Presenter Dan Walker has revealed he’s been having secret motivational chats with Strictly star Helen Skelton to help her get through the show.
The former BBC presenter, 45, took part in last year’s Strictly Come Dancing, completing the show in fifth place alongside dance partner Nadiya Bychkova.
Now he’s keen to share his insider knowledge of coping with the highs and lows of the show with current contestant Helen, who is appearing on this year’s series alongside her pro dance partner Gorka Marquez.
"I know Helen Skelton really well and I've been talking to her quite a bit and I think she's been fantastic and I told her she's going to be there for quite some time,” Dan told the D aily Star.
"She rang me the week before she went on and I told her 'you have to go into it with her eyes wide open'.”
Speaking about his own time on the show, Dan added: "From my experience of it you have to enjoy it as much as you can and you never want to finish it and think 'Ugh, I wish I allowed myself to enjoy it more'."
It looks like Dan’s pep talks have proved useful as well, as last week Helen scored her best result yet, dancing the Charleston with Gorka in a Blue Peter homage to celebrate the BBC’s 100th birthday.
Their dance wowed the judges and received three nines and one eight for their efforts – their best score in the series so far.
However viewers at home were divided when at the end of their performance, it cut to a shot of the show’s four judges in doll form.
Some viewers at home were left terrified by the dolls shown at the end of the dance, while others joked that they should be on the judging panel.
Taking to Twitter, one fan shared a picture, writing: "What in the name of God…??"
While another joked: "Can we get these guys on the panel permanently?"
This weekend’s episode will be a Halloween special, with Helen and Gorka set to perform a foxtrot to Lil Red Riding Hood by Sam the Sham and The Pharaohs.
Last week’s episode saw Jayde Adams become the fourth contestant to leave the celebrity dance show.
The week before Bros lead singer Matt Goss become the third celebrity booted of the show, after losing out in the dance off to actress and singer Kym Marsh.
And the week prior saw Richie Anderson become the second celebrity to depart this year's series of the popular BBC show.
Loose Women star Kaye Adams was the first celebrity to depart this series.
Strictly Come Dancing continues Saturday at 6.30pm on BBC One.
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