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Helen Skelton boasted about winning the 2000 Ken Dodd Tap Dancing Award in a resurfaced interview, it has been claimed, but now insists she can’t dance.
The presenter, 39, will appear in the upcoming series of Strictly Come Dancing, after splitting from her rugby player husband Richie Myler, 32, earlier this year.
She said on BBC Radio 5 Live last week: ‘People keep saying, “Can you dance?” and I say, “No,” because isn’t it the point to learn to dance?’
Talented: Helen Skelton ‘boasted about winning Ken Dodd Tap Dancing Award in resurfaced interview’… but insists she CAN’T dance after signing up for Strictly (pictured in the 00s)
But when asked in a 2016 interview to reveal a personal fact, the ex Blue Peter star is said to have proudly responded, ‘I won a Ken Dodd tap-dance award when I was 17.’
She added in the resurfaced chat, according to The Sun: ‘Not a lot of people know this, but I’m very good at tap dancing. People are often amazed I can tap dance.’
Helen allegedly devoted her childhood years to dance training and even received excellent marks from the Strictly judges during her stint in the 2012 Christmas special.
She had competed alongside Russian professional Artem Chigvintsev to All I Want for Christmas Is You, and was awarded a 37 out of 40 score from judges.
Wow! The presenter allegedly devoted her childhood years to training and even received excellent marks from the Strictly judges during her stint in the 2012 Christmas special
Ken, known for his Diddy Men caricatures, passed away in 2018 at the age of 90. The International Dance Teachers’ Association counted him as a patron.
And in honour of his agent Keith McAndrews, he contributed two special prizes for male and female nominees in the tap category to the organization’s International Theatre Dance Awards.
Helen’s representative have been contacted for comment by MailOnline.
Given that she once penned a guide on how to take care of them, Helen ought to be able to put her best feet forward on the dance programme.
Ex: Helen will appear in the upcoming series of Strictly Come Dancing , after splitting from her rugby player husband Richie Myler, 32, earlier this year
The former CBBC host participated in a number of gruelling all-action activities, such as marathons and mountain climbs, and as a result, she became an expert in self-care.
She wrote: ‘My feet were probably the most important piece of kit I had, so it was important I looked after them.’
Her use of blister pads and tape helped her win the 2009 Namibian Ultra Marathon, which is 78 miles long, she wrote in her 2019 book, Wild Girl.
She recalled: ‘My blisters were so big the race doctor had to pop them with a scalpel… I thought about telling people I had failed. And that hurt more than my feet.’
Helen went on to claim her nails ‘just pinged off my toes’ due to the effects of the marathon.
She added: It didn’t hurt, but it looked awful. I was quite proud of what I had been through, so I used to freak people out by asking them if they could guess what I was hiding in my purse. Don’t judge me. After all that running I deserved some fun.’
It follows reports that Helen signed up for Strictly after her estranged husband Richie shared a loved-up snap with his new girlfriend Stephanie Thirkill.
New woman: It follows reports that Helen signed up for Strictly after her estranged husband Richie shared a loved-up snap with his new girlfriend Stephanie Thirkill (pictured)
Richie went Instagram official with his new love, 32, earlier this month as they enjoyed a romantic mini-break in Cornwall.
Helen announced her split from the rugby star, in April – four months after they welcomed their third child together.
A source told The Mirror that signing up for Strictly would give her a lift, adding: ‘The breakdown of any marriage is tough to cope with, and Helen has understandably found it difficult. Being on Strictly will undoubtedly restore her confidence.’
Speaking about the glamorous side of Strictly, Helen said: ‘Most mums go to work and any mum who gets the chance to gets to go to work have their makeup done, their tea made and learn something fun… I thought that’s a gift isn’t it?’
The Countryfile presenter revealed on her first BBC Radio 5 show since the announcement: ‘The thing that makes me nervous… I agreed to it a few days ago and people keep saying, ‘Can you dance?’
‘And I say no because isn’t it the point to learn to dance?’