Strictly Come Dancing star Jayde Adams has clashed with one of the show's former champions over comments made about Helen Skelton that the comedian branded "entirely false".
Countryfile and former Blue Peter presenter Helen is one of four stars who will be taking to the dancefloor in a bid to lift the coveted glitterball trophy in the Strictly final on Saturday, alongside her pro partner Gorka Marquez. Molly Rainford, Fleur East and Hamza Yassin are also in with a chance of winning this year's series, after Will Mellor was voted out in the semi-finals.
Former pro dancer and 2016 Strictly winner Joanna Clifton wrote in The Express that Helen has "been on a journey like no other", saying that the star had undergone an "indescribable" transformation during her time on Strictly as her confidence grew from week to week. But Jayde, who was eliminated from the competition in week five, strongly disagreed with the comments.
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Taking to Twitter to share the article, Jayde told Joanne to "pipe down" as she wrote: "Before Strictly Helen was the second woman only to finish 78-mile Namibian ultra marathon in 23h 45. Kayaked the Amazon, tight-roped 150m over Battersea Power Station, cycled to the South Pole, TV, radio, sports career and had three babies, one she birthed herself. Not confident? HAHAHAHA."
As some Strictly viewers disagreed with Jayde, the comedian was quick to point out the "imbalances" she perceived between the way female stars are talked about on the show compared to the male celebrities, drawing comparisons between Helen and fellow finalist Hamza. "Helen, like Hamza, is stoic," she told one fan on Twitter.
"Yet Hamza is 'humble' and Helen 'lacks confidence.' I’ve spent time with Helen, and I know this description is entirely false. I’m just wanting to change these unfair narratives around the women on Strictly."
And Jayde continued to hit back at several fans who suggested that Helen had regained her confidence on Strictly after splitting suddenly from her husband of eight years Richie Myler in April. One person wrote: "Everyone’s confidence will take a knock at some point, that’s not a thing that needs to be denied."
Jayde replied: "No-one ever talks about Hamza's confidence."
Another viewer said: I think Strictly has helped Helen get back to her real self, that’s the magic of Strictly and Gorka."
Jayde answered: "Girl was thriving before, she's thriving now and she'll thrive after."
A third viewer added: "She has never shied away from a challenge but confidence is not a constant. She lost her sparkle for a while there and found it again and now she shines."
But Jayde argued: "I’ve spent major time with Helen, she’s been consistently happy, smiley and working hard."
However, Helen herself has revealed ahead of the final that taking part in Strictly has helped her confidence. "I’ve definitely found my confidence on that dancefloor and I enjoy it and that’s what it’s about," she said.
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