Former Coronation Street actress Helen Flanagan has returned to the stage, commencing rehearsals for a new play in Bolton on Monday. The 35-year-old's professional comeback follows a challenging Christmas where she was separated from her three children amidst an ongoing and bitter co-parenting dispute with her ex-partner, former footballer Scott Sinclair.
A New Role Amid Personal Turmoil
Helen Flanagan was spotted arriving for her first day of rehearsals at The Bolton Octagon theatre, where she will star in the comedy The Memory of Water. The actress, who plays Catherine, one of three sisters reunited before their mother's funeral, opted for a casual, make-up free look. She wore a black knitted sweater and leather skirt, carrying her essentials in an oversized fluffy bag and sipping a takeaway coffee before joining fellow actors, including former Corrie star Vicky Binns.
The Festive Fallout and Co-Parenting Conflict
The actress found the recent festive period particularly difficult as she spent Christmas apart from her children—Matilda, 10, Delilah, seven, and son Charlie, four. This separation occurred during Scott Sinclair's allocated time with the children this year, a situation that reportedly left Helen furious. The tension was exacerbated by a prior incident in early December, when Helen publicly criticised Scott for failing to attend their son Charlie's school nativity play.
At the time, Scott was in Abu Dhabi attending the Formula 1 Grand Prix, posting photos of his trip online. Helen reacted fiercely on her own social media, re-sharing his post with the caption: 'You really are a piece of s***. How dare you not turn up to Charlie's nativity.' In contrast, Scott later shared peaceful images of Christmas with the children, captioned 'Peace and happiness', including a festive trip to an ice rink.
Navigating Single Parenthood and Public Scrutiny
The couple, who were together for 13 years before splitting in 2022, are navigating a complex co-parenting arrangement. Sources suggest Helen feels Scott has been prioritising his social life, embracing a 'Hot Boy Winter' since his split from girlfriend Lauren Davies, 32, while she balances a full-time work schedule in pantomime with family life. 'Helen's livid with Scott's behaviour. He's thinking about himself, not his children,' an insider commented, adding that Helen feels Scott 'picks and chooses' when he sees the children.
As Helen Flanagan throws herself into her new theatrical venture in Bolton, the personal challenges of managing a high-profile separation and shared custody continue. Her return to work marks a professional step forward while the private negotiations and emotions of her co-parenting row with Scott Sinclair remain a significant backdrop.
