Helen Flanagan's surprise romance confession after Robbie Talbot split

Helen Flanagan has had a whirlwind few years when it comes to her personal life, from her split with longtime partner Scott Sinclair to a new relationship with another footballer, Robbie Talbot, which ended in May after a year together.

However, the former Coronation Street actress tells the Mirror she’s ready to get back out there on the dating scene again – she just doesn’t have a clue where to start.

“I’m open to dating, but I’m just so, so busy with the kids. When you’re 19 you can go out in Manchester and come home with a boyfriend a few days later, but I’m 35 now, I’m not really going to go on a night out am I, really?” smiles Helen, as we catch up at the star-studded National Television Awards.

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A busy mum-of-three, Helen shares her brood, Matilda, 10, Delilah, seven, and four-year- old Charlie with Bristol Rovers midfielder Scott.The pair were together for 13 years, meeting in 2009 at the height of Helen’s soap fame and getting engaged nine years later. However, they split in 2022, admitting later that their relationship had deteriorated to the point where they didn’t even “like” each other any more.

“I don’t see it as a break-up, I see it as a divorce,” Helen previously admitted of the breakdown of her relationship with Scott. “We were together for 13 years. But instead of processing it all, I threw myself into work and shut off my emotions. I just went into survival mode.”

Now, Helen co-parents her brood with Scott while working too, which leaves little time for dating. “It’s harder as you get older, and when you’re a mum you’re so busy – I’m just up to my eyes with my kids and work, all of the time.”

And the actress has made no secret of the impact the breakdown of her relationships have had on her three children, confessing back in April that she is understandably wary of bringing someone new into the fold. “Matilda is very sensitive and a proper daddy’s girl, and she struggles with not seeing Scott as often as she’d like,” she revealed, as she detailed how her little ones are dealing with their parents living apart.

Last year, Helen struck up a relationship with former footballer and construction worker Robbie while appearing on E4’s Celebs Go Dating – originally meeting off camera, but later bringing him on to the show. And the pair appeared totally smitten, Robbie even moved into Helen’s family home in September 2024.

But sadly, the living arrangement didn’t last long, and Robbie later moved out, as Helen admitted that her children – particularly her eldest, Matilda – were struggling with the new dynamic.

"I always think about how she feels when she misses her dad, and having my boyfriend there maybe doesn’t help her,” she said of the youngster. “When you’re a mum, you do what you’ve got to do for your kids – I will always put mine first.”

Helen and Robbie subsequently split, with reports that they were going in different directions, and Helen wanted to focus on work and her children. Now, the star tells us that, as she searches for love once again, she would be ready to throw in her hat for a second stint on the matchmaking show.

“I would definitely do Celebs Go Dating again! Why not? I think I was quite iconic on it, actually,” she says, with a giggle. “Honestly, I absolutely loved doing it, it was one of my favourite shows and I literally had the best time and the best summer. I love that show.”

The TV star even kept track of the latest series, she says, which recently wrapped and featured the likes of Kerry Katona, Jon Lee, Mark Labbett and Love Island’s Olivia Hawkins. “I thought Kerry was so endearing on it, and I loved Olivia on it, too. I thought Olivia was so gorgeous and a lot of women could relate to her. I really enjoyed this series.”

During our chat, ahead of a night at the National Television Awards, Helen says, “It’s nice to have a night off being in mum mode, but then l always miss the kids, so I can’t win.”

But the actress admits, it’s always fun catching up with her old Corrie pals. “I am looking forward to seeing everyone here tonight, I love it so much. I’ve been coming to the NTAs since I was 16 – and I’m really old now!” she exclaims.

“The NTAs, especially when I was younger, were always so exciting. Not many of the cast, especially the younger ones, used to get to come – it was always an adult thing. So, I remember feeling so lucky. It’s a night which always brings back such fond memories.”

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