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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Entertainment
Jessica Sansome

BBC Strictly Come Dancing's Helen Skelton reveals she's moved back home with parents as ex shares rare family snap

Helen Skelton has revealed she has moved back in with her parents following her split from her husband Richie Myler earlier this year. The Strictly Come Dancing star announced back in April that her eight-year marriage to the Leeds Rhinos rugby player Richie Myler had ended.

The announcement came just four months after she gave birth to their third child. Helen and Richie welcomed their baby daughter Elsie Kate on December 28. They also have two young sons Ernie, seven, and Louis, five.

And Helen has now revealed that she has quit her family home in Leeds to move back in with her parents on their farm in the Lake District. It means her mum and dad can help take care of her three young kids while she tackles her work commitments on Strictly and ITV's Lorraine where she has joined a brand new 'Me Time' campaign.

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Discussing her life back on the farm, Helen told The Telegraph : "I can get up in my pyjamas, pull my boots on, pull my dad’s coat on, walk across the fields with the dog and what a joyous way to start the day."

She added that her and her family are "really happy, and that’s all that really matters," while appearing to address her latest split and shut down any potential new romances. "I think if you’ve learnt anything about me in this conversation, it’s that not only is my glass half full, but I’ve currently got a glass," Helen said. "I’ve got loads to be thankful for. I’m not going to worry about the one thing I haven’t got"

The mum-of-three also discussed her time on Strictly so far, and shared her sweet reason for eventually deciding to take part in the BBC One dance contest.

Helen with her ex, Richie Myler (Getty Images)

Helen explained: "I think it would have been disrespectful for me to have not done Strictly. For my family, who need to see me have a great time." She added: "It’s not just for me."

The Countryfile host's latest interview came as her ex shared a rare family photo. The rugby star, who has moved on to a new relationship with girlfriend Stephanie Thirkill, shared a rare snap of the TV presenter's three children with their grandmother, Richie's mum, Margaret Myler, as they watched their dad play rugby.

A second snap showed the two boys smiling with Richie on the pitch. Richie captioned the post: "Grateful", but as with all of Richie's posts following his split from Helen, the comments have been limited. However, there is one comment underneath from his mum, who typed: "Amazing time had by all."

During Saturday night's live show, Helen, 39, was given a stern pep talk by her professional dance partner Gorka Marquez as he addressed her confidence. Following their tradional paso doble, the judges told Helen she appeared 'too polite' with her moves.

When they went upstairs to chat with co-host Claudia Winkleman and wait for their scores, Gorka stepped in and asked: "Can I just say something?" The Spanish dancer continued to his celebrity dance partner: "I know you've have been having a difficult time and I know you've been ...you may feel like you're not beautiful or good enough or anything, but if you don't believe in yourself, I believe in you. Everybody here believes in you."

(BBC)

Cheers broke out from their fellow competitors on the BBC dance contest and Claudia added: "We all believe in you." While Helen looked bashful and cowered away in response to Gorka's words, he hadn't finished.

Gorka then added: "It doesn't matter how many times I say it, or the judges say it, or anybody says it it's only you who is going to be the one who can make the change and the one who needs to believe in you, because you are an amazing woman, very inspirational. An amazing mum and incredible dancer, so believe in you please."

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