Helen Skelton was close to tears as she announced live on air that she was leaving BBC Radio 5 Live in a bid to spend more time with her children.
The Countryfile and Strictly star, 40, revealed that she was stepping down from her Sunday morning slot after a year, admitting that she had found it tough juggling her job with being a single mum to her three children.
Speaking to her co-host Lloyd Griffith, she said: “You’re emotional because I’m leaving.” “I am,” he replied, before asking how she was feeling. With her voice breaking, Helen said: “I am not alright about it but, you know, needs must. The juggle is real.”
she continued: “There is an eight year old with a sideline who needs me.” Once the show came to a close later on, Helen said: “I’ve loved every minute of the past year … thank you to all the team and thank you to all of you. It’s hard to know what to say without getting emotional!”
Her exit comes just days after Helen reportedly told family members she felt guilty for stepping back into the dating scene once again. Last year, in April, Helen announced that she and England and Leeds Rhinos rugby star Richie Myler, 33, had decided to go their separate ways. The couple, who tied the knot in December 2013, share three children together – sons Ernie and Louis and daughter Elsie.
Since then, the Countryfile presenter and mum-of-three has been busy presenting on Morning Live, filming a new show with former Strictly co-star and Channel 5’s Dan Walker, and enjoying trips abroad with her three kids as a single parent. After putting her dating life on hold, Helen has recently launched herself back into the dating scene. However, the decision has reportedly left the presenter “feeling guilty”, according to Closer Magazine.
A source told the publication: “Helen’s family and friends encouraged her to get back out there and she was happy to dip her toe back into the dating scene, but she has had some wobbles and found herself feeling guilty. She’s concerned about who to let into her life and worried about being judged for any decisions she makes.
“There have also been some people who have made comments about her not trying hard enough to make it work with Richie, and it’s made her think about her marriage and what went wrong. Ultimately, she knows she tried everything she could, and once the trust was broken there was just no going back. But dating again has brought up some unexpected feelings that she’s been struggling with.”