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Entertainment
Simon Duke

Helen Skelton in Strictly 'battle' with Will Mellor as tour arrives in Newcastle

Helen Skelton and Will Mellor are locked in a Strictly Come Dancing 'battle' with each other ahead of the live tour arriving in Newcastle on Wednesday night.

It's now been over a month since Helen missed out on glory in the Strictly final, with ex Hollyoaks star Will being dealt a massive blow a week earlier, when he and pro partner Nancy Xu went out in the semi final dance-off. However, both stars are having a great time on the show's arena tour, notching up plenty of wins between them.

It was former Blue Peter host Helen who drew first blood on night one in Birmingham, when she and new partner Kai Widdrington, stepping in for the absent Gorka Marquez, topped the audience vote at the Utilita Arena.

READ MORE: Strictly's Giovanni Pernice admits to 'tricky' love life after amid Jowita Przystal dating rumours

Helen and Kai followed that up with another victory on the final evening in Birmingham, after Will and Nancy won both shows on day two and new Strictly champions Hamza Yassin and Jowita Przystal won the last matinee.

Hamza and Jowita have notched up another win since then, but it's Helen and Will who have led the way, with their professionals by their side. Will and Nancy had a clean sweep in Manchester, winning all four performances over the weekend, before Helen and Kai won both the matinee and evening show in Sheffield on Tuesday.

That puts Helen and Will neck on neck on Strictly wins, level pegging at seven each as the tour comes to Newcastle for three shows at the Utlita Arena.

All but one performance on last year's tour were won by 2021 champions Rose and Giovanni and Helen and Will winning the lion's share this time hasn't gone down well with everyone, with one critic taking to Twitter to moan: "Will and Nancy and Helen and Kai winning all of these tour dates is getting beyond boring and repetitive they are not the best dancers there and others deserve a chance"

*John Fashanu out of Dancing on Ice as audience 'ruin' result

*Helen Skelton makes late night dash home after Strictly tour win

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*Oti Mabuse sparks 'bias' concerns with link to Dancing on Ice star

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