Inside the life of Emmerdale’s April star Amelia Flanagan – and her soap star siblings

Since making her debut on Emmerdale at just five years old, Amelia Flanagan has become one of the most compelling young talents on British television. Born on 6 June 2008 in Leeds, West Yorkshire, Amelia has portrayed April Windsor since March 2014, captivating audiences with her emotional range and maturity beyond her years Wikipedia+1.

April’s journey has been particularly intense and dramatic. As the daughter of Marlon Dingle and the late Donna Windsor, April’s early storyline began with the revelation of Donna’s tragic death, setting the stage for a character marked by deep emotional scars TV GuideWikipedia. Over the years, April has faced a range of traumatic arcs—from being the target of online bullying (orchestrated by a close family member) to caring for her father as he recovered from a stroke TV GuideThe Sun. One of the most heart-wrenching storylines involved April going missing, living rough, and tragically giving birth to a stillborn daughter while homeless—a performance praised for its authenticity and impact The Sun+2The Sun+2Wikipedia.

Amelia’s portrayal of April has earned her multiple accolades. She’s a multi-time winner at the Inside Soap Awards (Best Young Actor) and has twice taken home the Best Young Performer trophy at the British Soap Awards, including in 2025 Wikipedia+1. Her powerful performances, especially in emotionally charged episodes, continue to connect deeply with viewers.

Behind the scenes, Amelia comes from an extraordinary family of young soap actors. She is the older sister of twins Isabella and William Flanagan, who both star in Coronation Street. Isabella portrays Hope Stape (later Hope Dobbs), while William plays Joseph Brown, the son of Chesney and Katy Wikipediaok.co.ukTV GuideCorrienews. The siblings are a unique trio—one playing in Emmerdale, the others in Corrie—two rival soaps on the same network—making them fan favorites for their remarkable family achievement Thư Viện Tự DoMetroCorrienews.

Despite the friendly rivalry between Team Emmerdale and Team Corrie, the Flanagan siblings keep things lighthearted. Amelia has joked that award-night banter is always in good spirits. In 2022, she and Isabella even competed for the same award at the Inside Soap Awards—Cam laughs and competition aside, both cheered each other on—with both agreeing that their sibling bond outweighs any rivalry Thư Viện Tự DoDigital SpyExpress. They’ve also shared scenes together informally for fun—Amelia running lines from Corrie with Isabella, and vice versa Thư Viện Tự DoDigital Spy.

Their family life is vibrant and proud. Their father, Chris Flanagan, often shares moments highlighting his soap-star children on social media, describing himself as “proud dad to three kids… Amelia plays April Windsor in Emmerdale, Bella plays Hope Stape & Will plays Joseph Brown in Corrieok.co.uk. Their mother, Rachel, has mentioned that the acting talent didn’t come from either parent—yet she celebrates how her children have thrived, each bringing their own unique presence to their roles Emmerdale.

In February 2025, Amelia turned 16, completed her GCSEs, and even took a well-deserved break from filming to enjoy her summer—demonstrating that, amid intense storylines, she’s navigating a normal teenage life with grace TV Guide+1.

Looking ahead, Amelia expressed her excitement about a possible crossover moment—imagining sharing a scene with her siblings from Corrie—a family reunion on screen that fans would undoubtedly love Digital Spy.


Summary of Key Highlights

Highlight Details
Amelia’s Role Plays April Windsor on Emmerdale since 2014.
Major Storylines Mother’s death, online bullying, homelessness, stillbirth.
Awards Multiple Inside Soap Awards; British Soap Awards Best Young Performer (2025).
Siblings Isabella (Hope Stape-Dobbs) and William (Joseph Brown) on Coronation Street.
Family Dynamics Rival soaps but supportive; playful award show rivalry.
Milestones Turned 16, completed GCSEs, balancing school and acting career.
Future Possibility Hopes for on-screen crossover with siblings.Inside the life of Emmerdale's April star Amelia Flanagan – and her soap  star siblings | Soaps | Metro News

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