Man ban, ‘sweaty boobs’ & TV tears…how Helen Flanagan is taking charge after ‘chaotic’ year & the sign Robbie is the one

HELEN Flanagan’s life was turned upside down when she split from fiancé Scott Sinclair in 2022.

The former Coronation Street star, 34, had been with the footballer since she was 19, and shares three children with him.

She was “so lonely” in the months after the break-up that she went on to “fall in love” with throuple-loving boxer David Haye – who’s in a long-term open relationship with Sian Osbourne – and was left heartbroken by him too.

But she’s now happier than ever with her new boyfriend Robbie Talbot, 44, and it seems he may be The One.

“I’ve never met anyone like him,” Helen gushed to OK! about the father of two, in their first joint interview. “He’s not only a lovely man, but he’s really, really funny. And he had the balls to chat me up! Usually I don’t get that but he has so much confidence. And he really takes care of me.”

And psychologist Jo Hemmings tells us their relationship “is the perfect example of ‘when you know it, you know it,’” especially as Helen was on a self-imposed “man ban” when they met and about to go on Celebs Go Dating.

Jo continues: “I’m really pleased for Helen. She’s gone through so many difficult times, and she didn’t seem to know what direction she wanted to go in. 

“Then Robbie came along; this very normal guy who is not unimpressed by her achievements but doesn’t set store by them. 

“He respects her success and he’s got two kids of his own too.

“He’s very grounded, quite stoic, just very normal.

“It’s like the yin to her yang. Where she’s very hyperactive, very unsure of herself in many ways, and excitable, he’s that sort of grounded, anchored person that seems to be absolutely right for her at the moment, without any compromise.

“I don’t feel she’s just settling either. They have a lot of humour and a lot of fun in their relationship and it seems to be a very mutual thing for the two of them.”

Secret romance

Helen and Robbie met at a restaurant in Alderley Edge not long before Helen signed the contract to appear on Celebs Go Dating.

Having only just started dating, they agreed to keep their relationship a secret from Helen’s co-stars and the dating experts Paul C Brunson, Anna Williamson and Dr Tara.

Robbie told OK!: “We weren’t serious at that point, we were just dating. And we communicated the whole way through. I knew all along what was happening.”

Despite this, Helen embraced the E4 show experience, going on multiple dates with younger men – constantly talking about her kids, and her “sweaty boobs” and even snogging some of them.

Jo says: “Helen met Scott when she was very young and she had her children very young and that throws a bit of a curve ball at growing up, because you’re suddenly put in the same position as someone who might be 10 years older than you, so there is that kind of identity confusion.

“On Celebs Go Dating, Helen was going on dates, immediately spitting out that she had three kids and snogging dates she didn’t even especially fancy, because in spite of her fame and success, there is a real sense that she lacks genuine self-esteem, falling over herself to tell the guys she had kids while also trying so hard to people please. 

“She became very confused about her identity – Is she a mum? Is she an actress? What age is she?

“Helen is one of those celebs that both embraces her fame, while fighting simultaneously to be normal.

“She became pretty chaotic in her lifestyle choices, as if she knew was looking for something special but couldn’t work out what direction to take or who to trust.

“She carried on playing the sexy siren role while going home to be a mum, cook tea and get into her pyjamas for an early night. It can be unsettling and confusing.”

Surprise reaction

Helen finally revealed the truth about Robbie to the experts and got a huge telling off for lying.

In a first for the show, the experts agreed to bring the non-league footballer into the agency for some couple’s therapy.

But, far from throwing his toys out of the pram over Helen’s dates, he has confessed he saw it as an acting job.

He told OK!: “The most important thing was speaking about it before Helen went on the show.

“You’ve got to remember, putting the show to one side, it was a really new relationship. So when it’s new and you’re messaging and going on the odd date, you don’t have a leg to stand on when it comes to being jealous or expecting exclusivity.

If anything, I looked at it as an acting job for her. She’s done kissing scenes in soaps and stuff, so I was totally fine with it all.

