Actress Helen Flanagan has shared insights into her relationship with former Towie star James Argent and a memorable interaction with a well-known X Factor singer. The 35-year-old also unveiled some behind-the-scenes drama from her time on Coronation Street and her appearance on Channel 5’s reality series, Celebrity Super Spa.
Helen joined the show alongside Towie’s James Argent, chefs Rusty Lee and John Burton-Race, Shameless actor Jody Latham, and Most Haunted’s Yvette Fielding. Airing in 2013, the program followed six celebrities working at a real spa in Liverpool.
In her new memoir titled Head & Heart: Break-ups, Breakdowns, and Being Rosie, Helen delves into her on-screen and off-screen love life. The former Corrie star, who shares three children with ex-fiancé Scott Sinclair, discussed her bond with Towie’s Arg during their time on the show.
She revealed, “I formed a close friendship with James ‘Arg’ Argent from The Only Way is Essex, and we spent a lot of time together. The show producers were keen on sparking a romance between us, dropping hints like, ‘You and Arg make a cute pair…’ However, I was still emotionally entangled with Scott and uncertain about my feelings towards Arg, even though I liked him.”
“He wasn’t my usual type. I typically preferred athletic guys focused on health and fitness, while Arg would enjoy four Greggs sausage rolls for breakfast. Perhaps he had more feelings for me than I did for him, but there was a fleeting connection between us that felt… unusual.”
“While lounging in my hotel room, with Arg caressing my back, things could have escalated, but I hesitated. When that moment passed, it felt like it was the end. I wasn’t ready to move on from Scott, so using Arg as a rebound would have been a mistake.”
Recalling a flirtatious encounter with former X Factor winner James Arthur, Helen shared, “Upon my return, I was set to appear on a BBC Three comedy panel show called Sweat the Small Stuff, hosted by Nick Grimshaw, with team captains Rochelle Humes and Melvin Odoom.”
“The episode featured James Arthur, the 2012 X Factor champion, and let’s say we had a connection.”
“Encouraged by Grimmy, James and I openly flirted during filming and exchanged numbers afterward, loosely planning to meet for a drink. However, beyond some harmless WhatsApp messages, nothing came of it. When the episode aired, the media picked up on it, creating stories about us being an item.”
The Celebs Go Dating personality added, “Scott was upset about it and tried every means to reach me, calling my phone and even my parents’ landline.”
“I avoided speaking with him. He had been unkind to me, and I was determined to move forward, a progress I felt I was making.”
Ending her “toxic” relationship with Scott, the footballer, in October 2022 after 13 years together, Helen and Scott share three children – Matilda, Delilah, and Charlie.
Following her breakup with Scott, Helen briefly dated boxer David Hayes, whom she first met on I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here in 2012 but connected with 11 years later. However, their romance ended in December 2023.
She also admitted to rejecting advances from controversial influencer Andrew Tate after matching on a dating app.
Originally gaining fame as a child star on the ITV soap, portraying the rebellious Rosie Webster, Helen, now a mother of three, works as an influencer and model, making appearances on reality TV shows like Celebs Go Dating.
Helen, known for her role as Rosie Webster on the ITV soap opera, also revealed a falling out with Corrie co-star Ryan Thomas when she decided to leave the show, recalling telling him to leave in a heated moment on set.
Helen’s book, Head & Heart: Break-ups, Breakdowns, and Being Rosie, is available today.