Helen Flanagan left her fans feeling emotional over her reunion with some of her former Coronation Street family.

The 35-year-old initially played Rosie Webster, the daughter of Sally and Kevin, on the ITV soap from 2000 to 2012, joining the programme when she was nine years old. She returned to the cobbles from 2017 to 2018.

Helen recently opened up about filming a story when she was 16, which saw Rosie groomed by teacher John Stape, played by Graeme Hawley, who was exposed as a serial killer.

She told The Mirror: “Was it morally right that I was expected to parade about in my knickers like some mad nymphomaniac when I was still just a teenager?

“Alison King, who plays Carla Connor, once kicked off in the green room, saying how disgusting it was that they were sexualising me when I was a young girl. I didn’t fully comprehend what she was talking about at the time. I do now. I get it.

“I had to do kissing and bedroom scenes with a man a lot older than me. Obviously the actor [Graeme Hawley] was lovely, but I don’t think it would happen now. When you’re 16 you don’t really know what’s going on and I was just happy to get the big storylines. But I had scenes as Rosie which didn’t always sit comfortably with me. I felt minging post-shoot.

“Everything has changed now, which I’m glad about. They wouldn’t write it in quite the same way all these years later and since the Me Too movement.”

Helen will play Catherine, the youngest of three sisters, in the Shelagh Stephenson play, which was being performed at Bolton’s Octagon Theatre.

The play’s synopsis reads: “Three sisters gather for their mother’s funeral. Each has her memories of her childhood and this creates conflict, which is, by turns, angry, desperate, poignant and wildly funny.

“The situation is deepened by the recurring presence of Vi, the mum, a ghostly vision is flowing taffeta. Whilst visible only to one of the sisters, her influence and demand to be understood rather than buried and forgotten drives the other sisters as well. An evening, provocative and hilarious is promised.”

Performing the play for the final time on Saturday night (February 21), Helen was delighted to share on her Instagram that her onscreen mum Sally Dynevor and onscreen sister Brooke Vincent, who played Sophie Webster from 2004 to 2019, made the effort to see her.

Helen wrote: “They came [love heart smiley face emoji] love you both so much @sallydynevor @brookelevivincent.”

The comments section of Helen’s post saw a number of her famous friends and fans having their say on the Webster reunion and congratulating her on the successful play.

Eileen Grimshaw actress Sue Cleaver said: “So sorry i couldnt get to see you lovely xxx.” Jedward added: “Awwww family reunion.”

@glenmichele wrote: “Gosh I’d love to see you all back on the street again. Sally needs her girls to come home.” @chevi.x posted: “This has made me so happy.”

@pollystar_sh commented: “Bring the girls back on Corrie please, a long visit at least and mayhem would ensue! Xxx.” @danieljlacey_ stated: “This makes me want you and @brookelevivincent back in @coronationstreet ASAP.”