Former Coronation Street star Helen Flanagan fought back tears on Thursday's Loose Women as she discussed her split from ex-partner Scott Sinclair. The 34-year-old actress, who shares three children with the footballer, was joined on the show by her former co-stars Sally Dynevor and Sue Cleaver, as well as presenters Kaye Adams and Denise Welch.
When asked if she believes in a "happy ever after", Flanagan said, "I was with my ex Scott since I was 19 and he was like my world. I always thought we were going to be together. Always."
Denise Welch, known for her open and honest discussions on mental health, said, "I just know that you really struggled â could you just take us through because you had a breakdown, a real psychotic breakdown."
Clutching Dynevor's hand for support, Flanagan, who played Dynevor's daughter Rosie Webster in the ITV soap, replied, "Gosh, I didn't think I would get so emotional today!"
Flanagan explained that she had initially chosen not to discuss her mental health struggles but had felt compelled to do so ahead of a six-month theatre tour. "I didn't really want to talk about it, but the reason I did was because I was about to do a six-month theatre tour, so that's why I spoke about it," she said.
Discussing her recent foray into dating with Celebs Go Dating, Flanagan said, "I've loved it, so much fun. I think you just have to be open minded and it was a great way to spend the summer. But I think it would take someone really special to introduce them to my children."
Flanagan's appearance on Loose Women comes after she opened up about the personal heartbreak she has experienced following her separation from Sinclair in 2022. The pair had been engaged, but their relationship ultimately ended before they could tie the knot.
Flanagan's mental health struggles have been particularly challenging, as she revealed that she experienced a frightening reaction to her ADHD medication which led to a psychotic episode. "I really wasn't very well," she recalled. "Basically, I was struggling with my mental health around December and January, so I took my medication to try to make me feel better, and then unfortunately it just made things worse."
Flanagan's recovery took several weeks, during which time she was forced to withdraw from a touring production of Cluedo, which she had hoped would mark her return to the dramatic spotlight. She was eventually replaced by former co-star and Strictly Come Dancing winner Ellie Leach.
However, Flanagan is now set to make her comeback in the dating sphere, having joined the cast of Celebs Go Dating. Dating agent Anna Williamson revealed that Flanagan came incredibly close to being booted off the show after breaking one of the agency's rules.
"Helen, I just love her," Williamson told The Sun. "What I will say about her though â and I don't want to spoil anything â but Helen has the biggest cliffhanger pivot of a storyline that we've ever had in Celebs Go Dating history. Helen nearly got thrown out of the agency two weeks ago. She did something huge which goes against all the rules of the agency."
The new series of Celebs Go Dating is set to air later this year.
