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Strictly Come Dancing star Helen Skelton broke down in tears before her performance, saying she feels like a ‘different person’ on the show following a difficult few months.
The Countryfile star split from her husband Richie Myler earlier this year, previously saying she felt ‘battle-hardened’ from it.
This week, before she took to the floor to perform her Samba with her pro partner Gorka Marquez, she’s said that multiple people have noticed changes in her, including her father Richard, who said she seemed more herself after giving her ‘best performance yet’ at the Blackpool Tower last week.
During an emotional chat with partner Gorka, Helen said: ‘I definitely am a different person from when we started and for me, what has been…’
She went on to break down in tears, telling Gorka: ‘Sorry, I’m sorry,’ as he reassured her.
She continued: ‘I think even you say I’m a different person from day one, right?’ as he agreed.
Helen broke down in tears (Picture: BBC)
She was reassured by partner Gorka (Picture: BBC)
Helen added of dad Richard: ‘He just looked at me and said “You seem like you again” and I’m certainly a different person than when we started.’
In April, Helen, 39, shared in a statement that she and rugby star Richie Myler, 32, had split four months after welcoming their third child together and nine years after exchanging their vows.
Helen and Gorka performed a Samba (Picture: PA)
Fans were thrilled to see she’s got her shine back (Picture: PA)
She previously admitted she was reluctant to take to the Strictly dance floor considering everything she’s been through.
However, a friend of hers talked her round to the idea… and delivered an undeniably persuasive argument.
‘I was talking to my best friend about it and I was like, “I’m not sure, there’s the kids and the press and it will be full-on,”’ Helen told The Telegraph.
Helen announced her split from husband Richie earlier this year (Picture: Dave J Hogan/Dave Hogan/Getty Images)
‘And she just went, “What a t*t! You’re going to get paid to dance around with a fit guy, people are going to put make-up on you, and you’ve got to work. It’s not real life, is it? Why wouldn’t you do it?”’
After some deliberation, Helen came to the conclusion that it would have been ‘disrespectful’ not to do Strictly, explaining that it would have been for her family, ‘who need to see me have a great time’, as well as herself.
She recently added on the show: ‘I came into this show quite battle-hardened.
‘Strictly is probably quite overwhelming for a lot of people but for me, weirdly, I was actually in the best place to be in it.
‘Other people were worried about all the attention that comes with being on Strictly, or baring their souls on the telly, whereas I was ready for that.’
It’s safe to say fans absolutely love her.
One wrote: ‘HELEN DESERVES THE WORLD I’M SO GLAD SHE FEELS LIKE SHE HAS HER SHINE BACK,’ while another added: ‘HELEN SKELTON I LOVE YOU SO MUCH WE’RE SO PROUD OF YOU FLOURISHING.’
She received a score of 28 from the judges this week – a five from Craig Revel Horwood and an eight from Motsi Mabuse, Shirley Ballas, and Anton Du Beke.
Strictly Come Dancing continues tonight at 6pm on BBC One.
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She’s had a difficult year.
