Helen Flanagan has admitted she has been feeling ‘up and down’ over Christmas as she opened up about spending the festive period away from her children amid her busy work schedule and ongoing feud with ex Scott Sinclair.
The soap star, 35, who split from the Bristol Rovers footballer in 2022 after 13 years together, confessed she struggled with the thought of not having her children with her on Christmas Day – but insisted she has always encouraged them to maintain a relationship with their father.
Sharing a selfie to Instagram, Helen told followers: ‘Been a bit up and down mood wise the past few days… so not really been on my social so thought we now could have a catch up.’
In another post alongside a sweet snap of herself and her children, she admitted: ‘I struggled with the thought of the kids going for Christmas a few days before they went x I know it’s just a day. They went 22nd and I don’t get them back till I finish Panto.
Helen, who is currently starring as the Wicked Queen in the pantomime Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, clarified that the photograph of herself and her children wearing Christmas pyjamas was taken last year at her mother’s house.
She also shared a heartwarming snap hugging her niece and nephew, writing: ‘I actually had a lovely Christmas, of course it wasn’t the same without my babies but I had my niece and my nephews to cuddle.’
Helen Flanagan has admitted she has been feeling ‘up and down’ over Christmas as she opened up about spending the festive period away from her children amid her busy work schedule and ongoing feud with ex Scott Sinclair
The soap star, 35, who split from the Bristol Rovers footballer in 2022 after 13 years together, confessed she struggled with the thought of not having her children with her on Christmas Day – but insisted she has always encouraged them to maintain a relationship with their father
Posting another image of her three children – Matilda, 10, Delilah, seven, and son Charlie, four – Helen added: ‘Course I missed them but it’s not about me it’s about them and I have always encouraged a relationship with the children with their father.
‘They know how much their mummy loves them and I have very strong bonds with each of my children and my priority is always their happiness.’
In a further post with her youngest son, Helen revealed she has not FaceTimed the children while they have been away, explaining: ‘I have not face timed the children since they have been gone as me and their father don’t have that kind of relationship where we can do that x
‘I think for the children it’s for the best, especially for Charlie as he might just miss me and get upset x They will be back before I know it x’
She concluded by sharing that eldest daughter Matilda will be receiving a phone for Christmas, writing: ‘Matilda is getting a phone off me for Christmas as she’s going to secondary school, so will be much easier to communicate when they are away x’
Earlier this week, Helen hit out at Scott after he travelled to Abu Dhabi and missed Charlie’s nativity performance.
Now, over the festive period, Scott took to his Instagram to show himself enjoying time with their children.
In one snap, the proud dad stands with all three kids in a forest setting as they beam for the camera.
In one sweet snap of herself and her children, she told her followers: ‘I struggled with the thought of the kids going for Christmas a few days before they went x I know it’s just a day. They went 22nd and I don’t get them back till I finish Panto’
She also shared a heartwarming snap hugging her niece and nephew, writing: ‘I actually had a lovely Christmas, of course it wasn’t the same without my babies but I had my niece and my nephews to cuddle’
In a further post with her youngest son, Helen revealed she has not FaceTimed the children while they have been away, explaining: ‘I have not face timed the children since they have been gone as me and their father don’t have that kind of relationship where we can do that’
He simply captioned the post: ‘Peace and happiness.’
The family also enjoyed a festive trip to an ice rink, lacing up their skates for some seasonal fun.
In one video, Scott can be seen holding Delilah’s hand as they glided across the ice, while Charlie sat securely on a child’s skating seat and Matilda confidently skated ahead on her own.
He later shared a heartwarming snap on his Stories of the children opening their presents, followed by another sweet photo of the family enjoying Christmas dinner together.
‘Merry Christmas everyone, thankful for love,family and all the little moments,’ he penned.
It comes after Helen appeared to take yet another swipe at ex Scott on Sunday, just days after branding him a ‘piece of s***’ on Instagram.
She heaped praise on her mother for ‘practically raising her kids’ while she has been performing in her Liverpool panto.
Alongside a snap of her mother, Julia, cuddling Charlie, she penned: So grateful for my incredible mum who has looked after my children for really the past two months while I’ve been working,’
Earlier this week, Helen hit out at Scott after he travelled to Abu Dhabi and missed Charlie’s nativity performance
Now, over the festive period, Scott took to his Instagram to show himself enjoying time with their children
It comes after Helen heaped praise on her mother for ‘practically raising her kids’ while she has been performing in a Liverpool panto
‘The BEST grandma ever, so lucky to have you mum. All the school runs, all the activities, all the school work, all the washing. Love you.’
Sources close to the situation claimed they know why Helen publicly condemned her ex, who she has apparently blocked, as is only speaking to via relatives.
Now, an insider close to the ex-couple has revealed that Scott has been embracing his ‘Hot Boy Winter’ moment after his split from girlfriend Lauren Davies, 32.
As Scott enjoys himself, attending the likes of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Helen has been balancing working full-time in panto and family life.
Elsewhere, an insider explained that since Scott split from Lauren, he ‘hasn’t been present’ in his children’s lives and is ‘constantly showing off his wealth’ on social media.
Helen reportedly liked Lauren and felt it was important that everyone got along, but after their split, everything has blew up with ‘Helen and Scott blocking each other and only communicating through family members’.
Daily Mail contacted both Helen and Scott’s representatives for comment.
