Helen Flanagan's Explosive Coronation Street Feud with Ryan Thomas Revealed
Former Coronation Street actress Helen Flanagan has dropped a series of bombshell revelations in her new memoir, including the startling admission that she once told co-star Ryan Thomas to "f*** off" during a blazing row on set. The actress, best known for playing Rosie Webster on the long-running ITV soap, has opened up about the heated behind-the-scenes tensions that marred her final years on the cobbles.
The Furious Fallout Between Co-Stars
In her candid new book Head & Heart: Break-ups, Breakdowns and Being Rosie, Flanagan confirms that although she and Thomas worked closely together as on-screen couple Rosie Webster and Jason Grimshaw from 2011 to 2012, their real-life relationship was often strained to breaking point. The mother-of-three reveals that their clashes were "something chronic" and stemmed from what she perceived as Thomas's unprofessional behaviour on set.
Flanagan writes explicitly about one particularly fraught moment when tensions boiled over completely. "He once told me outright that he didn't like me and I told him to f*** off (mature of me)," she confesses in her memoir. The actress goes further to claim that Thomas "never used to know his lines" and would often arrive on set "dead grumpy in the mornings," creating a difficult working environment.
From Feud to Friendship Over the Years
Despite the intensity of their past conflicts, Flanagan reveals that time has healed many of the old wounds. She notes that in recent years, she and Thomas have "moved in similar circles" within the showbiz world and have actually developed a much more cordial relationship. The actress expresses genuine warmth toward her former co-star and his family, stating that she now has "a lot of time for Ryan and his brothers, Adam and Scott."
This reconciliation appears to have developed organically as they've crossed paths at various entertainment industry events over the years. Flanagan's admission suggests that while their working relationship was undoubtedly turbulent during her time on Coronation Street, the passage of time has allowed for a more mature perspective on their past disagreements.
Additional Revelations from Flanagan's Explosive Memoir
The revelation about her feud with Ryan Thomas is just one of several surprising disclosures in Flanagan's book. She also reveals that she and fellow Coronation Street actress Brooke Vincent once dated the same Manchester City footballer during their time on the soap. Flanagan confesses to having a brief fling with youth player Reece Wabara before he went on to date Vincent.
"I went out a few times with a Manchester City youth player called Reece Wabara who – and this is too funny – Brooke later ended up going out with," Flanagan writes. She describes the footballer as "gorgeous" but admits the relationship "fizzled out as quickly as it had started" and suggests Wabara was "a bit of a ladies' man anyway."
Flanagan even shares an amusing anecdote about being kicked out of Wabara's lodgings by his "furious landlady" after a night out in Manchester, adding another layer of personal revelation to her already candid memoir.
Departure from Coronation Street and New Beginnings
Helen Flanagan's time on Coronation Street came to an end in 2012 when her character Rosie left Weatherfield to pursue a modelling career in London, following her split from Jason Grimshaw's character. The actress has since built a successful career away from the soap, including modelling work, television appearances, and now her literary debut with Head & Heart.
Her memoir provides unprecedented insight into the sometimes turbulent world of soap opera production, where close working relationships can sometimes fracture under the pressure of demanding schedules and high-profile storylines. Flanagan's willingness to address these difficult moments head-on, while also acknowledging her own role in the conflicts, offers readers a remarkably honest perspective on her soap opera years.
