
How ‘cash-strapped' Helen Flanagan could turn to sauciest plan yet to recover lost £3m after work drought & Corrie snub
AFTER being forced to sell her home and crying over her lost millions, hearing that ITV bosses had shut the door on a Corrie return was a bitter blow for Helen Flanagan.
And yet, far from giving up, insiders reveal the mum-of-three is launching a huge bid to claw back all the £3.5m fortune she lost - and it seems her incredible figure could be at the heart of her money making plans.
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After an incredibly tough few years, which has seen her admit she hit rock-bottom, Helen is ready for her comeback - and a fresh start.
The 34-year-old had her sights firmly set on a soap return after being out of full-time employment for seven years.
But her hopes have been dashed by Corrie bosses who have told her 'there is no way back.'
Now the star has been forced to turn to other avenues to boost her income.
In the past, Helen has shown off her incredible figure modelling for various lingerie brands and, following her recent boob job, there is more demand than ever to see the star in her skimpies.
PR Expert/Entertainment expert for Press Box PR Lynn Carratt believes lingerie deals could be a seriously lucrative option for her.
She told us: "She could work with, and has previously worked with, many lingerie brands including the prestigious Agent Provocateur.
"She has also previously produced edits for Nikki Intimates and Pour Moi and could potentially work with Boux Avenue who are a hugely popular brand and potentially launch her own range.
"Obviously, there will be exclusivity clauses with her deals with these brands and she wouldn't be allowed to work with them all at once, but she could definitely net around £500,000 this year from this type of endorsement alone."
Helen underwent surgery in 2023 - picking 34CC implant size - Motiva Round - and opted for a dual plane placement.
Helen Flanagan reveals her sadness as she's forced to sell her forever home
She explained at the time: 'I lost a lot of weight from my break up and I didn't want my boobs to be too big for my frame but I needed them to fill out the skin that needed lifting.
'Now they are just perfect for my frame and I feel they are really natural, like my boobs before my kids."
'Really struggling'
Helen shot to fame as Rosie Webster on the ITV favourite, landing the role while she was still at primary school.
Over the years, her career went from strength to strength, with reality TV appearances and brand deals cementing her celebrity status.
But behind the scenes, the mum-of-three has admitted she's hit hard times financially - telling fans she's been 'really struggling' since her split from footballer Scott Sinclair, 36.
Earlier this month, Helen revealed she was forced to downsize from her 'forever home' in Bolton, Greater Manchester, after "losing all her money" - a stark contrast from the glamorous image lived out in the public eye.
Letting her hair down at Aintree earlier this month, Helen opened up about her hopes on returning to Coronation Street - and revealed the timing was right for her now.
She told us: "I'd love to, especially as Charlie [her four-year-old son] is going to school.
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"It would be perfect.
"But we'll just have to wait and see if it fits into a storyline."
Hinting that her comeback could be sooner rather than later, when asked if Corrie bosses had been in touch, she replied: "I can't say."
However, it seems the chat didn't go quite the way she expected as another insider said: 'Helen recently spoke to a top Corrie producer about the possibility of coming back, but her character wouldn't currently feed into any plots that are playing out.'
She is now looking at other options, with PR expert Lynn suggesting: "Another path she might consider is becoming a mummy influencer, much like Stacey Solomon.
"With her 1.1 million social media followers and experience as a single mother of three, there's likely a strong interest in her life. To transition into this area, she would probably need to shift away from more overtly sexy endorsements, such as Ann Summers, and focus on family-friendly content.
"This could involve collaborations on homeware lines with retailers like George at Asda, children's clothing ranges with Primark, or family travel endorsements with companies like TUI or Jet2."
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She continued: "Given Helen's strong and funny personality, starting her own podcast could also be a great option. I'm sure there would be considerable interest from listeners and potential sponsors.
"A podcast along the lines of 'Helen's Daily Dose' could offer an insightful look into her life as a single mother, away from her glamorous side.
"Finally, despite reports that Helen is hesitant about more reality TV after her appearances on various I'm A Celebrity series and Celebs Go Dating, shows like Strictly Come Dancing, Celebrity SAS, and possibly the second series of Celebrity Bear Hunt could be viable options.
"These are all well-regarded reality programmes that could provide both income and maintain her public profile."
A source close to Helen also told The Sun how much it would mean for her to regain her financial security.
They said: "Helen's been through a lot these past few years, but she's never once stopped showing up for her kids or trying to make things work.
