Helen Skelton has shared why she thinks she's already 'won' before competing in the Strictly Come Dancing final in an emotional display. The Countryfile host will be competing for the Glitterball trophy on Saturday night (December 17) during the final of the BBC One dance contest alongside her professional partner Gorka Marquez.
The pair made it to the final of Strictly 2022 after a closely-fought semi-final. Also competing to be crowned champions of the 20th series are Hamza Yassin and Jowita Przystal, Fleur East and Vito Coppola and Molly Rainford and Carlos Gu.
Each couple will perform three routines as they take to the ballroom for the final time, with Helen, 39, and Gorka, set to dance their jive to Tightrope by Janelle Monae at the request of the judges, their couple’s choice routine to Mein Herr by Liza Minnelli (from Cabaret) after picking it as their favourite routine of the series and finally their show dance, where Helen gets to show off her 13 weeks of practice, to Shine by Emeli Sande.
But the decision as to who lifts the coveted Glitterball trophy is all in the viewers' hands with the judges scores simply for guidance. Ahead of taking to the ballroom for the final time, Helen, 39, and Gorka, 32, made an emotional appearance on Strictly spin-off It Takes Two.
Things got teary for the pair when former Blue Peter host Helen was surprised with a video message from her family, including her mum and dad and two sons. Referencing Helen's split from ex-husband Richie Myler earlier this year, her friend Kim said: "This year's been a tough one but to see Helen happy makes us all happy. She's an inspiration."
Her mum Janet added: "I think the thing for us is how she's progressed. And we can see a different Helen now." The compilation of messages left both Helen and Gorka in tears and when Helen was asked how it would feel to win this year's show, she tearfully admitted: "We would love to lift that trophy but I feel like we've already won it.
"We've had such an adventure, and I've said it before, you're [Gorka] a credit to the show and a credit to your family. We've had the highs, the lows and everything in between and this is just a reminder for us to feel the fear and do it anyway."
Sending a parting message, she added: "Stretch yourself, test yourself and see what happens. If you surround yourself with good people, wonderful things happen."
As well as her family, Helen herself has noticed a change in herself in the last three months. Speaking ahead of the final, she reflected on her personal growth throughout the competition, telling the PA news agency: "Confidence is all relative, isn’t it? And challenges are all relative.
"But yes, I’ve definitely found my confidence on that dancefloor and I enjoy it and that’s what it’s about." And asked how she felt that some consider her a ‘sex symbol’ now, particularly following her sensational couple's choice routine during Mususcals Week, Helen praised her dance partner Gorka Marquez for how he has choreographed her.
The mum-of-three said: "I think you’re clever in that you’ve never made it about being sexy, it’s been about being sassy and powerful and being in control. And that’s a wonderfully freeing thing for anybody when they feel in control of their own selves and what they’re doing. So I don’t think it’s about being sexy, I think it’s about being confident in your own skin and being who you are."
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