including details about her brief involvement in what she described as a "throuple" with former heavyweight boxer David Haye. These personal revelations have kept the actress in the public eye even as she reflects on her early career experiences.
The Daily Mail has contacted ITV for comment regarding Flanagan's criticisms of her teenage storylines on Coronation Street. As of now, there has been no official response from the broadcaster or the soap's production team about the actress's concerns regarding the sexualisation of her character when she was a minor.
