Helen Flanagan is all smiles as she talks about her bustling life, which includes a new romance, a thriving career, and her three lovely children. The 34 year old actress was positively glowing with festive cheer during our catch-up at the Hyde Park Winter Wonderland opening. "I am so looking forward to Christmas," Helen gushed, with her daughter Matilda by her side on the red carpet. The ex-Coronation Street star co-parents Matilda, nine, Delilah, six, and three year old Charlie with her ex-partner, Bristol Rovers ace Scott Sinclair.
She reveals they'll be spending Christmas with her family this year. "I've got the kids this Christmas and we're going to my mum's. We take turns, so you're with Mummy and Grandma this year, aren't you? " she affectionately tells Matilda. "And then you're with Daddy for New Year, so [Scott will] have them then."
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Instagram)Helen admits that their family doesn't stick to any particular Christmas traditions due to Scott's hectic football schedule. "We don't really have any family traditions that we do, every Christmas has been quite different for the kids. Especially because of their dad's football, it can be busy around this time of year," Helen told OK!.
Helen is gearing up for her first Christmas with ex-footballer beau Robbie Talbot, having gone Instagram official this summer amidst a bit of a stir – she was still on Celebs Go Dating at the time. Robbie, who's 45, brings to the mix his two daughters, Sophie, 14, and Carina, 10, from a previous relationship, making it a festive family affair.
"I think Robbie has his girls in the morning and then he's going to come to my mum's for Christmas lunch, later on."
When quizzed about the family's wish list, Matilda, Helen's daughter, cutely mentions she's after ice skating lessons. "She also wants a phone," Helen interjects, before turning to Matilda with a cautionary note, "But me and Daddy need to chat about that one and decide if you can have one or not, we aren't sure! " Matilda, nodding in agreement, shares, "The thing I really want for Christmas is to spend time with my family."
Looking beyond the festivities, Helen is optimistic about the new year, a sentiment she confesses wasn't there last year. "I'm feeling quite positive about 2025, I wasn't positive about 2024 but it turned out quite good," she says with a chuckle, hinting at the joy Robbie has brought into her life.
Last New Year's Eve was a tough time for Helen, as she battled with her mental health, which led to a severe reaction to ADHD medication and full-blown psychosis. She confessed that the festive period was "really terrible" following her split from Scott after 13 years together, saying, "I was emotionally struggling with the break-up from the father of my kids."
However, a year can bring about significant changes, and now Helen admits she's in a much better place – even contemplating her New Year's resolutions.
"I like to just make one resolution for the New Year or I feel like you can't stick to them," she chuckles. "I'm not sure what mine is, but I'd like to start reformer Pilates – that looks really good and would keep me healthy. It is hard to stick to things when you have three kids!"
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ITV/REX/Shutterstock)Before the holiday season fully kicks in, Helen says she's currently enjoying watching the latest instalment of I'm A Celebrity, especially as it features her former Coronation Street colleague Alan Halsall, who she's "backing all the way".
Helen, who took part in I'm A Celeb in 2012 and then joined the South Africa version of the show in 2023, spilled the beans on her jungle experience, and what Alan has in store. "I've known Alan since I was on it myself, and I think he'll do really well. He's very grounded, he's got a lot about him and he's good looking, so he'll do really well in the jungle," with Matilda chiming in, "Hopefully he comes out King of the Jungle! "
After finishing seventh in 2012, Helen still describes the experience as "really, really hard", and says Alan hasn't come looking for any of her jungle survival tips. "No, he didn't come to me for any advice, probably because I didn't do very well! " she laughs.
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