HELEN Flanagan has gushed over her new footballer boyfriend as she lifted the lid on signing for Celebs Go Dating when they were already dating.
The former Coronation Street actress, 34, opened up on claims she should have quit the E4 series when The Sun was first to reveal she was “in love” with her new man.
Helen, 34, came clean to the judges and admitted she had ‘fallen in love’ with her man as she filmed for the e4 series[/caption]
Helen said ‘blokey bloke’ Robbie was ‘sweet’ for agreeing to star on the show[/caption]
She told how her man was ‘not bothered at all’ about showbiz fame[/caption]
Helen‘s secret romance then played out in full on Celebs Go Dating, in scenes which saw her confess her feelings about former footballer Robbie Talbot, 44, to the programme’s relationship experts.
On Monday’s Lorraine show, the mum of three was quizzed on the situation – which came as part of her desire to move on following her split with fiance Scott Sinclair, 35.
The couple broke up in October 2022 after their 13-year relationship came to an end.
Yet Helen told ITV host Lorraine Kelly, 64, how her intentions for Celebs Go Dating were pure when she put pen to paper on her deal – despite allegations of “faking” her feelings during her opening show dates.
She said: “I signed up for the show at the beginning of the year, and we [she and Robbie] were dating.
“It just progressed.
“I wear my heart on my sleeve and I just wanted to come clean.”
She added: “I wanted to be true to myself.
“I am a big fan of the show, I love the show, and I wanted to get the most from the show.
“I wanted to be honest.”
The actress then addressed how her relationship with Robbie, who played for teams including Morcambe and Burton Albion, had become “really intense” as she started filming the matchmaking series.
Helen – now clearly loved-up – then went on to praise her man for supporting her latest career venture.
She said of the show, on which Robbie has now appeared: “It’s not his thing at all.
Celebs Go Dating 2024 cast
Celebs Go Dating is soon welcoming a new bunch of famous faces in search of love. Here is where you may have seen some of them before…
- Chris Taylor: Contestant on the fifth series of Love Island
- Helen Flanagan: Star of Coronation Street and I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!
- Ella Morgan: Participant and first transgender bride on the eighth series of Married At First Sight UK
- Jamelia: Singer and actress who has recently appeared in Hollyoaks as Sharon Bailey
- Stephen Lustig-Webb: Former star of Gogglebox
- Tristan Phipps: Cast member of Made In Chelsea
- Lauryn Goodman: Famed for her bitter feud with footballer ex Kyle Walker
“He is a blokey bloke.
“It’s not his thing at all.
“It was sweet he came onto the show with me.”
Later in the chat, she told how Robbie is “not bothered” about the showbiz lifestyle “at all.”
Her comments came after we reported that Helen’s boyfriend had been written into the series as a show first.
She dropped the bombshell following a fast-flirting event.
The Celebs Go Dating singletons had been tasked with an event to test their skills under pressure, and were armed with buzzers and a deck of “get to know you” cards.
She said: “Unfortunately I am comparing everyone to him [Ronnie]
“And it’s making it very difficult now when I’m dating.”
In a piece direct to camera, Anna Williamson said: “Pardon, you’ve got a boyfriend?
“Why on Earth hasn’t she told us?”
Addressing the group, Helen continued: “My feelings have just got stronger and more intense.
“I actually could see something with this guy at home being something really quite lovely
“I think I am in love with him.”
Previously, a source told us: “Helen tried to keep the relationship under wraps because of Celebs Go Dating.
“But that’s become difficult as their feelings have grown for each other. It came to a head when she was quizzed by the dating agents about why she was failing to pursue connections on the show.
“The one rule of CGD is stars must be single.
“But E4 bosses were desperate to keep her, so found a way to write Robbie into the show.
“Sources on set have seen him filming alongside Helen. While it’s not known how E4 will justify the fakery, viewers will feel they’re trying to pull the wool over their eyes.”
Since the scenes played out, Helen has made a cheeky sex confession about her new man while talking to the experts.
She couldn’t keep her hands off her new man as they headed onto the show sofa.
She has found fresh happiness in her love life following her split with fiance Scott Sinclair[/caption]
Helen shares three kids with her ex[/caption]
