Inside the life of Countryfile's Helen Skelton from 'very sad' divorce from rugby ace to Strictly Come Dancing stint

Here is everything you need to know about the Countryfile presenter 

Helen Skelton has been a familiar face on BBC’s Countryfile since first presenting the show nearly a decade ago in 2014.

Countryfile is a British television programme which airs weekly on BBC One and reports on rural, agricultural, and environmental issues.

The popular presenter, 40, has also undertaken a number of other different broadcasting endeavours, while maintaining a passion for extreme adventure-based activities.

From her upbringing on a farm in Cumbria to a ‘very sad’ divorce and a stint on Strictly Come Dancing, here is everything you need to know Helen Skelton.

Inside the life of Countryfile’s Helen Skelton from her ‘very sad’ divorce from rugby ace to her Strictly Come Dancing stint

Her career in broadcasting began soon after, working at Border ITV and CFM Radio, eventually moving into a co-presenting spot at BBC Radio Cumbria at the age of 23

From Cumbrian upbringing on a dairy farm to Blue Peter

Helen’s life started on a dairy farm, before she headed to the Cumbria Institute of the Arts, where she obtained a degree in journalism.

Her career in broadcasting began soon after, working at Border ITV and CFM Radio, eventually moving into a co-presenting spot at BBC Radio Cumbria at the age of 23.

From 2007 to 2008 she served also as a reporter and presenter on CBBC shows Newsround and Sportsround, before landing a role as the 33rd Blue Peter presenter at the age of 25.

She replaced Zoe Salmon on the programme, which she presented for five years before stepping down in 2013, with Radzi Chinyanganya taking up the role in her place.

After her departure from Blue Peter, Helen became a presenter of live FA Women’s Super League football matches for sports broadcaster BT Sport (now TNT Sports).

She has also presented segments of Countryfile since 2008 and became a regular host in 2014.

Her experience in sports coverage has also seen her feature as part of BBC Sport’s team for the Olympic games, covering major events at both London 2012 and Rio 2016.

She also kayaked down the Amazon river for six weeks by herself for Sport Relief, as well as completing a 500 mile-long journey to the South Pole, flying with the Red Arrows and walking a tightrope between the chimneys of Battersea Power Station.

Enduring a ‘very sad’ divorce to rugby league star

In 2013, Helen married England and Leeds Rhinos rugby league star Richie Myler.

The pair would go on to have three children – Ernie, Louis, and Elsie, before they split in April 2022.

She replaced Zoe Salmon on the programme, which she presented for five years. She is pictured her alongside Barney Haywood

In 2013, Helen married England and Leeds Rhinos rugby league star Richie Myler

The former couple share three children – Ernie, Louis, and daughter Elsie but their romance didn’t last

In August 2023, Helen was issued a decree nisi that signalled the end of their ten-year marriage with the couple receiving confirmation of this by post, as exclusively revealed by MailOnline.

Since the end of their marriage, Richie has had another baby with new girlfriend Stephanie Thirkill, the daughter of Leeds Rhinos president Andrew.

Strictly stint and other dance show escapades

Prior to a stint on Strictly Come Dancing, Helen entered and won the Malta Open Dance Competition in 2008, which saw her dance with a 16-year-old wheelchair user, as her partner, as they defeated 100 other dancers en route to victory.

Helen would showcase her dancing skills once again in 2022, appearing on the 20th series of Strictly alongside professional dancer Gorka Marquez.

After managing to reach the final, Helen and Gorka lost out to eventual winners Hamza Yassin and Jowita Przystal.

Speaking about her experience on the show, she told Tom Bryant’s podcast Outdoors In Mind: ‘I think everybody at some point needs a little reminder of, “Actually, you’re really good at this, here’s your invisible crown, pop it on.”

‘I was like, “OK, I’m hurtling towards 40, I’ve just had another child. I’m on my own. I’ve moved my life, I’ve moved my house”.

‘I was on a bit of a sticky wicket but the [pro] dancers are all like, “Oh my God, you have three children, that’s incredible. You bought a house, that’s incredible.”‘

Helen showcased her dancing skills once again in 2022, appearing on the 20th series of Strictly alongside professional dancer Gorka Marquez

While juggling work and three children with her time on the show, Helen said Strictly brought her ‘back to life’.

Appearing on Loose Women in February 2023, Helen reflected on her journey on the show and how dance partner Gorka Marquez helped make her remember ‘who I am’.

‘In the first few weeks I didn’t know how to own it and be sexy and sassy but then it got easier,’ she said.

‘Then I stopped questioning it and I just stopped caring less. I was conscious it would be over in the blink of an eye so I just gave it my all.’