Helen Skelton couldn't have looked happier as she slipped into a bikini and basked in the winter sun as she took a well-deserved break after her Strictly Come Dancing antics. The Countryfile presenter made it all the way to the final of the BBC One dance contest in December alongside professional dancer Gorka Marquez.
The pair pulled out all the stops for the final on December 17 including a repeat of their simply iconic routine to Mein Herr in Carberet. But despite an outcry of 'robbed' from viewers, Helen, 39, and Gorka, 32, emerged without the Strictly 2022 champions title and the coveted sparkling trophy to eventual winners Hamza Yassin and Jowita Przystal.
However, it clearly didn't phase Helen as she put her dancing shoes back on and joined Hamza and Jowita and their fellow Strictly finalists Molly Rainford, Carlos Gu, Fleur East and Vito Coppola on the Strictly Live 2023 which kicked off in January and spanned more than 30 shows in arenas across the country.
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They were also joined by Will Mellor, Nancy Xu, Tyler West, Dianne Buswell, Ellie Simmonds and Nikita Kuzmin as well as some of the show's professional dancers, judges Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood, and Anton Du Beke as well as former pro Janette Manrara who acted as host.
And while Helen and Gorka didn't get their winning moment, a beaming Helen did get her hands on a Glitterball trophy alongside her new dance partner Kai Widdrington after Spanish-born Gorka chose not to take part in the arena tour in order to spend some time with his family - fiancee Gemma Atkinson and their daughter Mia - ahead of his own headline tour with fellow Strictly star Karen Hauer.
As the Strictly Live tour came to an end on earlier this month,it was revealed that Helen and Kai had 'won' the most shows on the tour, as when at the show, audience-goers get the chance to vote for their favourite with the winning couple being announced at the end of each show, and Helen and Kai got their hands on their own Glitterballs.
And with the tour now over and Helen's Strictly journey officially at an end, she's whisked herself and her three young children -Ernie, seven, Louis, five and one-year-old daughter, Elsie - off on a sunshine getaway.
Taking to Instagram on Thursday (February 23), Helen shared a string of snaps of herself and her children appearing to be enjoying their time away from the UK. "Pool days," Helen captioned the holiday snaps, with the first showing Helen in a blue gingham-style bikini as she held onto Elsie in a similar blue bathing suit.
"Grateful for this time. Grateful for this gang. Brought my tribe away to meet up with the fam on their hols … three adults nine kids what could go wrong … these are the days," the former Blue Peter host went on before adding: "Can’t thank @thbhotels @onthebeachholidays enough … I have booked through them and stayed here a few times before so feeling very lucky that me and my three are back as their guests."
Gemma, who became firm pals with Helen during her time dancing with Gorka, was among the first to comment, simply writing: "Love, " with a red heart. TV star Julia Bradbury commented: "Enjoy it darling... You deserve it. Cuddle those babies." Former Emmerdale star Natalie Anderson replied: "Enjoy every second beauty." While her Strictly pals sent plenty of love with hearts flooding the post.
And fans were quick to share their delight at seeing Helen with a smile on her face and enjoying time with her family. @bothamamanda said: "So deserved, you are a wonderful hooman, strong, fierce and inspirational. Three beautiful children, a fabulous career, excellent dancer and your how life ahead of you to be even more fabulous. Enjoy your break."
@wonderlandhairandmakeup wrote: "Enjoy every second! You so deserve it!" @gillianholroyd7 commented: "Looks fabulous hope your ALL having a great time." @watson6569 replied: "Enjoy special family time,you truly deserve it." @bevhicken shared: "Such gorgeous photo’s you look amazing." @marklindsay1711 added: "Beautiful photos Helen, you look incredible have the most wonderful holiday...you sure deserve it."
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