Helen Flanagan sends fans wild as she shares a kiss with Hollyoaks star Emma Rigby
HELEN Flanagan has driven fans wild as she shared a steamy kiss with Hollyoaks star Emma Rigby.
The Coronation Street star, 34, enjoyed a night out with good pal Emma, 35, as they celebrated her birthday on Thursday.
Helen looked glamourous in a black skintight dress with sheer sleeves, with her blonde hair in loose waves.
Emma, who reprised her role as Hannah Ashworth on Hollyoaks last year before quitting the show this summer, looked stunning in a ruched off-the-shoulder mini frock.
The pair showed their love for each other by puckering up for a friendly smooch in the toilets on their night out.
Helen also took to social media to share a string of throwback snaps from over the years with her pal.
In one photo, the duo looked unrecognisable while on a night out, with Helen showcasing darker tresses and a beige wrap dress.
In June, The Sun exclusively revealed that actress Emma had resigned from the Channel 4 soap less than a year after her high profile return.
She is said to have walked away over changes to the show.
Emma originally starred as Hannah between 2005 until 2010 and had huge storylines like her eating disorder and doomed relationship with John Paul McQueen.
This time Hannah has been seen to be working as a sex worker to scam men of their money.
When she first returned in November, 13 years after originally quitting in 2010, Hollyoaks aired five nights a week on Channel 4 and E4.
But since then budget cuts at the corporation has seen the episode order slashed to just three 20 minute episodes per week and a mass cull of cast and crew.
It will even now feature a dramatic year-long time jump in September to explain the huge changes to the cast and relaunch the show as a three-nights a week soap.
However those changes – as well as storyline changes – mean that Emma has decided to leave the show again.
A source said: “It just wasn’t working out for Emma.
“She agreed a long-term return with certain expectations but that all changed. She’s a professional through and through but the changes were too much so she decided to walk away.”
EMMA’S EXIT
Emma’s original return was for a short stint but then she returned in March for a much-heralded permanent return.
An insider added: “There’s a worry other high profile cast members may see this as an opportunity to leave the show.
“While they’re all very supportive of the soap, the reduced budget and seeing friends and colleagues leave after so many years takes its toll.
“If more go willingly then it may be that the writing is very much on the wall for the show. It will be hard to recover from further blows.”