HELEN Flanagan’s appearance on Celebs Go Dating threw her new relationship into doubt.
The actress shocked viewers when she announced during the E4 show that she had a secret boyfriend.
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After meeting at an upmarket restaurant in Cheshire back in February, Helen, 34, and her new partner Robbie Talbot, 44, have been enjoying their budding romance.
But the revelation led many to question how Robbie, a construction boss, could be comfortable with her appearing on a dating show and kissing other men.
But speaking now for the first time, Robbie says that when filming started, they were only in the early days of their relationship.
He told OK magazine: “You’ve got to remember, putting the show to one side, it was a really new relationship. So when it’s new and you’re messaging and going on the odd date, you don’t have a leg to stand on when it comes to being jealous or expecting exclusivity.
“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.”
The former Corrie star had been engaged to her fiancé and partner of 13 years, the Bristol Rovers footballer, Scott Sinclair with whom she has three children.
But after a ‘rough patch in the summer of 2022, the couple called time on their relationship in the Autumn of that year.
Now eight months on from the filming of Celebs Go Dating, Helen is in a serious relationship with Robbie, who has two daughters of his own and they have even met each other’s families.
In the interview Helen admits that as her romance with Robbie intensified, filming the dating show became more challenging, but the contract had already been signed.
She says: “Then things got intense between us she explains. “And in the midst of filming I realised I was really falling for him. And that’s when it became really tough to do. But I’d signed the contract. I found the whole situation incredibly difficult.”
But Helen maintains there are no feelings of guilt on her part about dating other men during filming.
“I tried to be light-hearted about it, so I didn’t feel guilty. I’m not stupid, I knew I couldn’t go on the show and be a total bore, I had to provide some entertainment and go on dates. But I spoke to Robbie every step of the way.”
Indeed Helen, who never made it down the aisle with her ex-partner Scott, admits that she still has designs on the white dress. She said:
“I still dream about a big wedding.I want the dress, the big day, all of it. I definitely want to get married.” And Robbie is also open to a second shot at his vows. “I’d be open to doing it again, of course,” he says now.
And the loved-up duo who have five kids between them, also appear to be open to adding to their brood.
Helen shares children Matilda, nine, Delilah, six, and three-year-old Charlie with Scott, while Robbie is dad to Sophia, 14, and 10-year-old Carina.
“There’s a 10-year age gap between us, but I wouldn’t rule it out,” Robbie says. “Not right now, maybe in future.”
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