Helen Flanagan dealt huge blow after eyeing-up Coronation Street return
Helen Flanagan played Rosie Webster on Coronation Street for 18 years and is ready to return after a sever-year-long maternity break - but execs have one issue
It's been almost seven years since Helen Flanagan left Coronation Street to go on maternity leave, and she still hasn't returned after a very long break. While the star didn't flat-out quit the ITV soap, many fans are desperate to know whether she'll ever be back - and the actress herself might also finally be ready to make her grand return.
Manchester -born Helen, 34, has played the villainous Rosie Webster on Corrie since 2000, but left after almost two decades to welcome kids Matilda, nine, Delilah Six, and Charlie, three, with her ex-fiancé Scott Sinclair.
She hasn't just been busy as a single mum, however, and has done plenty of modelling and influencing alongside bagging contracts with huge reality TV shows such as I'm a Celebrity and Celebs Go Dating. According to a pal, however, Helen is getting bored of the reality TV world and is feeling the pull towards the cobbles again.
'She has had enough of reality TV and would like a regular job,' an insider told The Sun, adding that the actress had recently spoken to a Coronation Street boss about returning some time soon.
However, the source added that despite Helen being ready, it might not be the right time for the show. 'Her character wouldn't currently feed into any plots that are playing out,' she explained.
Helen put her wish to return to Corrie out into the world last month during an exclusive chat with the Mirror last month, gushing: 'I'd absolutely love to go back to Coronation Street, I really, really would.'
While the soap exec reportedly said that her character couldn't fit in well at the moment, Helen even told us her own plot ideas for Rosie. 'I'd love to see Rosie Webster come back as a single mum, having just left her partner,' she said, explaining: 'She'd dump her two kids with Sally and I think she would be an iconic barmaid at Rovers Return.'
After savouring some years at home with the kids, Helen also shared that now was a better time than ever for her to get back to the old stomping ground after a grand return to her hometown.
"I'm at home in Bolton which means I will be able to work around the kids,' the actress revealed, after previously being used to moving home every three to four years and fighting the urge to move back south to London.
As Helen tries to get back to her on-screen home away from home, the actress is also dealing with personal issues after her split from Scott - and has revealed that she's struggling with dire financial circumstances.
Earlier this month, Helen shared that she'd been forced to sell the eight-bedroom house she purchased with her footballer ex as she could no longer afford the upkeep.
Not only have both her and Scott's salaries seemingly gone down, but cameras clocked her Audi speeding twice in June 2024, leading to a driving ban. Helen pleaded with the magistrate at the ruling in January, saying that she had "basically had no money.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
17 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
Love Island's Maura Higgins lookalike Megan Clarke reveals what she REALLY thinks about being compared to show legend
Megan reveals why she has been single for nearly three years MAURA LESS Love Island's Maura Higgins lookalike Megan Clarke reveals what she REALLY thinks about being compared to show legend Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) LOVE Island's new Maura Higgins lookalike has sympathy for her fellow Irish beauty after she snogged married McFly guitarist Danny Jones. Musical theatre student Megan Forte Clarke, 24, from Dublin, said she is flattered by comparisons to Maura, who is ten years older and appeared as a bombshell on the ITV dating show in 2019. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 3 Megan Forte Clarke said she is flattered by comparisons to Maura Higgins 3 Dublin-born Megan, 24, said: 'I love Maura — what a compliment. She's an icon' Credit: Instagram 3 Maura, who is ten years older, appeared as a bombshell on the ITV dating show in 2019 But asked how she felt about Maura's now infamous kiss with Danny, 39, at a Brit Awards after-party in London earlier this year, Megan said: 'We've all had a drunken kiss.' Megan, who is set to enter the ITV2 villa tomorrow, has drawn comparisons to Maura thanks to her Irish accent and glamorous brunette looks. She said: 'I love Maura — what a compliment. She's an icon. 'She is like the Queen of Ireland. So if people are comparing me to her, then cheers, love that, thank you.' Meanwhile, Megan, who calls herself the 'modern day Bridget Jones', said she has been single for nearly three years after her university boyfriend cheated on her. She added: 'We were on and off for about a year during my first year at university and I've been single since. 