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To feel bad for Helen Flanagan here?

358 replies

mumofoneAloneandwell · 23/01/2026 19:57

Cardi B Look GIF by Taimi

https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/helen-flanagan-furiously-hits-out-36599678.amp

she’s being made to sell their home and work, taking jobs she wouldn’t normally, and being away from her kids?

I know some of you are gonna be like ‘poor little rich girl’ 😂😂😂 but honestly, what kind of man is this?? Feel for her a little (from my own, much lower, tax bracket)

OP posts:
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CommonlyKnownAs · 24/01/2026 13:40

I’d hazard a guess that’s why Helen isn’t pursuing Schedule 1 of the children’s act because in an interview she said it’s not suitable for their circumstances so she’s obviously looked into it and it would make sense if he was actually in the red or breaking even.

Oh really? How interesting! All the more reason to take the paid off property now then.

SuziQuinto · 24/01/2026 13:40

mumofoneAloneandwell · 24/01/2026 13:14

Oo I think she has done him a favour

women can have kids with anyone. She has had them with him, has raised them for him while he works and pursues his dream career (presumably - maybe he wants to be working in m&s?)

she’s put her career on hold - she’s not a young woman anymore and is now struggling to find the right work for her

it’s like saying to a doctor - well, you can’t find good postions you’ve trained for, get back to work anywhere you can, you spoiled woman 🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️

No, it's not. If doctors can't get into their specialist area, they have many other options within the medical profession, which can still be fulfilling and, of course, are paid well. I doubt she'd be called "spoiled" for looking for a suitable niche.
Helen obviously has acting work on the go, the play (qv) sounds interesting, who knows what direction she wants to go in. However, she's still a young and attractive woman, so let's be honest, it'll be easier for her than for many other women in the acting profession.

NameChangeElaine · 24/01/2026 13:26

ProfessionalPirate · 24/01/2026 10:42

His finances are his responsibility. If he hasn’t managed to save and prepare for the future, that’s on him. Footballers’ careers are notoriously fickle and short. It’s not like he couldn’t predict that this would happen. When we decided to put our kids into private school, we had the money saved in advance as security, we wouldn’t have put them in otherwise. I clearly don’t know as much detail about their financial arrangements as you do, but I imagine if they’d been married she would have received the house in settlement and more. Obviously it’s on her that she didn’t ensure this, but she must feel like she is building her life on moving sands, at the mercy of her ex.

His finances are his responsibility. If he hasn’t managed to save and prepare for the future, that’s on him.

Well yes I’m not saying it isn’t but likewise the same goes for her, she knew they weren’t married so should have either kept her career going (I’m sure they could have afforded a nanny) or made sure a certain amount of money was put in her name, that’s on her.

You can’t hold it against him but then give her a pass, both were young and dumb.

Footballers’ careers are notoriously fickle and short. It’s not like he couldn’t predict that this would happen.

Again same goes for her, she would have known just as well as him that his career would basically be done by this point so the money would dry up; even if they were still together she’d have known he couldn’t afford to keep their lifestyle going and they’d have to cut their cloth. Apparently he was released from Bristol Rovers in 2025 so he isn’t even earning now.

When we decided to put our kids into private school, we had the money saved in advance as security, we wouldn’t have put them in otherwise.

Well that’s because you’re probably a sensible and responsible person with your head screwed on, unfortunately these two didn’t do the same.

I clearly don’t know as much detail about their financial arrangements as you do

I only know as much as these two (mainly Helen) like to blab to the press. I have an illness that hospitalises me regularly so reading vacuous nonsense about z-list celebrities is a good way to keep my mind off things.

but I imagine if they’d been married she would have received the house in settlement and more.

I wouldn’t be too sure about that, they split up when he was passed his prime and nearing the end of his career and if reports are to be believed, then they were actually in debt from living far beyond their means for years. I’m actually inclined to believe it as he was on the lower end of the pay scale for a premier league footballer (with no outside income streams from things like endorsements) yet the two of them lived like they were Posh and Becks. While the house may be in his name, I’m assuming any debt is too as he was the main earner. I’d hazard a guess that’s why Helen isn’t pursuing Schedule 1 of the children’s act because in an interview she said it’s not suitable for their circumstances so she’s obviously looked into it and it would make sense if he was actually in the red or breaking even. Who knows though.

