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Monde Mwitumwa

Strictly’s Helen Skelton having 'secret calls’ with Dan Walker as he offers dancing tips

Strictly Come Dancing’s Helen Skelton has been having 'secret calls’ with Dan Walker, who appeared on the BBC hit show last year.

Dan took part in the 2021 series of the BBC dance competition and finished in fifth place alongside partner Nadiya Bychkova.

The Channel 5 star attended the Pride of Britain Awards on Monday night and decided to offer some advice to Countryfile presenter Helen.

READ MORE: Strictly's Helen Skelton walks Pride of Britain red carpet alone as Gorka Marquez and Gemma Atkinson 'back door it'

The former Blue Peter presenter was Bookies' favourite to take home the Glitterball before she even stepped foot on the dance floor. However, Helen had a shaky start as she struggled with her confidence, however after sweet support from her pro partner Gorka Marquez and viewers at home, her scores have been going up.

During Saturday night’s performance she earned a personal best after receiving 35 points for her Charleston to the Blue Peter theme tune.

Dan Walker and Nadiya Bychkova on Strictly 2021 (PA)

Speaking to Daily Star at the Pride of Britain Awards, the former BBC Breakfast presenter said: “I know Helen Skelton really well and I've been talking to her quite a bit and I think he's been fantastic and I told her she's going to be there for quite some time. She rang me the week before she went on and I told her 'you have to go into it with her eyes wide open.'"

Revisiting his own time on the show, Dan, who now anchors Channel 5 News, added: "From my experience of it you have to enjoy it as much as you can and you never want to finish it and think 'Ugh, I wish I allowed myself to enjoy it more.'”

Following her high score last week, Helen and dance partner Gorka are now getting ready for Halloween Week. The couple will perform a Foxtrot to Lil' Red Riding Hood.

This comes after Helen revealed she had moved her family back to her childhood town in Cumbria following her split from ex-husband Richie Myler. The presenter confirmed she had relocated from Leeds where she and her rugby player ex used to live with their three children, Ernie, seven, Louis, five, and nine-month-old Elsie.

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