Strictly Come Dancing star Helen Skelton was blasted by fans of the BBC dance show today after a celebrity implored fellow viewers to back Helen to win the show following 'everything she's been through'.
Football and F1 presenter Jake Humphreys took to his social account on Sunday to throw his weight behind Helen Skelton following her 39/40 couple's choice performance from Friday's show, and her subsequent smooth sailing into next week's contest.
But though Jake's well wishes were well intentioned, his plea for viewers to vote for Helen because of 'everything she's been through' rubbed some fans of the show up the wrong way, who want to see the winner picked on dancing merit alone, even if Helen has had a horrendous year divorcing her now ex-husband, Leeds Rhinos legend Richie Myler.
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Helen and pro dancing partner Gorka Marquez danced their couple's choice on Friday to a song from Cabaret. The pair scored 39 out of 40, an almost clean sweep. Of course, it was notoriously tough to please judge Craig Revel Horwood who held the couple back from their elusive first 40/40.
And today, Jake Humphreys said: "With everything this amazing friend has been through, to be showing her strength, composure and skill on @bbcstrictly is INCREDIBLE. Regardless of the dancing (which is amazing) she’s my winner, & should be yours too."
But his encouragement didn't land well with everyone.
@sandrab8744 said: "Loved your tweet - until you told us who our winner should be. She is great, but it's a dance competition so I'll see how they dance and vote on that"
@peteacher1971 said: "It’s a dance competition. I want the best dancer to win. Not the “been through a lot” award"
@allarsenalchat said: "no Jake, you have to only vote for the best dancer or all the strictly babies start crying"
@WL_HSteps said: "I really like Helen, but she's not my winner, sorry - I'm picking my own winner thank you"
@DanWaller said: "She should be yours too. Er, I don't think so. I don't care what she's been through. This is a dance competition and the best dancer should win. Not person who has the biggest 'woe is me' card. We've all been through alot, she is not the exception just because she's on the TV."
And others weighed in, too after Helen Skelton's dances on Friday to echo those kind of sentiments.
@Man18united said: "I just think IF Helen wins the show this year it should be based on merit of her Dancing, obvious likeability, Dance partnership and NOT because of what has happened sadly in her not so private life (but sods law when you're famous).
"Helen's also competitive, nothing wrong with being competitive and she hides it better than others do. Helen was fantastic on Celeb SAS: Who Dares Wins where she made it to the end, so she has mental toughness.
"Helen's a private person and I am glad she had a moment to do a big FU to her vile ex Husband after what he did to her, but if she wins Strictly, it shouldn't be based on pity/sympathy for her and I don't think Helen would want that either."
But others backed the former Countryfile presenter.
@alexstanger1993 said: "I agree Jake - to be able to perform consistently at a high level every week in her circumstances is a big achievement Even without Blue Peter in mind, Helen's been one of my favourites this year and she'd be a worthy winner"
@osirisrage said: "Couples choice needs to be removed. She's improved well though and deserves a final spot. Hopefully her, Hamza, Will and Molly in the final"
@galleyellen said: "Outstanding Performance and very good footwork. I hope she gets to the final with Hamza and Will. All three of them deserve it. Well I think so. What I like about Helen is she comes across as a nice person too, not too big for her own boots. Best performance of the nite"
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Strictly Come Dancing returns to BBC1 on Sunday, December 4 on BBC2 at 6.30pm with an instalment of spinoff It Takes Two.
Strictly Come Dancing's next show is on Saturday, December 10.
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