Helen Flanagan's Memoir Reveals Near Romance with James Argent
Former Coronation Street star Helen Flanagan has unveiled intimate details about a near romance with The Only Way Is Essex personality James Argent in her newly released memoir, Head & Heart: Break-ups, Breakdowns and Being Rosie. The 35-year-old actress and reality television star recounted a peculiar moment of tension between them while lying on a bed during their time together on the 2013 reality series Celebrity Super Spa.
A Moment of 'Heat' That Nearly Spilled Over
In her book, Flanagan describes a hotel room encounter where Argent was stroking her back, creating what she called a 'brief moment of heat' that felt 'weird'. She admitted to liking him 'a lot' at the time, with rumours of a potential romance swirling among producers and the public. However, she reflected that Argent likely had stronger feelings for her, noting he wasn't her typical type due to his breakfast habits of eating Greggs sausage rolls, contrasting with her preference for sporty, health-conscious partners.
'I think it could have spilled over then, but there was something holding me back,' Flanagan wrote. 'And when that moment passed, it was like it was done.' She acknowledged that show producers actively encouraged the pairing, trying to convince her they would make a good couple, but her mixed emotions over her ex-fiancé Scott Sinclair complicated matters.
Opening Up About Sexuality on Celebs Go Dating
Elsewhere in the memoir, Flanagan delves into her experiences on the reality dating show Celebs Go Dating, where she discussed her 'confusion over her sexuality'. She revealed feeling panicked during filming in 2024, worried about disappointing her mother with these personal revelations. 'The thought of this footage going out on national telly got me really depressed, like I’d massively let her down as a daughter,' she explained.
Thankfully, producers were understanding and agreed to edit the scenes with care, completely removing the parts where she opened up about her sexuality. This collaborative editing process helped alleviate her concerns and allowed her to share her story on her own terms.
Controversy and Confessions on the Dating Show
Flanagan's time on Celebs Go Dating was not without drama. She caused a stir by confessing to having a boyfriend 'back at home', leading to threats of being axed from the series for lying about her secret relationship with Robbie Talbot. Love guru Paul Brunson expressed frustration, stating she had wasted everyone's time, including the dates'. Despite this, Flanagan requested to stay in the agency for therapy purposes, highlighting her ongoing personal struggles.
Her relationship with former non-league footballer Robbie Talbot, 45, began after her split from ex-fiancé Scott Sinclair in 2022, with whom she shares three children: Matilda, nine, Delilah, six, and son Charlie, four. Flanagan and Talbot went public in 2024 but split in May 2025, marking another chapter in her tumultuous romantic life.
The memoir provides a candid look into Flanagan's life, blending celebrity gossip with deeper reflections on identity and relationships. Representatives for James Argent and Celebs Go Dating have been contacted for comment on these revelations.
