It’s been a long time coming but Helen Skelton has finally got a Strictly Come Dancing with under her belt, after winning the first night of the show’s live tour with a new partner.
Ex Blue Peter host Helen made it all the way to the Strictly final back in December, alongside professional dancer and now three times finalist Gorka Marquez. The couple were second favorites with bookies going into the final and ended up being beaten to the title by eventual champions Hamza Yassin and Jowita Przystal.
Fans were left gutted last month when it was confirmed that Gorka wouldn’t be joining Helen on the Strictly tour, telling his Instagram followers that he had turned down the invite to take part to spend some quality time with fiancée Gemma Atkinson and their daughter Mia.
READ MORE: Strictly's Gorka Marquez gives two word reaction as Helen Skelton seen with new partner
That meant that Strictly bosses had to find a new partner for Helen and that person was Kai Widdrington, who, after having to pull out of the 2021 Strictly final and being first out last year, recently won the Christmas special, with Coronation Street star Alexandra Mardell.
And Helen’s partnership is already reaping rewards, with the pair winning night one of the tour in Birmingham. A packed house greeted the Strictly celebs and pros at the city’s Utilita Arena on Friday night, as Hamza and other finalists Fleur East and Molly Rainford joined Helen and other stars from the class of 2022 on the dancefloor.
News of Helen and Kai’s victory quickly spread to Twitter where it was met with a warm response. One fan reacted: “ Congratulations to you both. I'm so happy for you Helen and Kai,” with another, who was in the audience, tweeting: “It was absolutely brilliant!! congratulations Helen and Kai, although tbh it was a hard call as all the dances were so fantastic”
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