"She's one of the most recognisable faces in British soap history, and it's easy to forget just how long she's been in the game. She's been working in the industry since she was a child.
"She poured everything into building a life for her family, and the split with Scott was incredibly tough on her.
"Downsizing her home wasn't just emotional, it was a huge wake-up call financially. But she hasn't complained, she's just rolled up her sleeves and started looking at how to rebuild.
"Honestly, she deserves a bit of good fortune. She's worked so hard and stayed grounded through it all."
'Struggling and skint'
Helen, whose company earned £75k in the year to April 2024, recently told her Instagram followers she had "really been struggling" lately amid claims that she is "skint" and "broke".
In a very emotional video, she said: "I have lost a lot of money, but I don't owe anybody a penny, I can hold my head up high.
"I don't owe the HMRC any money, I pay my taxes. I'm a good person, I have good morals, I have always paid my taxes, I am not in any debt."
She then said that she is "lucky" to be in the position she is.
Fans flocked to support Helen in the comments section, offering her love and support.
"Love you darling. You are so strong and the best mama in the world xxx," penned one.
Another added: "Just ignore the haters. Sounds like you in a good place financially. Worry about you the kids and significant others. The rest will come and go."
Helen previously shared her upset about leaving the huge property she has lived in with her three kids for four years.
Speaking on The Declutter Hub podcast, she said: 'It actually makes me sad that I'm going to be leaving soon because I actually put so much effort into it.
'When we moved I put like a lot of my savings into doing the house up and making it look really beautiful.
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'But it's a big house. It's an eight bedroom house, which is obviously really hard to keep on top of.
"Yeah. I feel really lucky to live here and well, soon to have lived here, because it is gorgeous, but it's a lot to keep on top of.'
Helen continued: 'It was really nice to have this space.
'I think I'm going to struggle because obviously I will be downsizing so much."
It may have been a particularly trying time for Helen but it certainly seems that while this chapter is over and she's ready to turn the page for another successful adventure.
What do we know about Helen Flanagan's new boyfriend Robbie Talbot?
HELEN Flanagan has revealed that she is in a new relationship.
While appearing on Celebs Go Dating, she confessed that she was already taken - here's everything we know about her boyfriend Robbie Talbot.
Helen has opened up about her relationship with former footballer Robbie Talbot.
He is a decade older than the actress.
Robbie was born in Liverpool on October 31, 1979 which is how he earned his nickname Halloween Hitman in football.
He has played for a series of non-league teams such as Burton Albion, Burscough and Morcambe.
He then became a coach at Ashton in 2010.
Robbie is retired from football.
He left his role as Assistant Manager at Ashton due to family and work commitments in 2011.
It's unknown what he has done for work since leaving football.
Helen admitted that she was dating Robbie while appearing on Celebs Go Dating.
In a first for the show, it has been revealed that her relationship had to be written into the series due to requirements that those taking part have to be single.
The pair went public at her birthday party on August 10, 2024.

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Scottish Sun
8 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Why Helena and Harry's shotgun trip to The Hideaway means Love Island's rediscovered its sex factor
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) CALL me a voyeur, but I'm a 40-year-old, married woman who is hot under the collar at the idea lust is back on Love Island. The Sun told yesterday how two of this year's intake enjoyed a sleepover in the private Hideaway boudoir just 56 hours after meeting. 6 Blonde cabin crew Helena Ford enjoyed a sleepover in the Hideaway Credit: itv 6 Semi-pro footballer Harry Cooksley is now coupled up with another Islander Credit: itv It's even juicier because - officially - both blonde cabin crew Helena Ford and semi-pro footballer Harry Cooksley are coupled up with other Islanders. Of course it helps that both are cut straight from the Barbie and Ken mould, with matching abs, glowing tans and designer locks. So when I heard from my source that the pin-up pairing had snuck away on Monday to spend the night in the private bedroom, I was gleeful. That's not because I get my kicks watching twenty-somethings frolic in a Majorcan villa - honest, Mr Cross. It's because it was the early sign of promise that sex might just be back on Love Island after years of celibacy. Bold choice too far Let me lead you astray, back to 2015 when the ITV dating series first plunged a group of youngsters into a luxury villa and encouraged them to find, ahem, love. The series' main characters were John Lee and Hannah Elizabeth, who weren't afraid to get down to it in the communal bedroom. Despite Michelle and Stuart, then Makosi and Anthony engaging in a public PDA on Big Brother in 2004 and 2005 respectively, such bold antics felt entirely new to TV viewers and split the nation. But nothing prepared the pearl clutchers for what happened a year on. The entire cast let rip, with eight couples going