Former Coronation Street actress Helen Flanagan has publicly praised her mother for being her rock, as she navigates a very public and bitter fallout with her ex-fiancé, footballer Scott Sinclair.
A Public Spat Over a Missed Nativity
The tensions between the former couple, who were together for thirteen years and share three children, erupted recently. The catalyst was Scott Sinclair, 36, travelling to Abu Dhabi to watch the Formula One, which meant he missed the Nativity play of their four-year-old son, Charlie.
An angry Helen Flanagan, 35, did not hold back her feelings, taking to her Instagram Stories to launch a scathing attack on her ex. In a now-deleted post, she branded him with strong expletives, highlighting her fury over his absence at the important family event.
Mum Steps Into the Breach
Amid the personal turmoil, Flanagan has relied heavily on the support of her mother, Julia. The actress is currently starring as the Wicked Queen in a production of Snow White at Liverpool's M&S Bank Arena, a commitment that has kept her busy for weeks.
Taking to Instagram over the weekend, Helen shared a heartfelt tribute alongside a photo of Julia cuddling Charlie. "So grateful for my incredible mum who has looked after my children for really the past two months while I've been working," she wrote.
She continued, calling Julia "The BEST grandma ever" and thanking her for handling "all the school runs, all the activities, all the school work, all the washing." This public acknowledgment underscores the crucial role her mother is playing in maintaining stability for Helen's children: Matilda, 10, Delilah, seven, and Charlie, four.
The Challenges of Long-Distance Co-Parenting
Flanagan has previously spoken openly about the practical difficulties she and Sinclair face in raising their children together. The pair split in 2022 after being engaged since 2018, and now live a significant distance apart.
"He lives in Somerset and I live in Lancashire. So we live so far away from each other, which is really difficult when you've got three young children," she told The Sun earlier this year. She reiterated then how lucky she was to have her mother's support, stating Julia "really helps me bring up my children."
In an interview with Closer magazine in June, Helen gave further insight into their co-parenting dynamic, particularly around events like buying gifts. "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," she said. "So I just tell him what I'm buying them and that's that."
Despite the current friction, Helen continues to focus on her work and her children. She recently shared sweet snaps of her three kids visiting her at the theatre in Liverpool, captioning the images: "My babies. My 3 absolute everything's. Tired but happy mummy."
Her pantomime run in Liverpool continues until Sunday 28 December, with tickets ranging from £28 to £65.
