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Phoebe Fuller

Strictly's Helen Skelton admits she's worried about 'letting down' partner Gorka Marquez ahead of 'different' routine

Strictly Come Dancing duo, Helen Skelton and Gorka Marquez, appeared on Lorraine today to discuss their progress after week-one of the show. For their first dance, they wowed judges with an American Smooth - but they have revealed that their next dance will be very different.

Trying something completely new, Helen and Gorka will be trying their hands - or feet! - at a Cha Cha Cha. The energetic Cuban dance is worlds apart from the refined American Smooth that they kicked off the show with and Gorka referred to it as the "opposite" of their debut dance.

But the duo are feeling confident and are both in a "good place" thanks to a successful week of rehearsals. Speaking about the show, Helen said that she is having a "great time". She told Christine Lampard: "Your body hurts, but you're so on a high because of all the endorphins, it's a rollercoaster - it's great.

Read more: Strictly's Helen Skelton left bleeding and bruised after brutal rehearsals

"I love all the training, I love the wardrobe and the make up, being in the studio and seeing all the friends..." Though Helen admitted that she had "forgotten" about the live audience, until it was pointed out to her.

She said that it made her "so nervous" when she first saw all the audience members, but added: "Once you're out there it's great."

Christine then asked Helen about how she was coping with the big change, going from fronting Countryfile to strutting her stuff on the dance floor. Helen said: "It's totally different for me, but it's good. Challenging yourself is good and this is a challenge in a new way."

Helen and Gorka then discussed being away from their families, which they admitted was difficult. Gorka's partner, Gemma Atkinson, has been on Strictly before so Helen said that she knows all about the demands of production.

But for Helen, who is experiencing the show for the first time, she said: "It takes over your life, because it is all consuming." For this reason, she said that she did not want to "let down" Gorka, who has to be away from his partner and little one so often.

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