IT’S been a long, hot summer for Helen Flanagan – and not in a good way.
She’s spent the past month entertaining her three kids, while ex Scott Sinclair has been nowhere to be seen – and those close to Helen tell us the school term can’t come soon enough amid mounting pressure on the star.
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The summer holidays have proved to be a harsh reminder of the realities of being a single mum for Helen – the 36-year-old revealed footballer Scott, currently without a team, hasn’t seen the children, Matilda, 11, Delilah, 8, and Charlie, 5, for over four weeks.
Things have been so bad, Helen has been in tears. It’s been a trying few months – she finally moved into a new home after Scott made the decision to sell the family home following their split.
Our insider claimed: “Settling into a new home has been harder than Helen expected. She made no secret of not wanting to leave her old house and she’s just renting at the moment. She’s reluctant to put down more permanent roots.
“Things with Scott are tough, it’s hard for her to see him having a carefree summer while she is tied to reality. She’s got a great support network around her and everyone is confident she will get through this rough patch.”
In a typically candid social media post, Helen shared: “I’m really overwhelmed in the house. There is still so much unpacking and boxes so it’s chaos and I can’t return any of my emails or phone calls with these two.
“The kids’ dad has not had them for nearly a month so when he does I’ll get a break. I think I speak for all mums over the school holidays – we are tired but love them so much and so many amazing memories made.”
Helen’s mum Julia has once again become her rock throughout it all.
She previously raised eyebrows when she revealed her mum was central to the running of the household.
Helen admitted it sounds “really bad,” but she does not have the school’s app on her phone – her mum has it and manages it instead. Her mum also helps her three children with all of their homework.
On top of that Julia “runs all the kids’ schedules,” and even directs her on what needs to be done, handles all the cooking, washes all the clothes, and prepares all the school uniforms.
Helen was left completely devastated when Scott decided to flog their six-bed mansion in Bolton following their split in 2022 after 13 years together. It took well over a year to shift – it was put on sale for £1.5million before being reduced to £995,000.
At the start of 2026, Helen raged: “His decision to sell the family has broken my heart.
“His reason for selling is financial, as he isn’t currently signed to a football club, but it makes me angry when he spends money on fancy holidays and constant trips to Dubai. Scott has other properties he could sell, too – his mother lives in a house similar to mine and yet that hasn’t been put up for sale. I worry about my future and my security.”
She added: “I have to work constantly to make ends meet. He’s the father of my kids, but their dad’s a wealthy guy, you know?”
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Scott’s prospects look a little more uncertain now. After a stellar career playing with clubs like Chelsea, Man City and Celtic he was released by his last club Bristol Rovers in the summer and at 37 has failed to find a new employer.
Finding work hasn’t been easy for Helen – she opened up about having money worries in early 2025, admitting during a court case – which resulted in a driving ban – that she’d struggle to afford life without a license.
The soap star, beloved by millions for playing Rosie Webster in Coronation Street for 18 years, has confessed she’s hit a wall.
She has persistently hinted she would love a return to the cobbles, but the soap is yet to bite and pantomime has become the star’s main acting work.
In a deeply personal social media update in July, she shared her job struggles, revealing she feels “unsure” about her career trajectory and is simply desperate to land a role.
“I’ve just felt frustrated with work… basically, I just want a job at the moment,” the emotional star admitted.
She revealed she was even considering a move to London to make it easier to audition for roles.
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In the meantime she’s busy making ends meet where she can – she is set to appear at For The Love of Retro event in Telford on September 5 and those wanting both an autograph and photo with Helen will need to cough up £31.50 for each.
And before moving out of her former family home, Helen was flogging several pieces of furniture on Instagram.
This saw her sell a £15,000 couch for just shy of £4,000, which she says Scott paid for, as well as several bedside tables and other living room furniture.
The self confessed hopeless romantic certainly hasn’t had any time for romance recently.
She was with former footballer Robbie Talbot from early 2024 until May 2025, but hasn’t publicly dated since then.
But we’re told Helen is actively on the hunt for romance once again.
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Never one to shy away from telling it exactly like it is, the beauty took to Instagram in racy, lacy lingerie to dish the dirt on her sex life and living with ADHD.
“When it comes to sex I’m not a casual girl – I’m a lover girl/wifey and I do get attached,” she declared, before launching a savage attack on the modern dating scene: “I think guys that ghost girls after sleeping with them are big fat rats LOL.”
She said she’s now looking for a genuine “soul connection” and someone exciting who makes her feel understood – adding that she is holding out for the “male version” of herself.
As the kid-free days finally beckon this September, Helen can breathe a temporary sigh of relief.
She might be juggling career slumps, house-move headaches, and ex-husband drama, but the star remains focused on landing her dream gig – and her dream man. Helen is ready for her comeback – and she won’t settle for anything less than a fairy-tale ending.