Former Coronation Street star Helen Flanagan celebrates milestone moment as book nears release
Former Coronation Street star Helen Flanagan has shared her excitement after seeing her debut book in print for the first time ahead of its release later this week.
The actress, who rose to fame playing Rosie Webster on the ITV soap, took to Instagram on January 17 to post a photo of herself holding the finished copy of her book, Head & Heart, describing the moment as “pinch me”.
Helen, who is originally from Bury and attended Westholme School in Blackburn, told followers she finally got to hold the book after working on it throughout last year.
In her caption, she wrote: “Got to see my book for the first time yesterday.
“I had an interview on my lunch break (what I am eating looks minging it’s actually mushroom soup), so proud of the book. I worked hard on it all last year.
“I’ve always wanted to write about mental health, so it was so gorgeous to finally feel the book in my hands.”
The 35-year-old mum of three said she hopes the book will offer comfort to readers, explaining that talking openly about mental health can help people feel less alone.
She added: “I hope the book is a comfort to you. I think with mental health when you talk you feel less alone and I hope it makes you laugh too.
“Obviously I’ve touched on a lot of my life and I’ve been brave with it and true to myself.”
Helen also confirmed she will be appearing at Waterstones in Manchester Arndale on Friday, January 31, following the book’s publication.
The memoir, Head & Heart: Break-ups, Breakdowns and Being Rosie, is due to be released on January 29.
It explores Helen’s experiences with fame, mental health, motherhood and relationships, including her time on Coronation Street and her life away from the spotlight.
Helen played Rosie Webster on the long-running ITV soap for 12 years between 2000 and 2012, before briefly returning to the role in 2017.
She has previously said the book was inspired by a difficult period in her life in early 2024, when she became unwell and began writing as a way to cope, later deciding to turn her experiences into something positive.
Head & Heart is available to pre-order now.