Gorka Marquez called a halt to Saturday night's live Strictly Come Dancing to plead with celeb dance partner Helen Skelton to 'believe in you'. In emotional scenes Gorka took time out to praise former BBC presenter Helen as he addressed the 'difficult time' she's been having.
After the pair performed a barnstorming paso doble they went upstairs to chat with host Claudia Winkleman. As mother-of-three Helen, 39, was paying tribute to her parents, Gorka stepped in and asked: "Can I just say something?"
He then turned to Helen and said: "I know you've have been having a difficult time and I know you've been ...you may feel like you're not beautiful or good enough or anything, but if you don't believe in yourself, I believe in you. Everybody here believes in you."
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Cheers broke out from the fellow competitors on the BBC dance contest and Claudia added: "We all believe in you." Helen looked bashful and cowered away in response to the bolstering words.
Gorka then added: "It doesn't matter how many times I say it, or the judges say it, or anybody says it it's only you who is going to be the one who can make the change and the one who needs to believe in you, because you are an amazing woman, very inspirational. An amazing mum and incredible dancer, so believe in you please."
Countryfile presenter Helen announced back in April that her eight year marriage to Leeds Rhinos rugby player Richie Myler 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.
"Very sad to say that Richie and I are no longer a couple," Helen wrote on social media back in April. "He has left the family home. We will be doing our best to co-parent our small children."
Richie went Instagram official with new partner Stephanie Thirkill when they attended Wimbledon together this summer. As Helen made her dancing debut on Strictly at the end of last month her ex shared photos of himself and Stephanie on his Instagram and posted about 'family' 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. Richie, 32, also re-posted a selfie shared by Stephanie after his final Leeds Rhinos game of the rugby league season. His girlfriend penned: "Wasn't a win but couldn't be more proud of this one. Grand Final at Old Trafford and a great game for you. Love you so much @richiemyler" and he added: "Love you."
After their debut on Strictly Come Dancing, performing the American Smooth to Aretha Franklin's You Send Me, Helen was advised to "own it" by judge Anton Du Beke. And Gorka said her confidence at the moment 'is not great.'
He said: "She's great but she just needs to believe." He continued: "Her confidence at the moment is not great. But she just needs to believe in herself and believe she can do it because I think she has a lot of potential and she's a beautiful dancer. I believe in her."
While presenting Blue Peter for five years Helen took part in the Namibia Ultra Marathon, cycled to the South Pole and kayaked the entire 2000-mile length of the River Amazon for Sport Relief, an achievement which earned her two entries in the Guinness World Records - for the longest solo journey by kayak and the longest distance by a woman in a kayak in 24 hours.
She is also known for presenting BBC One show Countryfile and covering major sporting events for BBC Sport. She’s also presented the series On The Farm for Channel 5 and stood in for Dermot O’Leary and OJ Borg on BBC Radio 2.
Fans took to Twitter to applaud Gorka for his speech. Helen's former fellow Strictly contestant Kaye Adams said: "She is one incredible woman. And hats off to Gorka. x"
5 News presenter Dan Walker, who competed in Strictly last year, said with an applause emoji: "I think the look on Helen’s face tells you she wasn’t expecting this but… that is some speech from @gorkamarquez1. #TeamSkelton I hope she wins the whole thing."
Vicky tweeted: "Gorka is just so bloody lovely trying to help Helen with her confidence." And @BosettKay said: "Every woman needs a #Gorka in her corner."
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