Helen Flanagan has shared a message about leaving a relationship when feeling 'lonely' as she opened up about being a single mum. The actress, from Bury, shares three children - Matilda, 11, Delilah, eight, and Charlie, five - with her ex-fiancé Scott Sinclair.
A Difficult Decision
Earlier this year, she documented their move out of the family's Bolton home. The move comes after Helen and Scott spent the years following their split juggling co-parenting their children while living at opposite ends of the country. Helen had initially lived in the eight-bedroom house with Scott, prior to their separation in 2022 after 13 years together, but said it had been "really hard to keep on top of".
Since moving, the former Coronation Street star, famed for playing Rosie Webster in the ITV soap filmed in Salford, has continued to open up to fans about her life and career, including her upcoming stage roles.
An Emotional Message
In a new TikTok video, Helen could be seen hugging her eldest daughter and said that being a single mum is "hard", but suggested that being in an unhappy relationship with children involved is worse. She wrote alongside the clip, set to What Was I Made For? by Billie Eilish: "Being a single mum is really hard but not as hard as being in a hard relationship with kids x Still hard x You pick your hard x When I’m older, I’ll look back and know that I did it x I did it when I was stressed, sad and lonely x."
She was soon flooded with messages of love and support as others shared how they related to her situation. One said: "Well done my darling, you are doing a great job." Another commented: "You’re going a great job Helen." A third shared: "U are the richest mum having children who love you unconditionally." A fourth added: "It’s hard being a single mum but your babies are so loved!!You’ve always got this."
New Stage Roles
The post comes after Helen was left 'excited' as it was announced she's landed a major new theatre role that will see her back performing in Greater Manchester. She will appear as Michelle in the stage version of the cult classic comedy Rita, Sue & Bob Too! when it embarks on a new nationwide tour in 2027. Helen will join singer, actor, presenter and TV personality Jake Quickenden, who will lead the new tour as Bob, while further casting is still to be announced.
It marks Helen's second stage role, after she played Catherine in the 30th anniversary production of Shelagh Stephenson’s The Memory of Water at the Bolton Octagon and Liverpool Everyman earlier this year. The news comes ahead of her return to panto this Christmas, starring in Heywood Civic Centre's production of Aladdin this December. The production of Rita, Sue & Bob Too! will visit 11 venues between Friday 16 April and Sunday 4 July 2027, starting at St Helens Theatre Royal, before moving on to Harrogate, Northampton, Lincoln, Billingham, Birmingham, Bradford, Southport, Malvern and Stockport before ending at the Liverpool Olympia.
