How a ‘really messy’ split with my footballer fiance left me with psychosis. HELEN FLANAGAN reveals her mental turmoil – and the ‘incredibly sad’ reason her relationship imploded

As I delve into this heart-wrenching tale of love, loss, and resilience, I can’t help but admire the strength and grace with which this woman navigates the aftermath of her long-term relationship. With 13 years, three children, and an acting career under her belt, she finds herself at a crossroads, seeking solace and understanding in the face of a messy divorce-like separation.

Recently, Delilah, Helen Flanagan’s daughter, asked if she was considering removing the tattoo of her ex-partner’s name, now that they had split up. ‘I assured her I would not,’ Helen recounts, ‘because he remains an important part of my life story.’ ‘I told her I still hold a deep affection for her father,’ is another way to express this.

Footballer Scott Sinclair plays a significant role in 34-year-old Helen’s life, past and present: they started dating when she was 18, have raised three children – Matilda (9), Delilah (6), and Charlie (3) together, and got engaged in 2018.

In June 2022, following a 13-year partnership, actor and influencer Helen announced their separation, a heartbreaking occurrence whose effects were felt for quite some time beyond the initial shock: earlier this year, she had been grappling with her emotions and experienced a distressing response to her ADHD medication that led to a state of psychosis.

Reflecting back, she admits she wasn’t feeling great at all. Specifically, her mental health was deteriorating from late last year through early this year. In an attempt to improve, she started taking her medication, but sadly, it ended up worsening her condition instead.

After several weeks, former Coronation Street actress Helen, who finds it better not to dwell on that difficult period she experienced, had to step away from a touring production of Cluedo she was eagerly looking forward to as a comeback in the dramatic world. Instead, she will re-emerge into public view with a distinct new role – one that also serves to conclude her relationship. This month, Helen is set to appear on Celebs Go Dating, a popular series where celebrities such as EllaMorgan from Married At First Sight and Chris Taylor from Love Island are matched with regular people.

Currently in its 13th season, this show has become a cherished tradition on television schedules. However, Helen stands out as an unusual participant due to the fact that prior to her separation from Scott, she had never been on a date and only minimally participated in the dating game before joining the cast.

She admits to going on several dates and having various encounters, to put it simply. However, she finds this particular experience distinct, incredibly enjoyable, and she’s encountered some wonderful individuals. Moreover, she has formed a strong connection with Ella and Chris too.

Before the program airs, she can’t reveal too much about whether Cupid’s arrow hit its mark. However, shortly after we meet the show’s dating expert, Anna Williamson, she hinted that Helen almost got kicked out of the agency for violating rules and was also involved in the most surprising plot twist in Celebs Go Dating history to date.

Ahead of our meeting, she’s in the middle of filming and prioritizes her public image over romantic pursuits. She admits to being straightforward in her conversations, sharing honestly about aspects of her life. ‘I’ve always tried to consider others’ feelings,’ she says, ‘but I can’t help but worry. I can only be myself, and I’m not sure if that’s a positive or negative trait.’

She looks genuinely worried, a sign of the vulnerability that underpins much of our interview. While she looks fabulous, and is determinedly upbeat, she confides that her mental health remains fragile and at one point breaks down when she talks about being alone in the family home in Bolton bought for her by Scott, the former Chelsea and Celtic footballer who now plays for Bristol Rovers.

‘She explains that Charlie bought her a house she had always desired, growing up nearby. For quite some time after Scott left, she felt quite sad in the house, especially during weekends when he took the kids. However, there was a moment of self-pride when she managed to spend a weekend alone in the house without her children.’ (Tears are streaming down her face at this point.)

As a mental health advocate who has gone through her own struggles with emotional turmoil following a break-up, I can deeply relate to the rollercoaster of emotions she describes. It’s a constant battle between moments of resilience and strength, followed by periods of vulnerability and struggle. The ups and downs are real, and they often come unexpectedly.

Known predominantly for her portrayal of troubled character Rosie Webster in Coronation Street from 2000 to 2012 (with a brief return in 2017 before taking maternity leave and not coming back), this actress had an unusual new role. Since joining the show at age ten, spending equal parts of her time between school and set, she cherishes the exceptional experiences and memories from being on set.

She received nominations for several soap opera awards, but shortly after she started dating Scott, motherhood became imminent, with Matilda being born when she was 24 years old. ‘I believe it’s due to football,’ she explains about her relatively young age at the time. ‘I think that girls in football start earlier because you’re fortunate if your partner has a good career.’

In summary, Helen, who had three kids within seven years, found her professional life mainly focused on reality shows and internet promotions, such as modeling lingerie for Ann Summers. The photos she took were quite bold, attracting both admiration and controversy. Regarding the racy images, Helen asserts, “I believe in women celebrating their bodies and feeling confident.” She faces some criticism online, but she brushes it off, stating that she is a free-spirited individual who enjoys being true to herself.

