AFTER being forced to sell her home and crying over her lost millions, hearing that ITV bosses had shut the door on a Corrie return was a bitter blow for Helen Flanagan.
And yet, far from giving up, insiders reveal the mum-of-three is launching a huge bid to claw back all the £3.5m fortune she lost - and it seems her incredible figure could be at the heart of her money making plans.
After an incredibly tough few years, which has seen her admit she hit rock-bottom, Helen is ready for her comeback - and a fresh start.
She was said to be worth over £3million at the height of her fame, racking up riches from her 13 year stint on Corrie, endorsement deals and a reported £300,000 paycheque to do I'm A Celeb All Stars in 2023.
While it's not clear exactly how Helen lost a sizeable chunk of her fortune, her split from footballer Scott Sinclair as well as sizeable tax bills are believed to have been a factor.
Helen even admitted to financial hardships recently, after revealing she had to downsize her dream home.
She revealed in an emotional instagram video that she has "lost a lot of money" and alluded to having to pay HMRC a chunk of tax.
She explained: "I don't owe the HMRC any money, I pay my taxes, I'm a good person, I have good morals, I have always paid my taxes, I am not in any debt".
But despite her setbacks, the 34-year-old had her sights firmly set on a soap return after being out of full-time employment for seven years.
But her hopes have been dashed by Corrie bosses who have told her 'there is no way back.'
Now the star has been forced to turn to other avenues to boost her income.
In the past, Helen has shown off her incredible figure modelling for various lingerie brands and, following her recent boob job, there is more demand than ever to see the star in her skimpies.
PR Expert/Entertainment expert for Press Box PR Lynn Carratt believes lingerie deals could be a seriously lucrative option for her.
She told us: "She could work with, and has previously worked with, many lingerie brands including the prestigious Agent Provocateur.
"She has also previously produced edits for Nikki Intimates and Pour Moi and could potentially work with Boux Avenue who are a hugely popular brand and potentially launch her own range.
"Obviously, there will be exclusivity clauses with her deals with these brands and she wouldn’t be allowed to work with them all at once, but she could definitely net around £500,000 this year from this type of endorsement alone."
Helen underwent surgery in 2023 - picking 34CC implant size - Motiva Round - and opted for a dual plane placement.
She explained at the time: “I lost a lot of weight from my break up and I didn’t want my boobs to be too big for my frame but I needed them to fill out the skin that needed lifting.
“Now they are just perfect for my frame and I feel they are really natural, like my boobs before my kids."
'Really struggling'
Helen shot to fame as Rosie Webster on the ITV favourite, landing the role while she was still at primary school.
Over the years, her career went from strength to strength, with reality TV appearances and brand deals cementing her celebrity status.
But behind the scenes, the mum-of-three has admitted she’s hit hard times financially - telling fans she’s been “really struggling” since her split from footballer Scott Sinclair, 36.
Earlier this month, Helen revealed she was forced to downsize from her “forever home” in Bolton, Greater Manchester, after "losing all her money" - a stark contrast from the glamorous image lived out in the public eye.
Letting her hair down at Aintree earlier this month, Helen opened up about her hopes on returning to Coronation Street - and revealed the timing was right for her now.
She told us: "I'd love to, especially as Charlie [her four-year-old son] is going to school.
"It would be perfect.
"But we'll just have to wait and see if it fits into a storyline."
Hinting that her comeback could be sooner rather than later, when asked if Corrie bosses had been in touch, she replied: "I can't say."
However, it seems the chat didn't go quite the way she expected as another insider said: “Helen recently spoke to a top Corrie producer about the possibility of coming back, but her character wouldn’t currently feed into any plots that are playing out.”
She is now looking at other options, with PR expert Lynn suggesting: "Another path she might consider is becoming a mummy influencer, much like Stacey Solomon.
