Helen Skelton has opened up about the intimacy on Strictly Come Dancingshowing that she is concerned about the ‘physical closeness’ that comes with it.
The Countryfile presenter will enter the iconic ballroom with singers this year Matt GossKym Marsh in Coronation Street and Paralympian Ellie Simmonds.
after being rumors to join the lineup, Helen was announced as the last celeb to participate this yearalready featured in the ballroom during the show’s festive special in December 2012.
At the time, she teamed up with Strictly pro Artem Chigvintsev, with the pair finishing second behind JLS, JB Gill, who took home the crown.
But this time, the 39-year-old has admitted that she… afraid to get close to her partner.
When asked what her biggest challenge would be, Helen replied, “I’m not that sensitive, so I think the physical closeness I need with my partner will take some getting used to!”
During her stint in 2012, Helen scored an incredible 37 for her Jive to Mariah Carey’s All I Want for Christmas is You, but she’s denied it brought her any benefit, reassuring everyone that she doesn’t remember much of the jargon.
‘No, I don’t do that because it’ [training] was only four days. I have no knowledge,” she told Metro.co.uk and other press.
“I think it was a good chance, though, because when we got to rehearsals everyone was like ‘woah, there was a lot to take in’, but since I had that, I was like ‘yeah, there’s a lot to take in.’ to take.”‘
She continued, “I’m thankful that some of the people I worked with on the crew were the same people who were on Blue Peter in 2008.”
Earlier this month, Helen dismissed claims Strictly had been resolved after she won a Ken Dodd tap dance award at age 17.
“I think that’s so funny, you know they said, ‘It’s a solution! Helen is a tap dance champion!” she told presenter Lorraine Kelly.
“I was like, ‘When I was seven, yes, I was tap dancing.'”
She explained that, like many children, ‘I was dancing, absolutely loved it, reached an age where I didn’t want to wear a leotard in public and I gave up.
“I wish I hadn’t,” she admitted. “But bring it back now!”
Strictly Come Dancing returns on Friday 23rd September at 7pm on BBC One and the first live show takes place on Saturday 24th September at 6:45pm on BBC One.
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What we know so far about Strictly Come Dancing 2022
Who are the judges?
Chief Judge Shirley Ballas is once again joined by fellow judges Craig Revel Horwood and Motsi Mabuse.
Anton Du Beke also returns to judgeafter it was confirmed that he would officially replace Bruno Tonioli.
Who are the new professional dancers?
There are four new pros joining the lineup: Vito Coppola, Carlos Gu, Lauren Oakley and Michelle Tsiakkas.
Which professional dancers have left?
After the 2021 season, it was announced that fan-favorite pros Oti Mabuse and Aljaž Skorjanec would not return for the 2022 series.
Will there be a studio audience?
Yes – after previous restrictions put in place due to the pandemic, the entire studio audience will return this year, while the clear dividing walls between the judges will also be removed.
When will the show return?
The BBC has revealed that the launch show for the 2022 series will be recorded on Wednesday 7 September.
Therefore, it is likely that it will air a few days later on Saturday, September 10, although the exact date of the first episode has yet to be announced.
Read more about Strictly 2022 here.