'We met at uni [The Brighton Academy] — musical theatre boys are never a good idea.' Asked if it ended on good terms, she said: 'No. No, God, no! He cheated on me quite a bit. The girls were none the wiser. 'So I would never blame a girl in that sense, but I definitely confronted him. He felt my wrath. I didn't really get any revenge. I think ignorance is bliss, so he was blocked. I haven't spoken to him since.' 'Hell and horror' Of her recent dating life, she said: 'It has been more than two years of hell and horror. ITV are celebrating ten years of Love Island with a huge TV celebration featuring the show's biggest stars 'I've been asked on a walk for a date. I'm like, 'That's brilliant, I love being a dog'. 'It is just never good and then they ghost you. So many frogs.' But the boys of the villa will be pleased after Megan revealed she has stocked up on bikinis and sexy outfits for The Hideaway — the villa's private area where Islanders can spend time together alone. She said: 'Yeah, I have shopped till I dropped. I feel like you can't be too prepared with stuff like that. 'Better to be over prepared than underprepared. 'So I've got a lot of options for bikinis and night time.' But the Dublin-born beauty said she will be keeping things real by wearing her plastic retainer to bed after having braces during her university years. She said: 'That's always humbling when you're comfortable around a boy and you are clicking it out in the morning.' But of wearing braces, she added: 'I think a lot of boys actually quite liked it, which I was surprised by.' 'I've had a little flirt' Megan revealed that she has been given strict instructions by her mum to keep things PG in the villa. She said: 'My mum's been like, 'Meg, please do not have sex in the villa'. I don't think I would anyway — too exposing.' Megan, who currently works in telesales, said she has not had any office romances, but cannot resist charming her colleagues. She revealed: 'I've had a little flirt here and there because, you know, you have to make work life fun, but nothing has come of it.' Last Christmas, the beauty starred as one of the ugly step-sisters in a Christmas pantomime of Cinderella in Tewkesbury, Gloucs. She said: 'To be fair, they were meant to be Kardashian-esque and ugly on the inside. 'So I got to wear fabulous costumes. I had a ball.' Hopefully, in the villa, she will meet her own Prince Charming.
The Sun
17 minutes ago
- The Sun
Love Island is about many things – but love certainly isn't one of them
LOVE Island celebrates its tenth birthday this week – and I confess I watch the show. But I'd rather be frogmarched to the nearest convent, forced to take a vow of chastity and spend the next 50 years doing Hail Marys over my Rosary beads than spend a single second in the Love Island villa. 7 7 And it seems I'm not the only one. Original Love Island winner Jessica Hayes says she was so put off by blokes that she has given up on romance and actually taken a vow of celibacy! Holy smoke. That's probably not the ringing endorsement ITV producers will be rolling out for their anniversary coverage. Now, I'm not some bra-burning man hater. I promise! I can understand why so many young, buff singletons would quite happily shove their granny under the nearest bus to get a ticket to Spain and hook up with fit blokes. The world of dating is hard. Horrible, even. You have to endlessly swipe through apps looking at profiles of tattoo-smothered men posing aggressively in front of the mirror in their gym, or even worse, their loo (yuck) while reeling off impossible demands they expect of any woman. She must be a ten out of ten. She must let him hang out with his mates until 3am. She must be totally attentive to his every need. She must not be demanding. Then comes the awkward first dates. Meeting in a crowded pub (just in case he is not your Mr Right but actually a crazed axe murderer), sipping a gin and slim while you are asked the inevitable roll call of questions. Where did you grow up? What do you do for a living? Do you like travelling? Forget sparks flying, these encounters can be more boreathon than bonkathon. Who wouldn't prefer to hang out in a sun-drenched villa and coupling up with a perfectly chiselled gym bunny? Love Island's Maura Higgins reacts after Tom Walker denies nasty comment But a trip through Love Island's best bits reveals that romance is the last thing you should expect in the villa. Remember when Maura Higgins was getting ready to go to the hideaway with Tom Walker? She overheard him boasting: 'I just want to see if she's all mouth!' as the rest of the cocky lads set about laughing. Maura, sassy Irishwoman that she is, didn't stand for that rubbish. Rounding on Tom, she fumed: 'Are you joking? That's disgraceful, Tom. That's absolutely f***ing disgusting.' Gormless Tom was left gawping like a goldfish as he tried to claim he didn't mean it, was just copying the lads and was really a nice