Helen Flanagan sparks speculation she will return to Coronation Street as she shares sweet throwback snap on set

Helen Flanagan sent tongues wagging a Coronation Street return could be on the cards after sharing a sweet throwback snap of her on set. 

The actress, 34, sparked speculation as she took to Instagram on Friday with a picture of her in character as a young Rosie Webster in the ITV series alongside Barbara Knox as Rita Tanner.

Helen captioned the snap: 'Ah love this pic I found with the iconic Barbara Knox I was Matilda's age.'

Helen fondly remembered her early days in the beloved soap - where she played Rosie from 2000 to 2012, before making a brief comeback in 2017 - and revealed she was nine - the same age as her eldest daughter at the time the picture was taken.

The reality star also shares Delilah, five, and son Charlie, three, with her ex-fiancé and footballer Scott Sinclair.

Fans flooded the comment section below the post, praising the actress with some even calling her 'Matilda's double', writing:

'A hint perhaps' and 'Awww. Love this picture. I miss you in Coronation Street. I am currently watching the Classic Episodes on ITV 3. Today, it was the one where Sally makes Rosie take the morning after pill, after she gets caught seeing Craig. Your acting was amazing. You are such a huge talent. You and Brooke Vincent were both fabulous. Sending lots of love xx';

'I remember. Such a sweet little girl xx'; 'I remember when you was at school in Corrie ❤️';

'Awwww I remember this so young!'.

It comes after Helen admitted she 'misses the excitement' of working on the show in November. 

Speaking of her time on screen, she told The Sun: 'It really was such an incredible experience and it really shaped me as well.'

'I think I'll always kind of miss it, and I think it's almost having that excitement in your life, I've had that from such a young age I don't actually know any different.

'So all I've known since from being like a young age is either kind of being an actress or being in the public.'

The actress was on the soap for more than two decades after being cast in her role as Rosie Webster at just ten years old. 

Helen first appeared on screens as Rosie in 2000, staying for twelve years before leaving and then making a comeback in 2017.

She then went on maternity leave in 2018 but never reprised her role, although she has spoken out on multiple occasions about wanting to.

In 2023, speaking to MailOnline, Helen said: 'Yeah, totally. I mean, I'd love to go back to Coronation Street at one point. 

'Like, I really, really, really would. But it's just timing, you know, everything's about my kids.' 

She added: 'I really want Rosie to come back a mum. I want to go back and like cause some chaos.'

'I wanted to like kind of palm Sally off with with her grandchild the whole time and yeah, I want her to come back.'