HELEN SKELTON DESCRIBES SPLIT FROM RICHIE MYLER AS HUMILIATING

Helen Skelton has stated that the most difficult aspect of her separation from ex-husband Richie Myler was not the emotional pain of the breakdown itself, but rather the public nature of the split. Skelton separated from Myler, a former rugby league player, in 2022 after eight years of marriage. The separation occurred several months after the couple welcomed their third child, a daughter named Elsie. Myler subsequently began a relationship with another woman.

Skelton told The Times that she found the public scrutiny "humiliating", particularly because of her background and the close-knit community in which she lived. She described the difficulty of conducting her personal life under public observation, including conversations among neighbours and at local establishments such as her father's golf club. Skelton, a presenter on Morning Live, recalled specific instances such as being asked about her relationship status whilst shopping at a supermarket. The intensity of public interest in her private circumstances created an environment from which she felt unable to escape.

Seven months after the separation, Skelton entered the competition Strictly Come Dancing. She described this decision as an attempt to establish her own narrative and regain control over how her story was told. A Couple's Choice routine performed to Mein Herr from Cabaret became a notable performance in the series, which viewers described as her "revenge dance". Skelton stated that the experience provided relief from what she characterised as patronising behaviour from those around her.