chap after all. Maura had won over the nation's hearts with her straight talking. But she was still in the lonely hearts club herself. Then there was poor Zara Holland, who was stripped of her Miss Great Britain title and crown after having sex with Alex Bowen on the show. Cheeky grin Dissolving in tears as she realised all her hard work had gone down the toilet like so many make-up-stained tissues, the rest of the girls dried her eyes, gave her hugs and told her she will move on to bigger and better things. So what was her fella Alex doing? Staring at the ground, looking bemused and shrugging his shoulders. He may look like an Adonis carved out of stone, but is he really husband material? And there was the time when Jordan Hames asked Anna Vakili to be his girlfriend on the show in 2019. Flashing a cheeky grin, he said he was 'so nervous' to pop the question and told how the couple had 'been through so much' in the villa they could 'literally get through anything'. Apart from two more days together apparently. Just 48 hours later he was cracking on with new girl India Reynolds, staring into her big brown eyes and telling her: 'I feel like I have been gravitating towards you.' Yeah, gravitating a bit like a dodgy Soviet rocket that has exploded in space and come crashing back down to Earth. Anna came storming over to confront and dump him. Romeo and Juliet this ain't. So by all means stick the telly on, tuck into a box of Milk Tray and enjoy Love Island. But trust me, ladies — you are much more likely to get pied than find love across the fire pit. GAME ON! LIONESSES CAN STILL SHINE BRIGHT 7 7 IT has been three years since our proud Lionesses won the women's Euros – sending the nation into a footie frenzy. The stunning victory over Germany was a defining moment in our country's sporting history. And it inspired a new generation of girls to grab a football and get on to the pitch. Our reigning champs are gearing up to defend their title when the tournament kicks off in Switzerland next month. Manager Sarina Wiegman has named her squad. And we have a brilliant chance of victory – even without Millie Bright and her love life saga. So come on, ladies – show the blokes how it's done and go all the way this summer. The whole country is behind you! BENCH BAN SO BARMY 7 MORE grim news of bossy Britain. A lovely pub called The Trafalgar, in Greenwich, South London, put lots of wooden benches outside so people can enjoy a pie and a pint overlooking the River Thames. They had to – it was Covid. Politicians had made it a criminal offence to sup a beverage indoors. But now those fun-hating pen-pushers at Labour-run Greenwich council have ordered the boozer, managed by Vasil Vasilev, to remove half its outdoor seating. Why? The benches are packed with happy punters spending cash and boosting the local economy. And the street is wide enough for pushchairs and wheelchairs to still get down there. I should know – I live up the road. The landlord says that if he is forced to pull down his seating he may have to slash staff to plug the hole in his coffers. I thought the Labour government's number one priority is economic growth? Maybe Chancellor Rachel Reeves should get down to South London, have a word with her comrades in the local council and tell them to lay off our pubs. Let Brits drink beer, I say! WALL? I WILL NAIL IT 7 I'M off round my mum and dad's house this weekend. To build a wall. Turns out sticking a few bricks back on to the front garden wall will set you back thousands and thousands if you ask a professional to do it. So me, my sister and my mum are going to do it ourselves. We have bought the ready-mixed cement and, more importantly, dusted off our chicest dungarees and most fetching headscarves for the task. Who says building stuff is man's work? I am sure we are up to the task. I just hope I don't break a nail. MEG'S MIXED SIGNAL I'M confused. Are Prince Harry and Meghan Markle private citizens who want to keep their kids away from the cameras? Or are they fame-hungry wannabe celebs? The once-royal couple have spent the week releasing videos and pics of their intimate family moments. First it was a cringey video of the pair twerking in the hospital delivery room in a bid to induce the birth of Lilibet. Then Meghan up-loaded photos from their family trip to Disneyland to celebrate their daughter's fourth birthday. Looks like rank hypocrisy to me. TULIP'S PARTY GAMES 7 FORMER minister Tulip Siddiq may be under investigation for corruption in Bangladesh, but that didn't stop the Labour politician throwing herself a glitzy party to celebrate ten years of being an MP. Lucky guests were treated to a free glass of fizz, while Tulip, handed out certificates to party volunteers who had helped her get elected. But the event itself was all rather cloak and dagger. The location was top secret, and guests were only told where to go hours before doors opened. Was she worried about a knock at the door?
