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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Victoria Johns

Helen Skelton answers 'boyfriend' question following ex Richie Myler's new arrival

Helen Skelton has revealed what she used to say when asked if she had a boyfriend on Blue Peter.

The Strictly Come Dancing star, 39, presented the show between 2008 and 2013 and her love life was always up for debate.

Now the mum-of-three is keeping tight-lipped about her private life after she split from her ex Richie Myler, whose partner Stephanie Thirkill recently gave birth to the couple's child.

But rewind 10 years and Helen gave a sassy reply when asked about who she was dating.

During a recent interview, the Countryfile star said she's always been an independent spirit and admitted that being in a relationship has never been her only priority.

"I was travelling all around the world, and seeing and doing incredible things," Helen explained. "And whenever I came home and caught up with people, all they would ask is, 'have you got a boyfriend?'

Helen Skelton has revealed what she used to say when asked if she had a boyfriend on Blue Peter (MCPIX/REX/Shutterstock)

"I was like, 'no, but I've got a few world records'", reports Grazia magazine.

The popular presenter got tongues wagging earlier this year when she was linked to her Strictly co-star Vito Coppola.

The pair were said to have "bonded' on the tour bus as it travelled between cities around the UK.

A source said: “Helen and Vito were good friends during Strictly, but really bonded on tour.

“There were two buses for the cast – the party bus and the quiet bus.

“They spent a lot of time chatting on the quiet bus and getting to know each other. They have a lot in common – a love of the outdoors, for example.

“Between shows they also spent time together one-on-one, like going for coffee, just the two of them.

But it seems the pair want to keep their relationship under wraps, with the source adding: “If anyone pulled out a phone and started filming, Helen would move away from Vito. She didn’t want to be captured in the background.”

Helen was said to have "bonded" with her co-star Vito Coppola on the Strictly tour (Helen Skelton Instagram)

The reports were brought up on the star's Radio 5 show when newsreader Steve teased Helen live on air, saying: "Just looking at the papers. Er, the front page of the Mirror is interesting."

Helen could be heard bursting into an awkward laughter before asked her colleague to: "Put the papers down, thank you."

The presenter's eight-year marriage to scrum half Richie ended last year, soon after she gave birth to their third child, Elsie.

Richie then began a relationship with the daughter of the boss of Leeds Rhinos, who recently became a mum for the first time.

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