"With her 1.1 million social media followers and experience as a single mother of three, there's likely a strong interest in her life. To transition into this area, she would probably need to shift away from more overtly sexy endorsements, such as Ann Summers, and focus on family-friendly content.
"This could involve collaborations on homeware lines with retailers like George at Asda, children's clothing ranges with Primark, or family travel endorsements with companies like TUI or Jet2."
She continued: "Given Helen's strong and funny personality, starting her own podcast could also be a great option. I'm sure there would be considerable interest from listeners and potential sponsors.
"A podcast along the lines of 'Helen's Daily Dose' could offer an insightful look into her life as a single mother, away from her glamorous side.
"Finally, despite reports that Helen is hesitant about more reality TV after her appearances on various I'm A Celebrity series and Celebs Go Dating, shows like Strictly Come Dancing, Celebrity SAS, and possibly the second series of Celebrity Bear Hunt could be viable options.
"These are all well-regarded reality programmes that could provide both income and maintain her public profile."
A source close to Helen also told The Sun how much it would mean for her to regain her financial security.
They said: "Helen’s been through a lot these past few years, but she’s never once stopped showing up for her kids or trying to make things work.
"She’s one of the most recognisable faces in British soap history, and it’s easy to forget just how long she’s been in the game. She’s been working in the industry since she was a child.
"She poured everything into building a life for her family, and the split with Scott was incredibly tough on her.
"Downsizing her home wasn’t just emotional, it was a huge wake-up call financially. But she hasn’t complained, she’s just rolled up her sleeves and started looking at how to rebuild.
"Honestly, she deserves a bit of good fortune. She’s worked so hard and stayed grounded through it all."
'Struggling and skint'
Helen, whose company earned £75k in the year to April 2024, recently told her Instagram followers she had "really been struggling" lately amid claims that she is "skint" and "broke".
At one point the actress was said to be worth £3.5 million thanks to her TV work and brand endorsements.
Two years ago she landed £300,000 for a return to the I'm A Celebrity jungle, which boosted her bank balance some what.
But lack of full time employment and no big Corrie pay cheque - along with her split from Scott Sinclair, have all contributed to her recent struggles.
Speaking in court at the start of the this year when she was banned from driving for speeding, Helen claimed she is "really struggling at the moment financially" and can only afford to pay her tax and VAT.
She added: "My job really is being a mummy at home. Their dad works away. I earn money on social media, but it kind of varies really what I earn. I used to earn quite well from it but I haven’t done so well the past year.
“I think it’s just what happens sometimes. It's just what happens really.”
She later shared a very emotional video and said: "I have lost a lot of money, but I don't owe anybody a penny, I can hold my head up high.
"I don't owe the HMRC any money, I pay my taxes. I'm a good person, I have good morals, I have always paid my taxes, I am not in any debt."
She then said that she is "lucky" to be in the position she is.
Honestly, she deserves a bit of good fortune. She’s worked so hard and stayed grounded through it all
Source
Fans flocked to support Helen in the comments section, offering her love and support.
"Love you darling. You are so strong and the best mama in the world xxx," penned one.
Another added: "Just ignore the haters. Sounds like you in a good place financially. Worry about you the kids and significant others. The rest will come and go."
Helen previously shared her upset about leaving the huge property she has lived in with her three kids for four years.
Speaking on The Declutter Hub podcast, she said: “It actually makes me sad that I'm going to be leaving soon because I actually put so much effort into it.
“When we moved I put like a lot of my savings into doing the house up and making it look really beautiful.
“But it's a big house. It's an eight bedroom house, which is obviously really hard to keep on top of.
"Yeah. I feel really lucky to live here and well, soon to have lived here, because it is gorgeous, but it's a lot to keep on top of.”
Helen continued: “It was really nice to have this space.
“I think I'm going to struggle because obviously I will be downsizing so much."
It may have been a particularly trying time for Helen but it certainly seems that while this chapter is over and she’s ready to turn the page for another successful adventure.
