Helen Skelton has shared a rare insight into her growing relationship with Gemma Atkinson as she dances with her fiancé on Strictly Come Dancing. The Countryfile host and Spanish dancer Gorka Marquez have been impressing the judges and viewers of the BBC One dance contest with their moves in the ballroom.
Last weekend, during Strictly's live show on Saturday night, the dancing couple performed an energetic and sultry salsa to Despacito by Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee featuring Justin Bieber that prompted a raucous response from the studio audience.
Shirley Ballas praised Helen's "total attitude", while Anton Du Beke singled out her development across the series – but suggested the routine had a slow start. She received 32 out of a possible 40 points, which was slightly down on the scores from their performance the previous week, a Jive to Janelle Monáe's Tightrope, which saw them joint second on the leaderboard with 37.
Despite finishing middle of the leaderboard, Helen and Gorka made it through to week nine this weekend which will see the remaining eight couples in the competition perform in Blackpool as the show heads to the seaside resort's famous tower for the first time in three years.
And Gemma will be making the trip to cheer on her man and Helen. Following the results show last Sunday evening, Gemma, 38, took to Instagram with a bunch of pictures from her own experience on the dancefloor in the famous ballroom as well as grabbing a coffee while donning novelty 'Blackpool' glasses.
The mum-of-one competed on Strictly herself in 2017 and partnered with Aljaž Škorjanec, she made it all the way to the final. It is also how she met Gorka and the loved-up couple have previously credited Strictly for their lives as they are now with daughter Mia.
"My Strictly Blackpool experience!" she typed alongside the snaps. "Of course I'll be going back next weekend as well," Gemma then revealed: "It's the best weekend on Strictly!" Gemma is yet to have been in the Strictly audience but Gorka has previously said that 'his girls' would be making a trip to see him and Helen live in action.
And it appears Gemma and Helen have also formed a bond. Speaking to Closer magazine, mum-of-three Helen said: "I'm so lucky because Gemma's also done the show and she gets it. She understands what it's like when you're in my shoes, so I feel like I get the benefit of that support [as well as Gorka's]."
It will also be a family affair this weekend as Helen said on Strictly spin-off It Takes Two earlier this week that her kids, as well as Gemma and her and Gorka's daughter Mia, will be able to get together. Helen told host Rylan Clark: "We’re seeing this as a big weekend away, the kids will get to see each other and hang out. Still now, to this day, I take the kids to Blackpool and we play the penny slots."
Speaking about the importance of making it to the Blackpool special on Strictly, former Blue Peter star Helen, 39, told the PA news agency: "I think Blackpool has always been a milestone. I’m from the North West, so all of my family, every year my family went to Blackpool for a long weekend for the illuminations… so I think, for me, this was always like a big milestone."
Gorka, 34, added: "Blackpool is a very remarkable place for dancing. I always said it’s like the Wimbledon of dance, and when it comes to Strictly, Blackpool is in the DNA of Strictly." The pair will be taking to the iconic Tower Ballroom with a Quickstep to Valerie by Mark Ronson ft Amy Winehouse
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