Strictly Come Dancing star Helen Skelton has shared her gratitude for her family as she and Gorka Marquez made it through to another week on the BBC dance show. On Saturday night the couple took the ballroom floor for Movie Week.
Professional dancer Gorka impressed as John Travolta with Helen as his Sandy as they performed a spellbinding Viennese Waltz to Hopelessly Devoted To You by the late Olivia Newton-John from the iconic film Grease.
And after their latest dance in the hit BBC One dance contest, the pair were applauded by the judges and scored an impressive 31 points out of a possible 40 for their dreamy routine which they said paid tribute to Olivia, famed for playing Sandy, following her death last month.
Gorka's proud partner Gemma Atkinson shared an adorable video of daughter Mia watching her 'Papa' perform in the third live show. Former Emmerdale and Hollyoaks actress Gemma, who competed in the 2017 series where she met her fiance, cheered them on by sharing a snap of them in costume on her Instagram, saying "Good luck Sandy and Danny."
And after their latest dance on the BBC dance contest, she applauded them by channeling the word favoured by judge Craig Revel-Horwood as she exclaimed: "Ah Ma Zing!!!!!" Then on Sunday, Gemma posted a video clip of their three-year-old daughter Mia spellbound as she watched her daddy perform, saying with a crying-laughing emoji: "We're on take 246."
Helen, 39, also shared the post and wrote: "The main judges for us.... @gorka_marquez @glouiseatkinson," alongside a string of red heart emojis. She then shared her own message to her family who have been cheering her on from home every week.
Sharing a couple of snaps of beaming people wearing 'Team Helen' t-shirts with her face on, the mum-of-three typed: "Family," with two heart emojis. "Because at the end of the day if you walk over the threshold and they’re happy….. you’re happy. Grateful for my gang holding parties for the live shows… "
She then joked: "Because it means my kids don’t want me to be knocked out as they get Saturday nights fuelled on Coca Cola and cousin love. Grateful." Gorka, 34, was quick to respond with a string of applause of emojis before adding the hashtag, 'the team'.
Fellow contestant Fleur East, who found herself in the bottom two against Richie Anderson and Giovanni Pernice, replied: "This is so sweet!!!" While pro dancer Karen Hauer, who wowed alongside Jayde Adams with their Flashdance routine, echoed: "So sweet."
And fans were just as supportive. @no1googins said: "Family is EVERYTHING !! You go girl." @rosiemeech commented: "Wonderful family support, Helen. Up the North!!" @smudga2009 replied: "Just good ol’ family love having your back and supporting you. You deserve it."
@annefradsham wrote: "Fabulous as Craig would say.! Family is everything." @country_jules echoed: "Fabulous! Keep going my darling you’re doing amazingly." @evejohnson15 added: "This is lovely!! :) Soo enjoying watching you on Strictly! Rooting for you!"
It comes just a couple of weeks after Helen shared praise for the families behind the Strictly stars. "To all the families holding down the fort behind the scenes…." she said. "We are grateful. Pretty sure I will owe my parents Christmas in the Caribbean by time this is over."
It came after her ex Richie Myler shared photos of himself and new partner Stephanie Thirkill on his Instagram. The Leeds Rhinos rugby player posted about 'family' on his Instagram as he shared a picture of himself and Stephanie with family including her father Leeds Rhinos president Andrew Thirkill. He gushed: "Finished this season as a family", and drew a heart.
Helen announced back in April that her and Richie's eight-year marriage had ended, four months after she gave birth to their third child. Helen and Richie welcomed their baby daughter Elsie Kate on December 28. They also have two young sons Ernie, seven, and Louis, five.
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