all the way - usually in the shared bedroom - which was all fun and games until ITV bosses took two specific editorial decisions too far. Love Island fans spot clue islander is 'faking' claim he has never shared a bed with a girl Beauty queen Zara Holland was stripped of her Miss GB title after having sex with Alex Bowen in the Hideaway in 2016. The judges were said to have been particularly offended by a scene which saw her visibly enjoying the act. Then, another late night scene showed Emma-Jane Woodham on top of Terry Walsh, above the bed covers. It was a bold choice too far - even after the 9pm watershed - and viewers rushed to Ofcom. That was the end of sex on Love Island as we knew it and from then on, execs took the decision to instead show a shaking bedside lamp or tangled pair of feet. And in recent years the Instagram career-focussed cast and media trained Islanders have abstained entirely. Abi Moores told The Sun that no one hooked up in the 2023 series until the penultimate night, when the cast are allowed to spend a night away from the cameras. 6 Dejon and Meg have also locked lips 6 Helena has a three way kiss with Conor and Harry Only TV personality Joey Essex and his girl Jessy Potts succumbed last summer - and the only clue was a wobbling champagne bucket, as they cemented their union, artfully off shot. But this lot don't seem to be as PR-focussed. Last night's episode, the third of this series, presented a lapdance, finger sucking, a string of snogs and even a three-way smooch. Tommy and Megan, Dejon and Meg, Shakira and Blu and throuple Helena, Harry and Conor have all locked lips. And the ep teased Helena and Harry's saucy sleepover, with them sharing an afternoon kiss on the Hideaway's swing and joking they would 'wait five minutes after everyone's gone to sleep then sneak in overnight.' Frankly, it's the green shoots of recovery the long-running series needs. The launch drew an audience of 1.4 million across all devices, which ITV proudly reported was ITV2's biggest show this year. But it represented a drop on last year's 1.6 million and was a far cry from its heyday when 6 million tuned in. As the series celebrates its tenth anniversary, there's still some love left for the format - all 11 series have been streamed a whopping 2billion times to date on ITVX. This year's up-for-it cast could prove to be the Viagra the series needs. 6 Harry and Helena were in the Hideaway boudoir just 56 hours after meeting 6 Love Island's Shakira and Blu sharing a kiss The dating show genre has upped its game in recent years, with Rylan Clark's Dating Naked asking its cast to find love entirely in the nude. And 12 innocents even explored popping their cherries on Channel 4's Virgin Island. But will Helena and Harry end up regretting their private night? Zara Holland, now 29, crown for being Love Island's most talked-about bonker after her beauty pageant scandal in 2016. After the series, she said: 'I regret massively having sex on the show. 'If I could turn back the clock, I would. 'I know I didn't do anything illegal, I was twenty at the time, there's nothing to be ashamed of but yes, you know, it was the biggest regret.' Montana Brown's relationship with Alex Beattie only lasted a couple of weeks when they left the villa. And Montana, now 29 and a mum of two, came to look back on their hour-long sex sessions during the 2017 series with regret. She said: 'In hindsight, having sex on TV wasn't the best idea. My advice to the new hopefuls is not to do it. 'If I could have done it differently, I wouldn't have had sex. 'It's all everyone wants to speak about now.' While some regret having sex on TV just once, Kem Cetinay's remorse comes from the fact he had so much. The 2017 series winner, now 29, spoke about his amorous stay in the villa with Amber Davies. He said: 'Maybe I shouldn't have had as much sex as I did – maybe once or twice would have been enough. 'Now I've got a business and I've got staff, and if new recruits search for me, some of the first articles that come up will be about me having sex on TV.' There's plenty of Islanders who still love the fact they for lusty on screen. It's as if people wanted me to be ashamed, but I'm not going to be. Megan Barton-Hanson Jess Shears, now 32, romped with Dom Lever on 2017's series and she reckons hooking up in the villa helped cement their relationship. They are now married with two children. She said: 'I don't regret having sex on TV as such, but it's a bit strange that the whole nation knows about it. 'No one normally knows about your sexual relations but then at the end of the day if that worked for Dom and I, I'm glad that we did because I'm still with him now.' Kady McDermott, now 29, also didn't regret her on-screen sex with boyfriend Scott Thomas in the 2016 series. The couple even stayed together for 18 months after leaving the villa. She said: 'I personally don't regret having sex because it was with someone I was actually with and loved.' And Megan Barton-Hanson is another who has vocally supported pursuing a physical connection on the show after hooking up with Wes Nelson in 2018. She said: 'There is still so much stigma around women even saying they enjoy sex, let alone doing it on national TV. 'When Wes and I were interviewed afterwards, I would always be asked if I regretted having sex on TV and if my parents were embarrassed. They didn't ask Wes. 'It's as if people wanted me to be ashamed, but I'm not going to be.' *Love Island continues tonight at 9pm on ITV2 and ITVX.


