The TV presenter has had a tough year (Picture: BBC)
Helen Skelton has praised Strictly Come Dancing for helping her remember ‘who she is’.
The former Blue Peter presenter, 39, signed up for the glitzy dance show earlier this year after confirming her split from ex-husband Richie Myler back in April.
Helen shares three children with the pro rugby player, who has since embarked on a new relationship with the daughter of the president of his club, Leeds Rhinos.
Ahead of her couple’s choice performance for Musicals Week to Mein Herr from Cabaret, the Countryfile star shared her gratitude for her family’s support as she reflected on her Strictly journey thus far.
‘I had the most idyllic childhood you would wish for your kids. I grew up on a farm on the edge of the Lake District and I’ll never take that upbringing for granted,’ she began.
When asked what her family means to her, she exclaimed: ‘Oh, my family is everything to me. Everything.’
She pulled out all the stops with her couple’s choice routine (Picture: BBC)
Helen and Gorka scored a near-perfect 40 for their Musicals Week number (Picture: BBC)
Helen’s parents then chimed in, stating: ‘We’ve always believed, as parents, you should follow your dream,’ saying they are proud of ‘the person’ she is, not ‘what she’s done’.
‘I hope they know how grateful I am for the unquestionable support that they give me and mine. And that’s the key, it’s unquestionable,’ Helen continued.
On her decision to do Strictly, she shared: ‘I did Strictly this year because, sometimes, you just need to jump on the opportunity and the chance to put a big smile on your face,’ before her mum praised how ‘confident’ she’s grown over the weeks.
‘Strictly has given me so many things already. It’s helped me remember who I am and remember what I’m about.’
Before taking to the floor with her Cabaret routine, she declared: ‘I have got lots to be thankful for and I know what I can offer. And what’s great for me is that this dance is all about that. It’s about power.
‘For me, it’s a chance to be powerful and sassy, and that’s a good thing for me to explore.’
Helen and her pro partner Gorka Marquez went on to score a mega 39 points from the judges, with Motsi Mabuse, Shirley Ballas, and Anton Du Beke all whacking out those 10 paddles.
Viewers at home were quick to hype up the star, unable to get enough of her fiery routine, in which Helen donned a tiny black playsuit and sassy red lip.
Helen and Richie Myler announced their split in April (Picture: Getty)
One even hailed it her ‘f**k you’ dance following a tough year, while another couldn’t get enough of her singing the lyrics, ‘You’re better off without me’ down the camera, wearing a smug grin.
‘Please tell me someone else cried during Helen’s VT? What an absolute fighter after everything she’s gone through this year,’ one viewer tweeted.
‘Strictly Come Dancing has been Helen Skelton’s therapy’, wrote another.
Former Strictly contestant Dan Walker was also full of praise for Helen, and even tipped her for the win.
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Tweeting a video of her performance, he wrote: ‘Helen is so good, Gorka is a genius… her mum & dad were wonderful on the #Strictly film… just give them all the glitterball right now’.
The Strictly Come Dancing results airs tomorrow at 5:40pm on BBC One.
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Helen is more confident than ever.
