Helen Skelton has reflected on her time on Strictly Come Dancing and still can’t believe three months on that she made it to the final.
The TV and radio presenter, 39, and professional dance partner Gorka Marquez finished in second place on the BBC dance competition after being beaten to the Glitterball Trophy by Hamza Yassin and Jowita Pryzstal back in December.
Speaking to the Standard ahead of helping to launch Kinder’s inaugural Masters of Play Festival this weekend, she said: “It was a really, really great experience so I’m glad I got to do it and that it went on as long as it did! All of the parents [at my kids’ school] were like, when is this ending?
“I’ve always been the kind of person who makes the best of opportunities that come along.”
Earlier this year she got to take part in the Strictly Come Dancing Live Tour and while she wouldn’t say no to future dance opportunities, for now they seem few and far between.
She explained: “I don’t think when you’re an adult there are that many opportunities to keep up that kind of dancing unless you’re at a wedding and even then it’s not exactly a Foxtrot, it’s more like the Macarena or whatever. So no, just in the kitchen with Radio 2 on.
Adding: “I’d love to dance again because it’s just so nice, it makes you feel good; it’s the endorphins.”
The Carlisle-born star has plenty else to keep her busy, including being a mum to her three children Ernie, seven, Louis, five, and one-year-old Elsie, who she shares with rugby player ex-husband Richie Myler, 32.
She will be taking her brood along with her to KidZania at Westfield London Shopping Centre in Shepherd’s Bush on Sunday for the first of a three-day line-up where families will be able to enjoy a series of play workshops and activities hosted by some of the top entertainers and play experts.
Just in time for the Easter holidays, the festival will run all day from April 2 until April 4 with some of the planned activities including a drawing master class with award-winning author and illustrator Christiane Engel and a fun science experiment with The Dad Lab.
Skelton will be leading a workshop of her own and there will also be a dinosaur-themed activity with renowned Palaeontologist, Dr Dean Lomax, plus, a space adventure activity with Katrina Bryan, star of CBeebies Nina and the Neurons.
Skelton – who is gearing up for a new series of Channel 5’s On The Farm – said: “For me, the holidays are exciting, but it’s also that thing of ok, great, how are we going to keep them entertained and fulfilled and all the rest of it.
“Kinder have brought together a load of experts and play people to give parents and families and carers new suggestions, ideas and ways for kids and families to play together and have creative fun.
“My eldest is very physical, my middle one is quite creative and the littlest one is just quite wild. Between them they can usually find a game that ticks all three of those boxes, they just find different roles,” she continued.
“All kids love screentime and YouTube and Ipads and all that, but when you see them get creative and get stuck in, as a parent it kind of makes you smile cos you feel satisfied watching them play.”
