Janet Street-Porter said that she found Gorka Marquez 's speech to dance partner Helen Skelton on Strictly Come Dancing over the weekend to be "patronising" and "cringey".
Gorka, 32, addressed Helen, 39, going through a "difficult time" in his speech on Saturday's episode, in which he encouraged her to believe in herself and called her "beautiful".
It comes following her split from husband Richie Myler, 32, with whom she shares three children, earlier this year. It has recently been reported that he is now expecting a baby with his current partner Stephanie Thirkill.
The speech was a topic of discussion on Loose Women this afternoon, with panelist Janet, 75, saying that she felt it was "patronising" and shouldn't have been done on air.
She said: "I think he meant it well but I found it a bit cringey and patronising. I think she's had a bad time and it would have been good to say all those things to her privately".
Janet added that the "most important thing" for Helen at the moment is to rebuild her confidence, saying that in the first instance she will do that with close friends.
She said the Blue Peter alum will subsequently have to re-learn self-confidence herself, adding: "Someone meaning it well on television, I just feel really uncomfortable with that."
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Her opinion, however, wasn't shared by some of her fellow panelists on the ITV show earlier this afternoon during the discussion about the monologue issued by Gorka last week.
Ruth Langsford, 62 – who was a contestant on Strictly herself back in 2017 – expressed her view that Gorka had come across as "supportive" with his "sweet" speech.
And similarly, Coleen Nolan, 57, commented that she felt that the speech by the professional dancer had been a "gorgeous" moment on Saturday's episode of the BBC show.
The speech came following the latest performance by Gorka and Helen in the dance competition, whilst the pair were waiting for their scores from the judging panel.
Gorka said: "Can I just say something? I know you have been having a difficult time, and I know you've been made to 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, your family believes in you. [...] You are an amazing woman [...] so believe in you, please."
The Mirror approached Gorka's rep for comment.
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