Helen Flanagan reveals 'huge green flag' about boyfriend Robbie Talbot as they admit 'things got intense'

Helen Flanagan has shared what she felt was a 'huge green flag' when she started falling for new boyfriend Robbie Talbot as the pair have told how their relationship suddenly 'got intense'.

Helen had been rumoured to be dating the former footballer before the actress signed up for the E4 reality show Celebs Go Dating following her split from her ex-fiancé Scott Sinclair in 2022.

But it was revealed early into the show's 2024 run that Helen was already seeing someone during filming and she was forced to make the admission in front of her co-stars and Celebs Go Dating's experts Anna Williamson, Paul Carrick Brunson and Dr Tara Suwinyattichaiporn.

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Ex-Morecambe and Burton Albion, 44, striker Robbie then became part of the show with the pair een enjoying dates and spending time at the agency with Helen, 34, after they met by chance back in February at a restaurant while the latter was on a so-called 'man-ban'.

After keeping her romance on the down low for so long, the former Coronation Street star now wants to shout about her new man. “I’ve never met anyone like him," she's told OK! Magazine 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."

As mentioned, Helen kept quiet about Robbie on set, although she was in touch with him constantly. Eventually, she couldn’t hide her feelings any longer. "Things got really intense between us. And in the midst of filming, I realised I was really falling for him. And that’s when it became really tough to do," she said.

Robbie, meanwhile, dealt with things by seeing it as Helen’s work. He said: "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."

Eight months on and the pair seem to be going from strength to strength and they’ve met each other’s kids. Helen has Matilda, nine, Delilah, six, and Charlie, three, with her footballer ex Scott, who she split from in 2022 after 13 years, and Robbie is dad to Sophia, 14, and 10-year-old Carina, who he has four times a week – which Helen said is a “huge green flag” for her.

She added: “He’s a great daddy. And our kids all get along so well. Carina and Matilda are the same age and are so cute together, and I consider myself a friend to Sophia, we have great chats. For me, the most romantic thing Robbie could do is be kind to my kids. He reads them bedtime stories. To me that means so much more than flowers or chocolates."