Despite this, it seemed crucial for her to take on a significant theatrical part, as she confided that she feels most comfortable either before a camera or on stage. Consequently, having to withdraw from the Cluedo tour was even more heartbreaking for her.

Today, she opens up about the fact that she was already grappling with issues before her traumatic psychotic experience. After their break-up, she found it hard to express her emotions and ended up in what she terms as ‘survival mode’. However, her struggle deepened when she had to spend Christmas Day apart from her children, who were celebrating with Scott instead.

Initially, Helen began taking medication for ADHD with the intention of finding balance. Unfortunately, this led to an extreme adverse reaction that significantly worsened her behavior. As a result, her nanny, who provides additional assistance when required, felt compelled to contact Helen’s parents because she was concerned about Helen’s wellbeing. Psychosis is characterized by perceiving or interpreting reality differently than others in your surroundings. Helen herself has admitted that she started seeing things and constantly felt like she was in danger.

It took approximately three months for her to fully heal, during which time the Cluedo role was assumed by Strictly Come Dancing winner Ellie Leach. She expressed regret as she truly desired the part, but at that point, she simply wasn’t well enough… For nearly two and a half months, she couldn’t work due to her condition. ‘I was very disappointed because I wanted it so much,’ she admitted, ‘but I had to focus on getting better, not just for myself, but also for my children.’

Through therapy, exercise, proper diet, and tidying up her home, she found balance, she chuckles, admitting, ‘I managed to get my life in order,’ she says. ‘But only temporarily, given I have three wild little ones!’

She appears to be asserting and feels stronger currently, even though she acknowledges that she’s still dealing with the lingering effects of a split that she likens to a divorce. Having been together for 13 years, engaged, and sharing three young children, she views it as more than just a break-up. ‘I can’t help but see it as a complex situation,’ she says. ‘I’ve had to come to terms with the fact that this process will be quite chaotic, and allow myself some leeway while I navigate my way forward.’

She openly admits that her relationship with her former partner was strained due to a variety of factors. With three children, life became overwhelmingly demanding. Additionally, both had busy careers – hers in acting and his in football. They also made the difficult decision to move houses when their youngest child, Charlie, was only two months old, which might have been premature. On top of that, she experienced post-natal depression. The combination of these pressures led to a complicated situation. Although she still holds deep affection for him, they currently don’t get along well. She believes this may improve with time.

As a seasoned observer of family dynamics, I have come to understand that communication between couples can sometimes take unexpected forms when young children are involved. In my personal experience as a parent myself, I have found it necessary to find alternative ways of addressing issues with my partner while ensuring that our children remain unaware of any potential conflicts.

It’s beneficial for her that she shares a strong bond with Scott’s mom, whom she recently vacationed with their children. Sometimes, when she calls her, she jokes that she forgets Scott is her son due to her occasional complaints about him. However, they have a wonderful rapport, and his mother makes an excellent grandmother to the kids.

Despite their ongoing issues, she openly acknowledges that they have mutual irritation. However, an amusing incident took place when she stumbled upon his profile on a dating platform. ‘We had a good chuckle,’ she admits. She lets out a hearty laugh as she recalls crafting her own profile with her grandmother. ‘The only self-portrait I could find that I liked was from when I was pregnant, so we just focused on my face and couldn’t stop laughing,’ she reminisces. ‘I found the entire experience hysterical because, well, I hadn’t dated before, and the men on this app had me in stitches.’

It’s unclear if she will delete her dating app profile following her TV-arranged match, despite expressing a desire for Mr. Right and dreaming of having a grand wedding. However, Helen openly admits her romantic nature and longing for a big wedding since childhood. She added that past relationships have made her more cautious, but she would welcome the right person into her life to make this dream a reality.

As a lifelong fan who has been following her career for years, I can’t help but feel a sense of excitement and anticipation whenever I hear news about my favorite artist. And when she recently hinted that another baby might be on the horizon, I couldn’t contain my enthusiasm! My heart skipped a beat as I imagined the precious little one joining our beloved family. But I know my mom will probably react with a dramatic “Oh my God!” when she reads this, just like she did the last time around. Still, I can’t help but be broody and dream of the day I might get to meet the newest addition to the family. Here’s hoping that our favorite artist takes the plunge again!

Currently, her three children are consuming most of Helen’s time, and she acknowledges that she finds energy in the turmoil. She confides, ‘I don’t handle solitude well and often invite my friends to stay over because I find it challenging on my own. When I’m taking care of the kids, which is about 90% of the time, it can be quite a juggling act. However, it’s essential to understand that nothing will ever be perfect. The key is to simply strive for your best and remain true to who you are.’

• Celebs Go Dating will air Monday to Thursday at 9pm for five weeks from 19 August on E4

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2024-08-09 14:08