Strictly's Helen Skelton says 'never' as she imposed 'strict rule' on Gorka Marquez

Wales Online

4 days ago

Strictly's Helen Skelton says 'never' as she imposed 'strict rule' on Gorka Marquez
Former Blue Peter presenter Helen Skelton appeared on the BBC show three years ago and made it all the way to the final, but she had a very different approach to her co-stars
Helen Skelton and Gorka Marquez came close to winning Strictly in 2022
(Image: BBC )
Helen Skelton revealed she had a specific rule for her Strictly Come Dancing partner Gorka Marquez when they teamed up on the BBC show three years ago, reports Devon Live.
At 41, Helen decided to join the dance competition following her public separation from her husband of eight years, Richie Myler, with whom she has three children: Ernie, nine; Louis, eight; and Elsie, four.
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Despite her busy life as a mother, the dedicated and adventurous Helen is no stranger to embracing significant challenges — including an ultramarathon, cycling to the South Pole, and kayaking 2,010 miles down the Amazon River — all to raise money for charity.
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When discussing her strategy for tackling daunting tasks, Helen explained that she prefers to stay grounded in the present rather than worry about the future.
"I take it one day at a time, and I don't overthink things," Helen divulged. "My motto in life has always been, 'How do you eat an elephant?'"
She continued: "You just go little by little, bit by bit. I break it down, and I use that approach with everything."
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Richie Myler and Helen Skelton split in April 2022
(Image: getty )
Helen, who also presents Morning Live, appeared on Strictly Come Dancing in 2022, dazzling viewers with her moves.
Reflecting on her experience, Helen confided to Bella magazine that her unique approach set her apart from her fellow competitors and possibly aided her during the competition.
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The presenter shared: "When I did Strictly Come Dancing, my friends would be thinking about what their next dance was, but I never let Gorka talk about the next week. Think about what you need to do today and tomorrow. That'll get you closer to where you'd ultimately like to be."
Helen's performances on the dance floor consistently drew acclaim from both the audience and the judging panel, which included Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood, Anton Du Beke, and Motsi Mabuse.
Yet, despite the high praise, Helen and her dance partner Gorka Marquez just missed out on clinching the coveted Glitterball trophy, which was ultimately won by Hamza Yassin and Jowita Przystał.
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Although she didn't take home the top prize, Helen left the competition with a newfound passion for dance and a rejuvenated spirit after a challenging year, which saw the end of her relationship with Richie in April.
At the time, she shared: "Very sad to say that Richie and I are no longer a couple. He has left the family home. We will be doing our best to co-parent our small children."
Strictly's Helen Skelton and Gorka Marquez wowed the judges and the viewers on the BBC show
(Image: BBC )
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During an emotional segment on the BBC programme, Helen opened up to viewers, saying: "I did Strictly this year because sometimes you just need to jump on the opportunity and chance to put a big smile on your face."
In a heartfelt moment with Gorka on the show, Helen expressed her gratitude: "Strictly have given me so many things already. It's helped me remember who I am and what I am about."
Speculation is rife that Helen is now romantically linked with fellow presenter Gethin Jones, although neither party has officially confirmed the rumours.