Helen Flanagan has sparked criticism after posting a lighthearted video about taking only one of her three children on holiday, following a passport mishap that left her eldest daughter devastated.
The 36-year-old Coronation Street star had planned a trip to Lake Como with her daughter Matilda, 11, but discovered just before departure that the youngster's passport needed renewing. Despite trying to secure an emergency passport, she was unable to get one in time.
Instead, Helen took her eight-year-old daughter Delilah, and shared a playful video of them enjoying a drink at the airport, with the caption: "When your brother and sister's passport is out of date but yours isn't."
Backlash over holiday decision
The post drew criticism from followers, with some questioning why Helen continued with the holiday after Matilda's disappointment. One wrote: "Imagine being so selfish that you abandon two-thirds of your kids to go on holiday, and then make a jokey post about it....." Another asked: "Why didn’t you put the holiday on hold until ya got the other two passports sorted out?"
Helen had earlier shared her heartbreak over the passport issue, explaining that she flew to Scotland to try to get Matilda an emergency passport but was unsuccessful. She said: "So I went down to Scotland, I fly to Lake Como on Thursday, to try to get Matilda an emergency passport and we've not been able to get one."
Matilda's disappointment
The actress revealed how upset Matilda was, writing: "My little girls cried on my shoulder, she was so looking forward to our trip." The pair had enjoyed a mother-and-daughter trip to Lake Como last year.
While adults can sometimes get replacement passports through a one-day premium service, this option is not available for children under 16. The quickest option for a child is the one-week Fast Track service, which requires an appointment and is subject to availability.
Helen shares all three of her children with ex-fiancé Scott Sinclair, from whom she split in 2022 after 13 years together.
