Corrie star's famous family as life changed forever in Liverpool (2024)

Isabella Flanagan is quickly becoming one of the most important members of the Corrie cast

Coronation Street's Isabella Flanagan is one of the TV's rising stars. The soap star joined the Cobbles' cast as Hope Stape in 2017 when she took over from twins, Faith and Nicole Holt.

The character's importance to the show has been going from strength to strength ever since and she is regularly trusted to play a key part of some of the show's major storylines. Old wounds could soon be reopened for Hope as spoilers for next week revealed Alina Pop will make her long awaited return.

The character, played by Ruxandra Porojnicu, had a difficult relationship with Hope, who targeted her after Tyrone Dobbs broke up with Fiz over his affair with Alina. Isabella has previously spoken about how much she loves being on the show and heaped praise on stars, Alan Halsall and Jennie McAlpine, who play her onscreen parents.

She told OK!: They’re literally like my second parents. I couldn’t imagine my life without them. They’re the loveliest people and really genuine."

The soap star is well prepared for her life in the limelight as she hails from a very talented her family. Her twin, William, plays Joseph Brown, in Coronation Street and older sister, Amelia, plays April Windsor in Emmerdale.

Isabella issued a tribute to her co-star twin when they marked a special milestone this year and turned 13 years old. She said: "It's out birthday, so happy to be becoming a teenager with you Will. Even if you do my head in sometimes. Love ya."

Isabella enjoys a close bond with all her family and visited Liverpool for the Taylor Swift gig at Anfield. She shared snaps from the event with the caption: "Taylor you are an absolute mad woman."

Liverpool has been the site of many important memories for the family as they were at a PIzza Hut in the city when William landed the role in Corrie. Parents, Rachel and Chris, Flanagan spoke about the moment in an interview with OK!

They said: "The biggest question people ask is, 'How has this happened?' And the genuine answer is, 'I don’t know.'

"After Will auditioned I remember we were in Pizza Hut in Liverpool and the agent rang us and said, “Are you sitting down?” and she told us we were going to have three kids in soaps. It was just crazy. I don’t ever think things are forever but for the last six years that’s been our lives."

The two lead jobs away from showbiz as Chris is a store manager at TK Maxx and Rachel insisted her kids haven't got their acting chops from their parents. She said: "We’re big soap lovers but they don’t get the acting from us, they all just genuinely love it. We love that they all play such different roles. It’s hard to find a good part for a young actor but they’ve all got brilliant, brilliant characters – who are very different to them in real life!”

The parents admitted they are were concerned people would think they're pushy as Chris said: "Yes, that has been a reservation, thinking people might say, “Here they are, pushing their kids” or thinking we’re making a fortune from them. But that’s absolutely not the case.

Rachel added: "I’m getting better at not feeling like I have to justify myself to people. Casting directors see hundreds of kids, and it’s ridiculously hard to get a part, and it’s also difficult to last this long. So they are only where they are because of them, nothing Chris and I have done. Why wouldn’t they take these opportunities?"

Although the three children couldn't be happier in their respective roles, the mum and dad admitted nothing lasts forever and they wouldn't stand in their way if they pursued a career away from the show.

Rachel said: "We’ve always said that it is absolutely their decision. I don’t see that coming at the moment, but who’s to say what happens in future?" Chris added: "We know that soaps aren’t forever for younger actors.

"We know they could be recast, or if a key member of the soap family leaves it means the whole family leaves, so at the moment they’re really making the most of the opportunity – and we’re making sure they put in their best effort at school so they’ll do well with their exams. But it’s always up to them what they do, that’s why it’s important they have a good education behind them."

However, Isabella sees her immediate future on the Cobbles and is a key part of one of the show's most important families. The actor is excited for her future in the limelight, but said fame hasn't truly sunk in yet.

She told OK! : "We don’t really understand it yet. We don’t really see the programmes as these big, amazing things. It’s just our lives and it’s normal to us, it’s just the thing that we do."