Helen Skelton has admitted she was left with "crushing loneliness" during her marriage to Richie Myer.
Ex-Blue Peter host Helen revealed her rugby pro hubbie Richie, who she wed in December 2013, has moved out of the family home following their split.
The couple have gone separate ways just four months after having their third child, Elsie Kate, sister to Ernie, six, and Louis, four.
Helen had posted on her Insta: "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."
In the eight years they were married Helen followed her husband to different countries - meaning she was away from family and friends.
Richie played for the Catalan Dragons, with Helen and their family moved to France in September 2015.
She told the Daily Mail's You Magazine in 2018: "I didn’t speak the language and I felt so isolated that I used to go into the local tourist office just to talk to someone who could speak English,"
"The loneliness was crushing even though the French wives and girlfriends would invite me on their nights out, which was kind.
"I would try to keep up by laughing and nodding – then somebody would ask if I understood and I would say no. They thought I was bonkers."
Helen claimed French mums used jars of puree for their babies when they were busy while British mothers "feel they have to apologise" when they don't use something organic or home made.
She also said French women could eat lots at meals but wouldn't "scoff a chocolate bar" or get a takeaway.
Helen gave birth to second son Louis in April 2017 on the kitchen floor in France.
The fire brigade tried to help but her friend ended up helping her through labour.
She told our sister paper The Mirror: "I was in France and my husband was in England, and no one made it to me in time."
"So I gave birth with just my three-year-old next to me, repeatedly hitting me on the head with a plastic sword, because he thought we were playing dinosaurs.
"Terrifying. But I didn’t have a choice, I just had to get on with it."
Richie and Helen came back to the UK after he signed a three-year deal with Leeds Rhinos.
They moved to the Yorkshire countryside, renovating an 1850s cottage in 2020.
Helen told Hello! magazine : "When we lived in France, we had a massive island in the kitchen, and all our friends would come over with loads of plates of food and just dip in and out.
That's what we wanted to recreate here."
In December 2021, Helen had baby Elsie and posted on her social media: "Can always count on dickie .... of all the things he’s said (there’s been a lot) “don’t worry I will be your lido...” while on route to hospital might be my fave.
"The man meant Doula. From the mouths of men. "
Helen has revealed she isn't a strict mother, and said friends call her home 'the house with no rules'.
She said: "It’s because I was brought up that way. I'd trap wild cats in the house and try to tame them.
"I was always up trees, covered in mud. It's how I like my kids to be.
"I'm not saying it's the way to bring up children, and it will probably bite me on the ar*e, but we have a good time.
Get the latest celebrity gossip and telly news sent straight to your inbox. Sign up to our weekly Showbiz newsletter here.
