Helen Skelton has been inundated with the same response after she shared her thanks to those supporting her and Gorka Marquez on Strictly Come Dancing. The pair were just one point away from a perfect score as they pulled out all the stops for their routine in the iconic Blackpool Tower Ballroom.
On Saturday, the BBC One juggernaut packed up and headed up north for its first Blackpool special in three years. While restrictions during the pandemic kept them away fro the last two series, bosses pulled out all the stops for a spectacular weekend at the seaside resort's most famous venue.
Former Blue Peter presenter Helen and her pro dance partner Gorka beamed through their energetic quickstep to Valerie by Mark Ronson featuring Amy Winehouse on Saturday night (November 19). The pair were highly praised by the judges, and Helen was brimming with excitement as she and Gorka joined host Claudia Winkleman for a chat.
Helen gushed how the dance had filled her with joy and brought back memories of running down a hill as a child when you're running so fast "you think your legs are going so fall off." But as she spoke Helen, 39, clocked that Gorka, 32, was wiping his eyes and she paused to check in on him.
But as the name suggests, the Quickstep is very quick and Gorka, 32, had just worked up quite a bit a sweat. And the pair were soon buzzing when they got three out of four tens from Anton Du Beke, Motsi Mabuse and Shirley Ballas while Craig Revel Horwood was only able to offer a nine.
During Sunday's results show, Strictly fans discovered Helen and Gorka had made it through to week ten and will be back in the ballroom at Elstree Studio this Saturday, with just a matter of weeks to go until the grand final of the 2022 series.
Following the results, Helen took to Instagram with a photo of herself and Gorka during their show-stopping performance. "Thank you for being on this crazy adventure with us," she typed. "Thank you for getting us to Blackpool and beyond. @gorka_marquez you did it again take a bow!!"
She then shared her praise for those who also helped make their performance what i was. "As always @vickygilldesign @lisadaveyhair @lisaarmstrongmakeup @lydiabarnesmakeup went above and beyond …. I can’t believe I didn’t take a pic with our amazing squad @ashleighhunter83 @laurenmayoakley @robbiekmetoni @cameronkylelombard you made this so much fun, what a total privilege to take to a dance floor with you super stars."
Ending her post, Helen simply wrote: "Grateful." Gorka was quick to respond to his dance partner, writing: "You’re a superstar!!!#proud." And more of Helen's celebrity pals were soon heaping praise on her and Gorka's performance.
Former Emmerdale star Natalie Anderson said: "Super proud love! You were awesome!" JLS singer turned farmer and TV presenter JB Gill posted: "Amazing Helen!! Loved it and well done you!!" BBC Radio 2 host Zoe Ball added: "That was a 4 x 10 performance Helen." And fans appeared to agree as they were soon hitting the comments with the same remark.
@katesf09 said: "Amazing again both. Just what can't this girl doit was a clear 4 x 10 for me @helenskelton @gorka_marquez." @samanthaford9648 commented: "Absolutely fantastic dance. Should have been 40 . So pleased your through and hopefully you'll win the final. @helenskelton @gorka_marquez."
@katiebettyb wrote: "That quickstep was exquisite. In all the years that I've watched Strictly, I've never been so livid that a dance didn't get a 40." @hellyroach replied: "Should have been a 40 - amazing!!" @joannetracey35 echoed: "Should have been a 40… brilliant!" @jessicalouis16 added: "You both were amazing should have been 4 10’s , so pleased your through another week. Well done."
The support for Helen comes after she was seen getting emotional during the results show. Following a performance by Eurovision runner-up Sam Ryder, who sang John Farnham’s You’re the Voice alongside all of the Strictly professionals in an elegant ballroom number, co-hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman introduced VT which gave a run through Saturday night including backstage reactions from the celebrities and the judges.
After a glimpse at Helen and Gorka's performance in Blackpool, Helen appeared and through teary eyes she said: "It's so much more than a dance competition. I came here to smile and put a big smile on my family's face." As the tears streamed down her face she added: "So tonight, job done!"
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