Former Coronation Street actress Helen Flanagan has made a refreshingly honest confession about her capabilities on television game shows, declaring 'they're not my strong point' following a new appearance with her mother.
An Awkward Family Outing on TV
The 35-year-old star featured on Romesh Ranganathan's Parents' Evening on Saturday, November 8, alongside her mum, Julia. The comedy quiz show, which aired on ITV1 and ITVX, pits celebrity parent-and-child duos against each other in a battle of general knowledge.
They competed against other pairs, including footballer Robbie Savage with his son Charlie and drag performer Tayce with her father Qariem Radix. The popular primetime format sees parents select questions for their children and wager on how many correct answers they will achieve. Hitting the target wins prize money, while failure means the cash is divided among rival teams.
'Not My Strong Point'
In an exclusive chat, Flanagan was frank about her game show prowess. 'I mean, I wouldn't say that game shows are actually my strong point,' she admitted, referencing a recent stint on the celebrity edition of The Weakest Link, also hosted by Ranganathan.
That appearance was marked by a painfully awkward moment when she was stumped by a question linking a Top Gear presenter's surname to a month, leading to a lengthy and cringe-inducing silence.
Despite the mishaps, the actress spoke fondly of the host. 'I love Romesh. I think Romesh is hilarious. And obviously he does the show with his mum and stuff... I think he's a great presenter, isn't he? But, yeah, they're a laugh,' she added.
Mum Julia's Final Bow
Flanagan also revealed that this television appearance will be her mother's last. 'I don't feel like she really likes being in the spotlight,' she explained. 'I asked her to go and then she did. But, yeah, no, I don't think it's like her cup of tea, really.' She confirmed that she would not be asking her mum to appear on TV with her again.
The performer, who shares three children—Matilda, nine, Delilah, six, and Charlie, four—with her former fiancé, footballer Scott Sinclair, also expressed a protective instinct regarding her own children potentially entering the limelight.
'I think as a mum, obviously, you're very protective,' she said. 'I feel so grateful for the amazing opportunities I've had, but with my own kids, I just kind of obviously want your kids to be happy.'
