Soap star Helen Flanagan has been joyfully reunited with her three children following a Christmas spent apart, amidst a continuing and very public dispute with her ex-partner, footballer Scott Sinclair.
A Festive Period Apart
Helen Flanagan spent the festive season away from her children, Matilda, 10, Delilah, seven, and Charlie, four, after they celebrated Christmas with their father. The separation came during a period of heightened tension between the former couple, who split in 2022 after 13 years together. The actress also endured the added stress of a car crash during this time, which she described as "totally my fault."
The rift was evident on social media, where Flanagan had previously branded Sinclair "a piece of s**t" after he missed their son Charlie's nativity performance due to a trip to Abu Dhabi. In contrast, Sinclair documented an idyllic Christmas with the children, posting a peaceful family photo in a forest with the caption 'Peace and happiness' and sharing snaps of a festive ice-skating trip.
New Year, New Beginnings?
On Wednesday night, Flanagan took to Instagram to signal a happier turn, posting glamorous snaps from a swanky New Year's Eve party where she rang in 2026 with her beloved brood. The actress looked sensational in a strapless black dress as she cosied up to her kids. She captioned the sweet images: 'New Year’s Eve with my babies mummy loves you so much Matilda, Delilah and Charlie xxx'.
The reunion followed just days after the children appeared on their father's social media accounts. The following morning, a more casual Flanagan was spotted leaving a hotel, makeup-free and clutching papers while dragging a suitcase, a world away from her glamorous NYE look.
Underlying Struggles and Public Spats
Despite the joyful reunion, the actress has been open about her recent struggles. While performing as the Wicked Queen in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in Liverpool throughout December, she grappled with significant "mum guilt" for being away from her children for two months.
Flanagan has also spoken candidly about her mental health, revealing she feels her ADHD has become "more severe" as she gets older and that she is "too scared" to go back on medication following a 2023 diagnosis of psychosis after a bad reaction to ADHD drugs. On New Year's Eve, she told fans she felt "deflated" and "rubbish" about herself, citing the transition after panto and her ADHD being "in overdrive."
The public feud has seen several indirect swipes. Flanagan recently praised her mother, Julia, for "practically raising her kids" during her pantomime run, calling her "the BEST grandma ever." Sources suggest communication between the exes has broken down completely, with Flanagan having blocked Sinclair and only communicating through relatives.
As 2026 begins, the focus for Flanagan appears firmly on her children, though the unresolved tensions with their father continue to cast a shadow over their co-parenting arrangement.