Scottish Sun
an hour ago
- Scottish Sun
I won first Love Island but the fall out from my instant fame was so bad I've given up sex for good, says Jessica Hayes
NO LOVE LOST I won first Love Island but the fall out from my instant fame was so bad I've given up sex for good, says Jessica Hayes Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) BEAMING Jessica Hayes had the world at her feet when she was crowned Love Island's very first winner alongside hunky Max Morley. But a decade later, the twice-engaged star has now taken a vow of celibacy and given up on romance after repeatedly having her heart broken. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 6 Jessica Hayes won the first Love Island but says reality TV sent her into a downward spiral Credit: Stewart Williams 6 Jess won alongside Max Morley in 2015 Credit: ITV 6 Jess and Max split just six weeks after leaving the villa Credit: ITV As the hit ITV show celebrates its ten-year anniversary this week, 32-year-old Jess blames reality TV fame for sending her into a downward spiral. She told The Sun on Sunday: 'I'm so done with romance and dating. I don't miss sex or hugs or kisses. I don't miss men at all, to be honest Jess 'I don't want to fall in love. I just want peace and I'm down with being celibate. 'I don't miss sex or hugs or kisses. I don't miss men at all, to be honest. 'Right now, I don't know what's wrong with me. I think I'm traumatised.' It was a very different story in 2015 when then-host Caroline Flack announced Jess and Max, both 22 at the time, had won Love Island's first series. Wearing a figure-hugging red dress, the former bank worker from Gloucester threw her arms around her suited partner and shrieked in delight. The smitten couple, who chose to share the £50,000 prize, received the most votes from the public after famously romping in the Mallorca villa as cameras rolled. Max, a professional cricketer from Huddersfield, settled with brunette Jess despite temporarily leaving her to couple up with her arch-rival Naomi Ball. The win was even more remarkable as Jess was drafted in at the last minute, having previously been told she had not made the cut. Jess Hayes Welcomes Baby Zenny: A New Chapter But just six weeks after their triumph, the winners dramatically split when Max was caught spending the night with Geordie Shore reality star Charlotte Crosby. Jess said: 'I had no idea what I was in for. 'It was chaotic. You forget there is an outside world and it's not normal to be locked in a confined space with a bunch of strangers for six weeks. 'I remember thinking, I wonder if anyone is watching this? "We didn't have a clue how big the show was going to be. 'To come out and find people running up to you in a shopping centre asking for a picture, it's bizarre. "Your life changes overnight. 'I had genuine feelings for Max, but personal appearances were a big thing back then. 'I WAS HEARTBROKEN' 'The male Love Island stars would have girls literally throwing themselves at them in nightclubs, so it was never going to work. 'When he was photographed with Charlotte, I was genuinely upset. 'I know some relationships from the show have worked out, but I think they must have a different level of maturity. 'Max wasn't that kind of guy. "In my own way, I was heartbroken, and I don't take heartbreak very well. I never have.' Now a devoted single mum-of-two, Jess admits she got too caught up in the party lifestyle in her twenties. A big wake-up call came with the suicides of Love Island stars Sophie Gradon, 32, in 2018, Mike Thalassitis, 26, the following year, and host Caroline, 40, in 2020. Jess said: 'It was awful what happened — just horrendous. This industry can be tough. "My rock bottom was three years after the show. 'I remember feeling very lost and thinking, what now? "You go out a lot and party a lot and sometimes it can be to excess and that's not good for you. "You come out of a show and you're a celebrity and no one says, 'This might only last five minutes'. 