Helen Flanagan, the 35-year-old former Coronation Street actress, shares intimate details of a near romantic encounter with TOWIE star James Argent in her latest memoir, Head & Heart: Break-ups, Breakdowns and Being Rosie.
Near Romance on Celebrity Super Spa
During the 2013 reality series Celebrity Super Spa, where Flanagan appeared alongside Argent, chefs Rusty Lee and John Burton-Race, Shameless actor Jody Latham, and Most Haunted‘s Yvette Fielding, the pair developed a close bond that sparked romance rumors.
Flanagan describes a pivotal ‘weird’ moment in a hotel room, where the two lay on the bed and Argent stroked her back, creating a brief spark of intensity. She admits to liking him a great deal but notes that he seemed more invested in the connection than she was.
‘I was too mixed up over Scott and I didn’t even know if I actually fancied Arg although I did like him a lot,’ Flanagan writes. ‘He definitely wasn’t my usual type – I usually went for sporty guys who were into their health and fitness whereas Arg would eat four Greggs sausage rolls for breakfast. I think he was probably more into me than I was him, but there was a brief moment of heat between us which felt… weird.’
She explains that producers on the show encouraged the potential pairing, insisting they would make a strong match. However, Flanagan felt something held her back, and the moment passed without escalating further.
Reflections on Sexuality and Celebs Go Dating
Flanagan also opens up about her emotional struggles during her 2024 stint on Celebs Go Dating, where she grappled with confusion over her sexuality. She shared her thoughts on camera but later requested that those scenes be removed to avoid public scrutiny.
The actress worried about disappointing her mother, stating, ‘The thought of this footage going out on national telly got me really depressed, like I’d massively let her down as a daughter.’ Producers accommodated her request, carefully editing out the sensitive portions.
Her time on the show took a dramatic turn when she confessed to having a secret boyfriend, Robbie Talbot, back home. This revelation shocked her castmates and experts, leading to accusations of wasting everyone’s time.
Love expert Paul Brunson responded firmly: ‘Helen has not only wasted our time, but all of the dates’ time. We need to hear the full truth of why she has kept this from us. And if we are not happy with her response, it is time for her to leave the agency.’
Flanagan pleaded to remain in the agency for personal growth, saying, ‘I know I can’t date but I would like to maybe stay in the agency and still have a bit of maybe therapy. For myself.’ She later declared, ‘I think I am in love with him.’
Personal Life Updates
Following her 2022 split from fiancé Scott Sinclair, with whom she shares children Matilda, 9, Delilah, 6, and Charlie, 4, Flanagan began dating former non-league footballer Robbie Talbot, 45. The couple went public in 2024 but parted ways in May 2025.