I think the whole problem is they came into so much money so young without any proper education behind them and seemingly no one to advise them either (or they didn’t listen). It’s absolutely unfathomable to me that they didn’t use what they had to set themselves up for life but there you go.

Obviously it’s on her that she didn’t ensure this, but she must feel like she is building her life on moving sands, at the mercy of her ex.

Well not really because this was always the plan, they agreed that she’d stay in the house until the youngest started school (with him paying the mortgage and utilities on top of maintenance) and then they’d sell up and he’d buy her her own house; the thinking was with the youngest in school she’d be able to work more and therefore afford to run her own house. She’s known for 4 years this was coming so I’d hardly call it moving sands or her being at the mercy of her ex, it’s not come out of the blue. In previous years she’s actually been quite positive about the arrangement in interviews saying she’d maybe move to London as it would be good for her career.

While I do feel for Helen, I don’t think it’s a case of Scott being malicious or a shit dad or someone who doesn’t want to provide for his kids, I genuinely think it’s a case of two young people who mismanaged their money and it’s now come home to roost.

CommonlyKnownAs · 24/01/2026 13:21

mumofoneAloneandwell · 24/01/2026 13:14

Oo I think she has done him a favour

women can have kids with anyone. She has had them with him, has raised them for him while he works and pursues his dream career (presumably - maybe he wants to be working in m&s?)

she’s put her career on hold - she’s not a young woman anymore and is now struggling to find the right work for her

it’s like saying to a doctor - well, you can’t find good postions you’ve trained for, get back to work anywhere you can, you spoiled woman 🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️

Is she really struggling to find the right work? Seems to have quite a number of projects on the go, booked and busy. It sounds like her issue is she'd rather not have to do so many of them.

mumofoneAloneandwell · 24/01/2026 13:15

i Will say everyone, it’s just a lighthearted thread, I hope no one’s taken offence - women can and should do as they please!!!

I love a cheeky gif, celeb gossip and to bash men 🥰🥰, but if you’ve survived a similar situation, I think you’re amazing xx

OP posts:
mumofoneAloneandwell · 24/01/2026 13:14

SleepingStandingUp · 24/01/2026 12:47

Had THEIR family.

She hadn't done him a favour.
Now the relationship is over, she's already had one guy move in and out again, and he's paying for everything.

All this "jobs I don't want to do", it would be interesting to see what she's actually doing for work and how much of those wages go on her share of supporting her school age kids and herself.
She hasn't been cheated on or abused, she openly says they just don't like each other. It's been 3 years. She's fully moved on emotionally. Why shouldn't she have to do more than sit there and demand money?

If she can't work due to her health issues then that's something she needs to address separately.

Oo I think she has done him a favour

women can have kids with anyone. She has had them with him, has raised them for him while he works and pursues his dream career (presumably - maybe he wants to be working in m&s?)

she’s put her career on hold - she’s not a young woman anymore and is now struggling to find the right work for her

it’s like saying to a doctor - well, you can’t find good postions you’ve trained for, get back to work anywhere you can, you spoiled woman 🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️

OP posts:
SleepingStandingUp · 24/01/2026 12:48

Iloveeverycat · 24/01/2026 12:42

He is asking her to move out of the 6 bedroom house and offering to buy her another 4 bedroom house for her in her name. That's what the article says

Exactly.

Would you rather live in a £1mil 6 bed house or own a £750k 4 bed? She doesn't have to move away from her parents or pull the kids out of school she just needs to find a slightly smaller large house!

SleepingStandingUp · 24/01/2026 12:47

mumofoneAloneandwell · 24/01/2026 12:34

I think misogyny is saying ‘well, your marriage failed, back to work you go’ to women who’ve trusted a man and had his family 🤷‍♀️🥺

Had THEIR family.

She hadn't done him a favour.
Now the relationship is over, she's already had one guy move in and out again, and he's paying for everything.

