Helen Skelton has revealed the reason why she decided to sign up to this year's Strictly Come Dancing.
The Countryfile presenter, 39, wowed the judges as Little Red Riding Hood for the Halloween special on Saturday night, with Motsi Mabuse tipping Helen and her dance partner Gorka Marquez, 32, to make it all the way to the final.
In an exclusive chat with The Mirror, Helen says she joined the competition to have a good time, but still has doubts if she can make it all the way through to the end as the "standard is so good".
Of why she decided to do Strictly, Helen says: "This whole show for me is about having a good time, learning, working hard. As long as I ticked those boxes at the end of each week, I'm happy."
When asked of what she thought of Motsi's prediction and head judge Shirley Ballas telling her she was "giving more soul" to her performance each week, Helen says while she is grateful for the positive comments, her focus is to "smile, learn and improve".
"For me, all I wanted to do in this competition is smile, work, learn and improve. If I get to the end of each week and I've done that brilliantly, if I get through the week then I'm ecstatic", she says.
Helen says she is "just grateful to be involved" in the show, which comes at a turning point in her life.
The former Blue Peter presenter's eight-year marriage to rugby player Richie Myler broke down earlier this year, with Helen announcing their split in April. The former couple remained dedicated on co-parenting their three children; Ernie, seven, Louis, five, and baby daughter Elsie, nine months.
Richie is now expecting a baby with his new girlfriend Stephanie Thirkill.
Despite the turbulence in her family life over the past few months, Helen remains focused on work saying with the help of Gorka and the Strictly team she is laughing all day and has a smile on her face.
"I'm working really hard in the week, I'm laughing all day. I'm sweating and I'm tired and the rest of it but that's really a rewarding feeling," she says.
