13 October 2023 , 08:08
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Helen Skelton says she struggled through Strictly Come Dancing during the 2022 season of the show as she was back in the spotlight while navigating a broken heart following the collapse of her marriage.
The 40-year-old mum-of-three saw her personal life turn upside down at the beginning of last year when her marriage to sportsman Richie Myler came to an abrupt end. Richie, 33, then embarked on a relationship with 32-year-old Stephanie Thirkill - the daughter of Lee Rhinos President - and they announced they were expecting their first child together several weeks later.
Helen - who had been married to Richie since 2013 and welcomed their third child just months before the shock split - signed up to Strictly to help distract her from the heartache and turmoil of her collapsed marriage. But now the Countrfile star has explained that her time on the hit BBC dance show was more difficult than fans realised.
The Sun have published extracts of Helen’s autobiography, titled In My Stride, in which she explains that she particularly struggled with trying to express sexual confidence on the dance floor. She recounts: “In week two, Gorka asked me why I didn’t feel sexy.
Helen Skelton has opened up about how much she struggled during Strictly in 2022 (Getty Images)
Helen was paired with Gorka Marquez on the BBC show (BBC/Guy Levy)“It was an awkward question that immediately made me cringe. Why ask me that?! I was just there for the banter. I have never been sexy, I was the cute and funny type.
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“He was asking a woman with three children under six, whose husband had just left her and was with another woman, TO BE SEXY. I thought, ‘Who would feel good about themselves in that scenario?’.”
In the months since Helen performed on Strictly - finishing as a runner up to winner Hamza Yassin and dance partner Jowita Przystał - she has seen some changes in her professional life. She surprised fans back in August when she quit Radio 5 Live explaining that she needed time to focus on her family life.
During her final show on August 13, the star emotionally bid farewell to her listeners, citing 'needs must'. The TV host confessed to struggling with balancing her job and caring for her three children, stating: "The juggle is real," and adding: "There is an eight year old with a sideline who needs me."
As she signed off, Helen expressed her gratitude and love for the past year, thanking her team and listeners. She said: "I've loved every minute of the past year ... thank you to all the team and thank you to all of you. It's hard to know what to say without getting emotional!"
She has also been promoting her new book, which she tells fans will be filled with life lessons. Promoting the autobiography via Instagram, the star wrote: “Turns out getting older is ok because you learn a lot along the way…”