Dan Walker reveals secret motivational calls with Helen Skelton amid her Strictly run

Dan Walker has shared the motivational advice he gave Helen Skelton as she competes in Strictly Come Dancing, following his stint on the show last year.

The former BBC Breakfast host, 45, finished in fifth place on Strictly and offered words of wisdom to Skelton, 39, after his experience, as she competes in the latest series.

Walker revealed that he’s had several phone calls with Skelton where he’s given her motivational advice, telling the Countryfile star to keep her “eyes wide open” in the competition.

The pair know each other well and Walker can empathise with Skelton on the show, having battled it out himself from week-to-week last series with professional partner Nadiya Bychkova.

Dan Walker reached fifth place after competing on Strictly Come Dancing last year` (PA)

Walker told The Daily Star: “I know Helen Skelton really well and I’ve been talking to her quite a bit and I think he’s been fantastic and I told her she’s going to be there for quite some time.

“She rang me the week before she went on and I told her ‘’you have to go into it with her eyes wide open.’”

Speaking on his experience, Walker added: “From my experience of it you have to enjoy it as much as you can and you never want to finish it and think ‘’Ugh, I wish I allowed myself to enjoy it more.’”

Skelton has had a difficult year, after separating from her husband Richie Myler, with whom she shares three children.

Walker has told Helen Skelton to keep “her eyes wide open” in the BBC competition (PA)

It was reported this month that Myler is now expecting his first child with his new girlfriend Stephanie Thirkill, following the split.

Skelton has managed to leave her personal issues behind on the Strictly dancefloor and achieved her highest score so far in the competition on Saturday, for her performance of the Charleston on a special episode of Strictly, celebrating the BBC’s 100^th anniversary.

The mum-of-three recently said she doesn’t “see herself as a victim”, following her marriage breakdown.

Skelton told The Telegraph: “I think it would have been disrespectful for me to have not done Strictly. For my family, who need to see me have a great time. It’s not just for me.

“I don’t see myself as a victim, no, because I mean, look…there are a lot of people who have been in my situation who haven’t been given the opportunities that I’ve got.”