Strictly Come Dancing star Helen Skelton has revealed rehearsals with pro partner Gorka Marquez have left her bloodied and bruised.
The TV presenter took to Instagram to share a photo of her battered feet following hours of practising routines ahead of their second performance on Saturday night.
She captioned the post: “And the aim of the game is to be sexy... not with these trotters” followed by laughing face emojis and the hashtag #nopainnogain.
Although the physical side of Strictly seems brutal, Helen said she is “loving every part of the journey”.
Posting a smiling selfie with Gorka, the 39-year-old wrote: “Feet on fire and head exploding but loving every second of this journey.”
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The mum-of-three also shared a video of Gorka jumping out on people, proving he’s one of the biggest pranksters of this year’s series.
Helen said: “Somehow @gorka_marquez finding to prank everyone."
She added: “It’s been a big old week of training so far and still a lot to do... here’s to the feet and hips doing what the boss says #strictlycomedancing #strictly.”
Fans are already rooting for Helen and Gorka to win, especially since Helen’s husband Richie Myler left her shortly after the birth of their third child earlier this year.
Some viewers have even started a ‘petition ’ to get Helen to take home this year’s glitterball trophy – claiming it’s the perfect revenge against her ex.
The Countryfile star was married to rugby star Richie for eight years and they share baby daughter Elsie Kate and sons, Ernie, six, and Louis, four.
Following their shock split, Richie was pictured with new girlfriend Stephanie, the daughter of the multi-millionaire president of Leeds Rhinos - the rugby club Richie currently plays for.
Taking to social media, one viewer wrote: “I’d love Helen Skelton to win. That would be one in the eye for her treacherous, deadbeat ex-husband!"
"Agree, would love Helen to win or something least get to the final. She deserves to have a wonderful strictly experience!" a second commented.
While a third added: “Best way to p**s off your estranged husband."
Although she’s a favourite to reach this year’s Strictly final, Helen has revealed she has been suffering with stage fright.
The Radio 5 Live presenter told how she even tried to flee through a fire escape moments before her debut live performance.
She eventually came back and went on to score an impressive 26 points from the judges, putting her and Gorka in sixth place in week one.
Explaining what happened, Helen said: “I had a little cry. I’m normally cool, calm and collected.
“I got on the dance floor and they said, ‘When the audience come in...’ and I went, ‘Oh crikey, yeah, there’s people. I was like, ‘There’s a fire door, there, I can get out of it,’ and I did.
“Gorka found me and said, ‘What are you doing?’ I said, ‘Just having a minute.’ I literally ran. It was like when I did Celeb SAS, I tried to escape that.”
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