Former Coronation Street actress Helen Flanagan has shared an emotional insight into her "up and down" Christmas spent without her three children, following a very public row with her ex-partner, footballer Scott Sinclair.
An Emotional Festive Confession on Instagram
The 35-year-old star, currently playing the Wicked Queen in the Snow White pantomime in Liverpool over the holidays, took to Instagram to reveal her struggles. Posting a photo of herself in a pink halterneck top, she penned a candid caption about her mood.
"Been a bit up and down mood wise the past few days. So not really been on my social so thought we could have a catch up," Helen wrote. She accompanied this with a nostalgic throwback picture from last year's celebrations with her children: Matilda, 10, Delilah, seven, and Charlie, four.
Helen, who split from Scott Sinclair in 2022 after 13 years together, explained the specific timing of their separation this Christmas. "I struggled with the kids going for Christmas a few days before they went," she admitted. "I know it's just a day. They went on the 22nd and I don't get them back until I finish panto."
Behind the Scenes of a Rocky Co-Parenting Relationship
This heartfelt admission comes just weeks after Helen launched a scathing attack on her ex, calling him a "piece of s**t" for reportedly choosing a trip to Abu Dhabi over attending their son's nativity play. The pair's relationship has remained strained since their breakup, despite several attempts at reconciliation.
In a recent interview with Closer magazine, Helen was blunt about their co-parenting dynamics, particularly regarding gifts. "Oh, we have to discuss buying gifts for the kids," she said. "It would really annoy me if we bought the same thing. Anyway, I don't actually think Scott would go shopping for the kids, he's a man. He's totally useless, his mum probably does it. So I just tell him what I'm buying them and that's that."
A History of Love Without Like
The actress has previously been open about the complex nature of her feelings for Scott. Speaking on Charlotte Dawson's podcast last year, Helen revealed, "I still love him very much, I care about him deeply, but we don’t like each other. We don’t like each other at all, we don’t get on."
She added a touch of humour, recalling, "The last time I saw him, I thought it was quite funny, I was taking the p*** out of him because he had a bucket hat on. I think he was trying not to laugh."
Despite the clashes, Helen has expressed a desire for amicable relations for the sake of their mental health and their children. She told The Sun earlier this year, "Break-ups are so sad, and if you can deal with it in a way where you're on good terms, it's better for your mental health and 100% better for the kids."
For now, the actress is channelling her energy into her pantomime run in Liverpool, counting down the days until she is reunited with Matilda, Delilah, and Charlie. Scott Sinclair has not publicly responded to her latest comments about their Christmas arrangements.