Robbie Talbot

“We weren’t as serious then as we are now. It was fine seeing her go on the dates. 

“If anything, I looked at it as an acting job for her. She’s done kissing scenes in soaps and stuff, so I was totally fine with it all.”

And Jo believes this maturity is part of the reason Robbie is so good for Helen.

“He took it brilliantly,” she says. “He allows his inner calm to accept what went on because he’s got that emotional maturity by saying, ‘Oh, well, you know, this is what she does’.

“A lot of guys wouldn’t go on that show after they had seen her behave like that, so it’s testimony to his maturity and stability that he accepts that in that way.”

David Haye ‘guilt’

Elsewhere on Celebs Go Dating, Helen broke down in tears over her relationship with boxer David Haye.

Clarifying she was never in a throuple with him and his partner Sian, Helen confessed she “fell in love” with him, and began to feel very guilty about doing so, despite them being in an open relationship.

Speaking about their relationship, she said: “It got to around nine months [after Scott and I split] and I was thinking, ‘Wow I am actually really lonely now and I miss a man’s touch’.

“I ended up in a situationship with David. I knew him for around 10 years and we were in the [I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here] jungle together. I remember the first time I saw him I was just like ‘wow who is that!?’.”

[David Haye and I] had an amazing connection and we were like fire together. He loves his girlfriend and I think he loved me as well. It brings me to a part in my life that was quite dark.

Helen Flanagan

“It’s quite hard for me to talk about. He had a girlfriend and he had an open relationship. I didn’t mean to fall in love with him but I did.

“We had an amazing connection and we were like fire together. He loves his girlfriend and I think he loved me as well.

“It brings me to a part in my life that was quite dark.”

She added: “I was in love with the man; I wouldn’t have enjoyed watching the man I was in love with have sex with another woman, that’s not for me.

“I [had communication with his girlfriend]. I felt very guilty and didn’t feel nice about it at all. It really upsets me because I am a nice girl and I don’t mean to hurt anybody.

“I was just really lonely and I found it really hard. If you sleep with someone for quite a long time you do fall in love with them.

“I was just lonely and it just happened. I feel really guilty about it.”

Man ban

Helen put herself on a man ban following this relationship, but Jo says this is the reason she would’ve been drawn to Robbie.

Jo thinks, due to this relationship, and the fact she was just 19 when she met Scott, the fact Robbie is so different to both of them is what drew her to him.

She says: “She had a difficult, dark time with David and whatever that may or may not have been, and she kept saying, ‘I’m not really looking for someone. I’m single. I’m not looking.’ 

“But she clearly was looking. 

“She was always a bit chaotic in her mind of what she wanted, because I don’t think she genuinely believed in herself, or believed that there was someone out there for her that feels that and then hey, presto, this guy came along.

“He’s so even tempered and mature to her kind of slightly crazy mind and lack of understanding of herself. I just think he’s a great partner.”

Reminds her of home

And Helen has confirmed his non-showbizzy lifestyle is part of the reason she’s with him.

She told OK! “Our life was always very much in the spotlight. I’ve been on TV since I was nine, so my life has always been that way. Cameras, press attention, exposure. 

“I like the fact that Robbie gives me some normality. 

“He’s amazing, but I love that he has a normal job, that he’s so grounded. He’s very, very good for me.

“And the fact he’s a Scouser reminds me of home. 

“He’s so laid back and we never argue. We just laugh all the time. I genuinely think he’s the funniest man I’ve ever, ever met. 

“Plus, he’s sensitive and I’ve never really had that before.”

Jo finishes: “Somehow Robbie appeared at just the right moment – he accepts all that she is, from stunning and talented actress, to a wholesome, homegrown young woman with  a strong support system and three children she adores. 

“He just really seems to care about her for who she is and not what she is, and I think he’s  given her a way of calming her lifestyle down, but still having fun. 

“I don’t think she realised you could be with someone, have fun and be in love with them. 

“They are a wonderful match and I hope it lasts!”