6 Jess said she had I 'no idea' what she was in for when she left the villa Credit: Shutterstock Editorial 6 Jess' Instagram post in 2023 announcing her miscarriage Credit: Instagram/jessicahayesx_ 'I didn't have good guidance or good management and that didn't help me take the right path. 'There were points where I thought, what the hell am I doing? 'It's late nights and drinking a lot. It's not a normal lifestyle. 'You haven't got a day job to go to and you're going to showbusiness parties and film premieres. 'It's a lot for a young person to handle and it's a slippery slope. "It's not a Love Island thing, it's just an issue of handling the fame.' Jess's love life has proven to be equally turbulent. After splitting with Max, she got engaged to mechanic Dan Lawry six months after they met. The couple were overjoyed when she gave birth to their son Presley in 2019, but sadly she miscarried their second son Teddy at 19 weeks and they called time on their relationship in 2021. Jess next found love with a property developer called Zeb — she declines to give his surname — and she suffered another miscarriage in April 2023 before their daughter Zendaya Rose was born in May last year. The couple separated just before Christmas in 2024. I don't feel the need to get involved in relationships and I'm determined not to get back into bad old habits Jess Hayes Jess touchingly bounces her daughter on her knee during our interview. On being a single mum, she said: 'I couldn't ask for more from my children's dads. 'They are in their lives and they are good with them. Co-parenting is a bag of poop. "It's the worst thing ever. Over time, when you are a few years in, it's more of a breeze. 'But right now, while she's so little, I find it hard. "I need a break sometimes because I'm going crazy, but when she's not with me my anxiety goes through the roof.' Last week, Jess took part in ITV's Love Island: Decade Of Love show looking back on the programme's most unforgettable moments, ahead of its return to our screens tomorrow. Millie Court, 29, and Liam Reardon, 25 — who won in 2021 and are still a couple — also appeared on the anniversary show, proving that some Islanders have found The One while making millions in the process. Jess has become a successful social media influencer with 337,000 followers on Instagram, yet admits her fortunes have been more mixed. She said: 'I was so naive when I went on Love Island. 6 The Love Island 2015 line-up Credit: Rex "If I was watching the show now, I would say, 'No Jess, what are you doing?' I tolerated a lot in there. 'But I never think with my head and I've never made the right decisions in love. 'I've been really impulsive and I rush into things too quickly. It gets me nowhere and I get hurt. 'That's why I want to be independent and focus on me and making money — and things that are long-term for my kids. 'I don't feel the need to get involved in relationships and I'm determined not to get back into bad old habits. I'm not materialistic at all now and I think that having children, your priorities change Jess "I haven't made millions of pounds or amassed millions of followers from going on Love Island, but I will never regret my journey. "It's given me a steady income for ten years and that makes me one of the lucky ones. 'Part of me wishes I'd had a few more opportunities, whether that be in TV or whatever. 'But if you're handed a lot of money when you are young, you can be quite careless. 'I'm not materialistic at all now and I think that having children, your priorities change. 'And if my daughter tells me she wants to apply for the show in 20 years time I will tell her, 'No way — not unless I'm your manager'.' Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme - Sun Club.