The Sun
8 hours ago
- The Sun
Why Helena and Harry's shotgun trip to The Hideaway means Love Island's rediscovered its sex factor
CALL me a voyeur, but I'm a 40-year-old, married woman who is hot under the collar at the idea lust is back on Love Island. The Sun told yesterday how two of this year's intake enjoyed a sleepover in the private Hideaway boudoir just 56 hours after meeting. 6 It's even juicier because - officially - both blonde cabin crew Helena Ford and semi-pro footballer Harry Cooksley are coupled up with other Islanders. Of course it helps that both are cut straight from the Barbie and Ken mould, with matching abs, glowing tans and designer locks. So when I heard from my source that the pin-up pairing had snuck away on Monday to spend the night in the private bedroom, I was gleeful. That's not because I get my kicks watching twenty-somethings frolic in a Majorcan villa - honest, Mr Cross. It's because it was the early sign of promise that sex might just be back on Love Island after years of celibacy. Bold choice too far Let me lead you astray, back to 2015 when the ITV dating series first plunged a group of youngsters into a luxury villa and encouraged them to find, ahem, love. The series' main characters were John Lee and Hannah Elizabeth, who weren't afraid to get down to it in the communal bedroom. Despite Michelle and Stuart, then Makosi and Anthony engaging in a public PDA on Big Brother in 2004 and 2005 respectively, such bold antics felt entirely new to TV viewers and split the nation. But nothing prepared the pearl clutchers for what happened a year on. The entire cast let rip, with eight couples going all the way - usually in the shared bedroom - which was all fun and games until ITV bosses took two specific editorial decisions too far. Love Island fans spot clue islander is 'faking' claim he has never shared a bed with a girl Beauty queen Zara Holland was stripped of her Miss GB title after having sex with Alex Bowen in the Hideaway in 2016. The judges were said to have been particularly offended by a scene which saw her visibly enjoying the act. Then, another late night scene showed Emma-Jane Woodham on top of Terry Walsh, above the bed covers. It was a bold choice too far - even after the 9pm watershed - and viewers rushed to Ofcom. That was the end of sex on Love Island as we knew it and from then on, execs took the decision to instead show a shaking bedside lamp or tangled pair of feet. And in recent years the Instagram career-focussed cast and media trained Islanders have abstained entirely. Abi Moores told The Sun that no one hooked up in the 2023 series until the penultimate night, when the cast are allowed to spend a night away from the cameras. 6 6 Only TV personality Joey Essex and his girl Jessy Potts succumbed last summer - and the only clue was a wobbling champagne bucket, as they cemented their union, artfully off shot. But this lot don't seem to be as PR-focussed. Last night's episode, the third of this series, presented a lapdance, finger sucking, a string of snogs and even a three-way smooch. Tommy and Megan, Dejon and Meg, Shakira and Blu and throuple Helena, Harry and Conor have all locked lips. And the ep teased Helena and Harry's saucy sleepover, with them sharing an afternoon kiss on the Hideaway's swing and joking they would 'wait five minutes after everyone's gone to sleep then sneak in overnight.' Frankly, it's the green shoots of recovery the long-running series needs. The launch drew an audience of 1.4 million across all devices, which ITV proudly reported was ITV2's biggest show this year. But it represented a drop on last year's 1.6 million and was a far cry from its heyday when 6 million tuned in. As the series celebrates its tenth anniversary, there's still some love left for the format - all 11 series have been streamed a whopping 2billion times to date on ITVX. This year's up-for-it cast could prove to be the Viagra the series needs. 6 6 The dating show genre has upped its game in recent years, with Rylan Clark's Dating Naked asking its cast to find love entirely in the nude. And 12 innocents even explored popping their cherries on Channel 4's Virgin Island. But will Helena and Harry end up regretting their private night? Zara Holland, now 29, crown for being Love Island's most talked-about bonker after her beauty pageant scandal in 2016. After the series, she said: 'I regret massively having sex on the show. 'If I could turn back the clock, I would. 'I know I didn't do anything illegal, I was twenty at the time, there's nothing to be ashamed of but yes, you know, it was the biggest regret.' Montana Brown's relationship with Alex Beattie only lasted a couple of weeks when they left the villa. And Montana, now 29 and a mum of two, came to look back on their hour-long sex sessions during the 2017 series with regret. She said: 'In hindsight, having sex on TV wasn't the best idea. My advice to the new hopefuls is not to do it. 