All this "jobs I don't want to do", it would be interesting to see what she's actually doing for work and how much of those wages go on her share of supporting her school age kids and herself.
She hasn't been cheated on or abused, she openly says they just don't like each other. It's been 3 years. She's fully moved on emotionally. Why shouldn't she have to do more than sit there and demand money?

If she can't work due to her health issues then that's something she needs to address separately.

Iloveeverycat · 24/01/2026 12:42

ProfessionalPirate · 24/01/2026 11:46

As I understand it he hasn’t bought them a house. He very much still owns the house, he’s merely allowing them to live in it for the time being (or not, as it turns out). I don’t think that is in any way comparable to walking away from a marriage with a share of the capital and being able to start a new life independently.

He is asking her to move out of the 6 bedroom house and offering to buy her another 4 bedroom house for her in her name. That's what the article says

Bruisername · 24/01/2026 12:38

your attitude to mothers is just weird - they’re not some special breed that deserve to be put on a pedestal and funded at all cost.

she doesn’t need a house with a floor for her clothes/dressing room. That is not benefitting ‘his’ children

maybe she would prefer he go bankrupt 🤷‍♀️. Sure that will work well for her kids

CommonlyKnownAs · 24/01/2026 12:36

mumofoneAloneandwell · 24/01/2026 12:23

okay

I think that her being the mother of his children should afford her better treatment and should allow her to stay in the house. I get that people think she should suck it up, but I don’t - he should be a better man 🤷‍♀️ and keep the family in their home.

Maybe she will be able to. It sounds like they've made different proposals and are negotiating. There isn't enough information in the public domain for us to have an idea what might be a realistic outcome.

But that doesn't mean it would be the best thing for her. He's a 36 year old professional footballer whose earnings are going to reduce within a few years, and she has probably 15 years tops of being entitled to anything for the children. I'd rather take a property of my own now than a time limited, rented lifestyle in a house I can be turned out of once I'm about 50.

TheKeatingFive · 24/01/2026 12:35

mumofoneAloneandwell · 24/01/2026 12:23

okay

I think that her being the mother of his children should afford her better treatment and should allow her to stay in the house. I get that people think she should suck it up, but I don’t - he should be a better man 🤷‍♀️ and keep the family in their home.

Why though?

It's not her house. She isn't financing it. She has no claim on it on any grounds.

He's offering to buy a different house for her however.

Absolutely no one, regardless of marriage status, has a right to stay in a house they once lived in but now can't afford.

mumofoneAloneandwell · 24/01/2026 12:34

Bruisername · 24/01/2026 12:29

There’s something quite mysogynistic about this thread that I can’t quite put my finger on

anyway they are their children - not his - they both have responsibilities towards them and it sounds like he is financially willing to give her a lot more than she is legally entitled to. We don’t know what the child arrangement order is but footballers have long holidays.

she needs to be very careful what she puts out there - I think it was Liz Hurley in court this week saying how horrified she was about the stories published about her sons parentage because she knew he would read them one day

I think misogyny is saying ‘well, your marriage failed, back to work you go’ to women who’ve trusted a man and had his family 🤷‍♀️🥺

OP posts:
mumofoneAloneandwell · 24/01/2026 12:33

Gahr · 24/01/2026 12:28

Why? He isn't making them homeless, he is offering her a house in her name, to belong to her outright. There certainly are deadbeats out there, but on the evidence, he isn't really one of them. She needs to grow up.

