Helen Flanagan Spills Shocking Feuds From ‘Mean Girl’ Co-Star to TV Legend Who ‘Despised’ Her
The velvet curtain has been pulled back on the world of British soaps as Helen Flanagan releases her highly anticipated memoir, “Head & Heart.”
The actress, known for her long-standing role as Rosie Webster, used the book’s launch on Thursday, Jan. 29, to detail the toxic environment she allegedly faced behind the scenes of “Coronation Street” and various reality television sets.
Flanagan, 35, particularly focused on her 2017 return to the cobbles, which she claims was marred by a “Mean Girl” culture among the cast. She described a specific unnamed actress who acted as a leader of a cold, exclusionary clique. Maybe her nose was out of joint because my return had attracted a fair bit of press attention – not something I could have helped, Flanagan wrote.
The actress noted that this co-star was quite popular with the rest of the cast and made it clear that Flanagan was not welcome. This resulted in the star sitting alone in the canteen, feeling like she was back in a real-life version of a high school drama. I can get on with everyone, but this actress just wasn’t very nice to me, she added.
The book also names specific stars, including Antony Cotton, who plays Sean Tully. Flanagan alleges that Cotton made a cruel public jibe about her mental health and medication. The actor Antony Cotton… once reduced me to tears when he took the mickey out of the fact I was on medication, she recalled. According to the book, Cotton remarked, Here comes Helen Flanagan. You hear her rattling before you see her.
Flanagan confessed that the comment left her broken and led her to hide in the toilets to cry. The memoir also touches on a feud with TV legend Yvette Fielding during their time on “Celebrity Super Spa” in 2013. Flanagan claims the “Most Haunted” star absolutely detested her and even called her “evil” during filming.
The actress suggested that Fielding might have been struggling with the menopause or been manipulated by producers to create tension. She recalled Fielding criticizing her fashion choices after an FHM party, sneering, I saw what you wore last night. Wasn’t very classy was it? Flanagan’s response in the book was blunt, stating that Fielding was the last person I’d be taking fashion advice from.
Aside from the literary bombshells, Flanagan has been keeping a busy schedule in early 2026. She recently finished a successful stint on the stage in a touring production of “222 A Ghost Story,” where she received praise for her theatrical debut.
Flanagan continues to be a major presence on social media, using her platform to discuss ADHD awareness and body positivity. Her memoir “Head & Heart” currently sits at the top of the Amazon best-seller charts, proving that her “tell-all” approach has resonated with a public hungry for “Corrie” secrets.
With “Coronation Street” currently undergoing a major cast shake-up, Flanagan’s revelations come at a sensitive time for the production. While the show’s representatives have not officially commented on the book, the memoir has certainly succeeded in its mission to spill the tea on a decade of industry drama.
Do you think Helen Flanagan was right to name names and expose the “Mean Girl” culture behind the scenes, or should some industry feuds remain private? Please share your thoughts in the comments.