Helen Skelton opens up about joining Strictly Come Dancing post-marriage breakdown

Former contestant opened up about her initial reservations about participating in the popular BBC dance show in 2022, following the public collapse of her marriage.

She admitted that she was unsure about joining the competition as she anticipated it would be 'full-on' after separating from her husband Richie Myler, to whom she had been married for eight years.

Helen previously shared: "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'."

She went on to say: "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? '".

In December 2021, Helen welcomed her third child into the world. However, a few months later, she announced the end of her marriage.

In April, she wrote: "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".

Later that week, it was also revealed that Helen has moved back in with her parents at their farm in the Lake District.

This move allowed her to concentrate on Strictly Come Dancing and her duties on ITV's Lorraine, while her parents helped look after her three children.

Richie, 34, a Leeds Rhino rugby league player, then moved on with a new woman, now identified as a 34 year old marketing executive named Stephanie.

When Helen signed up for Strictly, Stephanie revealed that she was expecting a baby with Richie and her baby bump had already become quite visible.

Stephanie's father is none other than the President of Leeds Rhinos, Andrew Thirkhill. The pair now have two children together: Olivia and Freddie.