Strictly 2022 final: Helen Skelton credits Gorka Marquez for helping her to ‘remember who I am’

Strictly Come Dancing’s Helen Skelton has credited Gorka Marquez for helping her to ‘remember who I am’ as they reached the final of the competition.

In an emotional VT, the presenter, 39, breaks down in tears as she praises the professional dancer, 32, for boosting her confidence, telling him: ‘You put faith in me that I didn’t have.’

Helen’s words come amid her split from husband Richie Myler, 32, in April after eight years of marriage, just four months after she gave birth to their third child – with Richie quickly moving on with new girlfriend Stephanie Thirkill, 33. 

The mother-of-three has previously spoken about her struggles with her confidence amid her break-up, praising the BBC show for helping her ‘to be happy in my own skin’.

And in a clip showed ahead of their Showdance on Saturday, Helen went on to thank her dance partner for the huge impact he’s had on her.

During a a break from rehearsals, Gorka told her: ‘I am very proud of you as I think you’ve grown a lot, and you’re gonna leave this show being a happier person.’

To which a tearful Helen told him: ‘You can outwardly see how different I am and you have made me remember who I am and that is the biggest and kindest and best thing anyone can ever do for somebody.’

As she struggled to told back the tears, she sobbed: ‘You put faith in me that I didn’t have.’

The two then shared an emotional hug as they reflected on the amazing journey they’d been on together.

Despite giving it their all on the dancefloor, the show was eventually won by Hamza Yassin and Jowita Przystal. 

It comes after Helen credited Strictly Come Dancing for lifting the gloom of her marriage split – and says she’s rediscovered her confidence by performing on the show.

The Countryfile presenter revealed it’s been ‘wonderfully liberating to be happy in my own skin’ while starring on Strictly following her breakup from husband of eight years Richie Myler.

Mother-of-three Helen says performing with pro Gorka Márquez was never about being ‘sexy’ but instead their partnership focused on gaining back ‘control’ and feeling ‘sassy and powerful’, with the TV star admitting she’s found herself again on the dance floor.

Speaking ahead of the Strictly final, Helen said: ‘Everyone has confidence in different ways.

‘I was having a chat with Claudia [Winkleman] about it one day and not everybody can strut down the high street in high heels and a dress but maybe you’re confident in talking about politics or writing books or whatever but yes, I have found confidence.

‘Gorka is clever because he’s never made it about being sexy it’s been about being sassy and powerful and being in control and that’s a wonderfully freeing thing for anybody when they feel in control of their own self and what they’re doing.

‘I don’t think it’s about being sexy I think it’s about being confident in your own skin and being who you are.

‘The thing Gorka kept saying to me in the beginning which I didn’t get was ‘just own it’, I was like ‘I don’t know what you’re on about, I’m here’ – I was like ‘what does that even mean?’ But now I get it.

‘It has been a wonderfully liberating thing to just be happy in my own skin and my own shoes and doing whatever walk I’m doing.’