Strictly Come Dancing star Helen Skelton revealed that she and ex Richie Myler were avoiding each other one year before their split.
The Countryfile presenter tied the knot with rugby league player Richie in 2013, and they separated this April - just four months after Helen had given birth to their third child. The BBC star has opened up about how she managed to maintain balance between her work, family life and keeping the house in order.
Speaking to the Mirror prior to their separation, Helen, 39, was asked if the couple enjoyed date nights together. She responded: "No... We're not in the house together – we are staying out of each other's way. We say this is the dream as we have breakfast, lunch and dinner together but then look after the kids in shifts.
"You appreciate the other in this situation. I don't think he'll ever say again, 'What do you do with the kids all day?'. Sometimes I would get in from work and he'd be that husband that would look at the kitchen and say, 'How is this still a mess when she’s been off all day?'.
"Now he's done it he's like, 'How does she stay sane?'."
Helen – whose other children with Richie are five and seven – added the kids would be up late, preventing the couple having quality time together. She said: "If we sit on the couch before 10pm we're happy. My kids... are terrible sleepers."
The couple had been renovating a house near the family home in Yorkshire. They took it in turns to work on it, meaning even more time apart. Describing the family dog, Helen said: "He is my sanity. I take [him] for a run and feel much better."
Richie, playing for Ireland in the World Cup, is now in a relationship with Stephanie Thirkill, 32, whose dad is Rhinos president Andrew Thirkill.
This comes after Helen revealed she has moved in with her parents following her split with Richie. The 39 year old has admitted that she left the 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. 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"
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