HELEN Flanagan has opened up about her relationship with ex Scott Sinclair in a candid post on Instagram.
The Coronation Street star shares three children with her former fiancé, seven-year-old Matilda, five-year-old Delilah, and two-year-old Charlie.
The couple split in October 2022 after a 13 year relationship.
Taking her eldest daughter for a day in London this weekend, Helen shared videos and pictures of their girls day out - including a fancy afternoon tea complete with harpist.
Matilda dressed up for the occasion in a baby pink dress suit, and her proud mum shared a video of her looking awestruck at the harpist.
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“Matilda wanted to go to the beauty and the beast afternoon tea @waldorfhilton and it was so lovely x,” wrote Helen.
“I’m so proud of the beautiful girl Matilda is and how lovely and kind and fun she is and how well she adapts to change.”
Opening up about her private difficulties, Helen said: “I felt really emotional that day, a lot of personal things going on and it can be extremely emotionally draining co parenting when you have a difficult relationship.”
Thanking an unknown couple who gave up their table for Matilda after Helen was unable to get a reservation, Helen added: “I left my phone to try and be more present and lots of chats and cuddles and her beautiful little face.
“So grateful for Matilda, mummy got a bit teary but they were happy tears.”
“I had therapy at the beginning of the year and I felt like I was able to come back to my natural self and not suppress my emotions and I let myself cry now,” Helen continued.
“I felt a little bit lost before I had Matilda, when I had my baby girl it gave me a feeling of purpose and inspiration.
“Whenever I’m stuck in a situation and don’t know what to do, I think what would I want my daughter to do and I do that.”
Helen started dating footballer Scott, in 2009, and got engaged in 2014.
Shortly before their split, they had been planning to get married this year.
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However, ahead of their break-up, Helen had admitted they had not shared a bed in years, with her opting to stay with the children instead.
Last year, she said of the split: "We had a really nice relationship, it was really special. We were just meant to be and obviously we had three children together.
"[But] towards the end we just grew apart."
Helen is now trying to find herself some new romance, and has signed up to Celebs Go Dating in a bid to get herself back out there.
She’s joined on the show by MAFS’ Ella Morgan, Love Island’s Chris Taylor, Jamelia, Made in Chelsea’s Tristan Phipps and Gogglebox’s Stephen Webb.
Helen has been seen in London filming a string of steamy dates - including a romantic trip to a seafood restaurant with a hunky admirer.
The new series will air later this year.
