Helen Skelton has addressed Strictly Come Dancing 's 'fix' claims ahead of the new series kicking off on BBC One. The popular Countryfile presenter spoke about the upcoming dance competition on ITV's Lorraine.
The former Blue Peter host will join soap stars Kym Marsh, Will Mellor and James Bye when the BBC One contest starts on Saturday, September 17. You can see the Strictly 2022 line-up in full here.
During a sit down with Lorraine Kelly on Wednesday, September 7, for her new campaign Me Time, which has seen Helen team up with ITV's Dr Amir Khan, conversation quickly turned to Strictly. Helen was asked about her tap dancing past and if it would help her on the show.
Read more: Strictly Come Dancing fans hail 2022 trailer 'best ever' as first teaser drops
It comes after an old interview revealed Helen won a dance competition in her teenage years. Lorraine asked the 39-year-old: "When you were wee you did a little bit of tap dancing. Is that going to help in any way at all?"
Responding, Helen said: "I found it so funny when they said 'it's a fix, Helen was a tap dancing champion'. When I was seven, yes, I did tap dancing. Like lots of little girls and boys, I did dancing and absolutely loved it, then hit an age where I didn't want to be in a leotard in public and I gave it up, and I wish that I hadn't."
Speaking about the show in general, Helen said: "The thing about Strictly was when they asked me I said, 'Oh no, it's too much going on, the kids… And my friends made a great point - the bigger your children, the bigger the problem.'
"My friends were like, 'You have to do it'. I mean, for goodness sake, who gets to go to work and put on an amazing dress and have their makeup done? I know it sounds silly, but even getting your lunch - like someone makes you lunch!
"I just think for me, I love the challenge and I love the learning. It's an amazing experience and technically is work so it's winner, winner, winner.
"The best thing for me is that it's really nice to work on a programme that my mum and dad actually want to watch, other than they feel like they have to watch. My mum's so excited and all her friends are so excited. So it's good."
Strictly Come Dancing starts on BBC One this autumn. For more showbiz and television stories, get our newsletter here.
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