He’s offering her a much smaller home than her family reside in

imo, the whole point of her trusting him to look after her and her family was so that their lives would be protected. She should’ve married him, yes, but they were an established family.

if it were me, and it isn’t because I’m not that lucky/silly enough to not marry the footballer, I’d want the home to be put in her name, maybe minus the difference between the cost of the current home and a 4 bed

and for him to carry on paying maintenance for her and the kids

also, if I were her, I’d solely stick to the influencer thing tbh 🤷‍♀️

OP posts:
Bruisername · 24/01/2026 12:29

There’s something quite mysogynistic about this thread that I can’t quite put my finger on

anyway they are their children - not his - they both have responsibilities towards them and it sounds like he is financially willing to give her a lot more than she is legally entitled to. We don’t know what the child arrangement order is but footballers have long holidays.

she needs to be very careful what she puts out there - I think it was Liz Hurley in court this week saying how horrified she was about the stories published about her sons parentage because she knew he would read them one day

Gahr · 24/01/2026 12:28

mumofoneAloneandwell · 24/01/2026 12:23

okay

I think that her being the mother of his children should afford her better treatment and should allow her to stay in the house. I get that people think she should suck it up, but I don’t - he should be a better man 🤷‍♀️ and keep the family in their home.

Why? He isn't making them homeless, he is offering her a house in her name, to belong to her outright. There certainly are deadbeats out there, but on the evidence, he isn't really one of them. She needs to grow up.

mumofoneAloneandwell · 24/01/2026 12:23

Butchyrestingface · 24/01/2026 12:01

isn’t there a cohabitation law that recognises her as his wife

Yes, it's called MARRIAGE. And they didn't bother with that. Sheesh.

okay

I think that her being the mother of his children should afford her better treatment and should allow her to stay in the house. I get that people think she should suck it up, but I don’t - he should be a better man 🤷‍♀️ and keep the family in their home.

OP posts:
TheKeatingFive · 24/01/2026 12:19

I'm not just talking about this thread, but it is concerning how many people think that co-habitation in the UK equals common law marriage or something similar - and conveys rights.

Butchyrestingface · 24/01/2026 12:01

mumofoneAloneandwell · 24/01/2026 00:23

So legally, what can she do

isn’t there a cohabitation law that recognises her as his wife

isn’t there a cohabitation law that recognises her as his wife

Yes, it's called MARRIAGE. And they didn't bother with that. Sheesh.

ProfessionalPirate · 24/01/2026 12:01

TheKeatingFive · 24/01/2026 11:48

If you read the article you'll see he wants to buy a four bedroom house that will be theirs, in her name.

Oh I apologise I didn’t realise that. Well if that’s really the case she’d be an idiot not to bite his hand off.

SwingTheMonkey · 24/01/2026 12:00

ShowMeTheSea · 23/01/2026 22:47

Yes, this was my thoughts too - I feel for her potentially having to leave her home with their kids (what kind of knobhead dad is he wanting to boot the kids out of their home?!)
but I can't get my head round moving in with someone and having kids with someone who you aren't married to, and not on the house /mortgage either!
You're basically just a tenant who's put themselves in an awful situation, sorry.

what kind of knobhead dad is he wanting to boot the kids out of their home?!)

Probably one who can’t afford to keep paying for a 6 bed house?!

To answer the op, no I don’t feel sorry for her. And the idea that a man should keep paying for a former partner to not work for as long as she chooses is one of the most absurd I’ve read on MN, ever…

CommonlyKnownAs · 24/01/2026 12:00

Gahr · 24/01/2026 11:52

Good lord, why? Who cares!?

Fuck knows.

Gahr · 24/01/2026 11:52

CommonlyKnownAs · 24/01/2026 11:34

She has a book coming out, which I assume is the reason for all this.

Good lord, why? Who cares!?

TheKeatingFive · 24/01/2026 11:48

ProfessionalPirate · 24/01/2026 11:46

As I understand it he hasn’t bought them a house. He very much still owns the house, he’s merely allowing them to live in it for the time being (or not, as it turns out). I don’t think that is in any way comparable to walking away from a marriage with a share of the capital and being able to start a new life independently.

If you read the article you'll see he wants to buy a four bedroom house that will be theirs, in her name.

ProfessionalPirate · 24/01/2026 11:46

TheKeatingFive · 24/01/2026 11:36

I'd say buying them a house to live in is a reasonable amount to 'show' for the relationship, no?

As I understand it he hasn’t bought them a house. He very much still owns the house, he’s merely allowing them to live in it for the time being (or not, as it turns out). I don’t think that is in any way comparable to walking away from a marriage with a share of the capital and being able to start a new life independently.

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