Helen Flanagan, the 35-year-old former Coronation Street actress, shares a candid account of a nearly romantic encounter with TOWIE star James Argent in her new memoir, Head & Heart: Break-ups, Breakdowns and Being Rosie.
The Moment of Tension on Celebrity Super Spa
During the 2013 reality series Celebrity Super Spa, where Flanagan appeared alongside Argent, chefs Rusty Lee and John Burton-Race, actor Jody Latham, and Most Haunted‘s Yvette Fielding, the pair developed a close bond. Rumors of a potential romance circulated at the time.
Flanagan describes a tense evening in her hotel room, where the two lay on the bed as Argent stroked her back. She admits to feeling a brief spark of attraction, stating in the book, “I did like him a lot.” However, she notes that Argent seemed more invested than she was and emphasizes that he did not fit her typical preference for athletic, health-conscious partners.
“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,” Flanagan writes. “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 idea of a pairing, but her lingering feelings for her then-partner Scott Sinclair held her back. Ultimately, the moment passed without escalating further.
Reflections on Sexuality and Celebs Go Dating
Flanagan also opens up about her experiences on the 2024 dating show Celebs Go Dating, where she grappled with questions about her sexuality. She shared her thoughts during filming but later requested that those segments be removed to avoid disappointing her mother.
“The thought of this footage going out on national telly got me really depressed, like I’d massively let her down as a daughter,” she recounts. The production team accommodated her request, carefully editing out the relevant parts.
Her time on the show took another turn when she admitted to having a boyfriend, Robbie Talbot, back home. This revelation shocked her co-stars and the experts, leading to discussions about her potentially leaving the program. Love expert Paul Brunson expressed frustration, saying, “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.”
Flanagan responded by expressing a desire to remain for personal growth, stating, “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.”
Personal Life Updates
Following her 2022 split from ex-fiancé Scott Sinclair, with whom she shares children Matilda, 9, Delilah, 6, and Charlie, 4, Flanagan began dating former footballer Robbie Talbot, 45. The couple went public in 2024 but parted ways in May 2025.