'If I could have done it differently, I wouldn't have had sex. 'It's all everyone wants to speak about now.' While some regret having sex on TV just once, Kem Cetinay's remorse comes from the fact he had so much. The 2017 series winner, now 29, spoke about his amorous stay in the villa with Amber Davies. He said: 'Maybe I shouldn't have had as much sex as I did – maybe once or twice would have been enough. 'Now I've got a business and I've got staff, and if new recruits search for me, some of the first articles that come up will be about me having sex on TV.' There's plenty of Islanders who still love the fact they for lusty on screen. It's as if people wanted me to be ashamed, but I'm not going to be. Megan Barton-Hanson Jess Shears, now 32, romped with Dom Lever on 2017's series and she reckons hooking up in the villa helped cement their relationship. They are now married with two children. She said: 'I don't regret having sex on TV as such, but it's a bit strange that the whole nation knows about it. 'No one normally knows about your sexual relations but then at the end of the day if that worked for Dom and I, I'm glad that we did because I'm still with him now.' Kady McDermott, now 29, also didn't regret her on-screen sex with boyfriend Scott Thomas in the 2016 series. The couple even stayed together for 18 months after leaving the villa. She said: 'I personally don't regret having sex because it was with someone I was actually with and loved.' And Megan Barton-Hanson is another who has vocally supported pursuing a physical connection on the show after hooking up with Wes Nelson in 2018. She said: 'There is still so much stigma around women even saying they enjoy sex, let alone doing it on national TV. 'When Wes and I were interviewed afterwards, I would always be asked if I regretted having sex on TV and if my parents were embarrassed. They didn't ask Wes. 'It's as if people wanted me to be ashamed, but I'm not going to be.' *Love Island continues tonight at 9pm on ITV2 and ITVX.


Daily Mirror
11 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Coronation Street fans rumble what really happened to Becky in sad Swain twist
Coronation Street fans are convinced they know what really happened to Becky - DS Lisa Swain's former partner - after Betsy learned some truths about Becky in tonight's episode Coronation Street fans have worked out what really happened to Becky. The character has never appeared on screen but she was a huge part of Lisa Swain's life before she arrived on the Cobbles. Lisa lost her partner Becky in the line of duty and has struggled with that since, unable to cope with the effect it had on their daughter Betsy and has feared her own danger whilst out on the beat after what happened to her late partner. Tonight, there was a shock twist as some truths came out about Becky, with more to come. Betsy found some files about Becky and whilst Swain tried to pass it off, Betsy continued her investigation with it looking like there was some corruption involved. We know Becky died in the line of duty after being run over by Mason's evil brothers during a robbery but now fans of the ITV soap have come up with a whole new theory about what happened to Becky. One fan wrote: "Becky Swain has either faked her own death or is in witness protection. Likely to next be seen alive at Carla & Lisa's wedding day when the guy asks if anyone has any objections." "So when Becky finally arrives, I need someone to make a joke about Lisa having a type. I'll even accept Becky saying it too," another added, with a third sharing: "Okay so Becky is either in whiteness protection or was a bent copper and idk what I'd love more #Corrie." There has been much talk about how well things are going for Carla and Lisa - affectionately named Swarla by fans - with Sydney Martin recently telling The Mirror that Betsy is rooting for them too. "I think secretly she would love it. Sydney would absolutely love it, but Betsy I think internally she would too. She knows the dynamic really works and she does truly see Carla as a stepmother and as family. But I think she would still be Betsy wouldn't she, and she would probably be embarrassed by them both," she told us. Vicky Myers - who plays Lisa - also shared her own hopes about the future for her character and Carla. She said: "I think a backstory would be great, but I think in time. There are so many other things that I think should be explored with the two of them and their extended family, and how they navigate life all together in their flat." Coronation Street airs Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 8pm on ITV1 and ITVX.