Helen Skelton has given an insight into her hectic life as a single working mother – following her split from estranged husband Richie Myler – in a candid new interview.
The Country File presenter, 40, and the rugby player, 33, split in April 2022 and share three children Ernie, eight, Louis, six, and 22-month-old Elsie.
And in August she announced she was stepping down from her BBC Radio 5 Live show to spend more time with her little ones, moving back to Cumbria to be near her family and parents following their split.
Helen gave The Times a glimpse into her daily life and spoke about juggling work and parenting, saying: “You’re damned if you do and damned if you don’t.”
She detailed her routine, explaining that she likes to get up early because it makes her “feel like she’s a little ahead of the game,” but rarely has time for breakfast because she’s so busy in the mornings.
Family: Helen Skelton has given an insight into her hectic life as a single working mother – following her split from estranged husband Richie Myler – in a candid new interview
Over: The Countryfile presenter, 40, and the rugby player, 33, split in April 2022 and share three children Ernie, eight, Louis, six, and 22-month-old Elsie
She said: “Every day is different, but it always starts with coffee, kids, chaos and getting outside, whether it’s raining, snowing or hailing.”
On a workday, she leaves the house at 4:30 a.m. to listen to the radio or watch morning TV – she works two days and then has three days off.
When she is not at work, she prepares her children for school and takes care of the school run; when not, her mother helps her with childcare.
Her entire day then revolves around her children’s activities and she is better supported with her schedule since she lives close to her family.
She told the publication about her juggling: “The news about my Sunday show on Radio 5 exploded like I was making a big statement, but I just swapped shifts like so many women have done throughout the history of working mothers.”
“There’s so much fuss about whether mothers should work.” You’re damned if you do and damned if you don’t, but we all look at each other and think, “She got it perfect.”
“We’re drowning in blogs and podcasts telling us how to do this right.” But people need to feel good about whatever they do – if it’s the right thing for them, it’s the right thing.”
She added to her routine that evenings are filled with bike rides with her kids, barbecues or taking her kids to soccer games.
Change: In August she announced she was stepping down from her BBC Radio 5 Live show to spend more time with her little ones and moved back to Cumbria to be near her family and parents following their split
Hart: Helen gave The Times a glimpse into her daily life and spoke about juggling work and parenting: “You’re damned if you do and damned if you don’t.”
Mom: She detailed her routine, explaining that she likes to wake up early because it makes her “feel a little ahead of the game,” but rarely has time for breakfast because she is so busy in the mornings
Helen also tries to bring everyone to the table for dinner every night and revealed that her children love home-cooked food.
After putting the kids to bed, she chats with her friends or goes to an event before she’s in bed by 9 p.m.
The interview comes after Richie accused the Strictly star of “prolonging the divorce proceedings” and “stopping him from moving forward with his life”.
The BBC favorite has not yet signed his divorce despite receiving court-approved Decree Nisi, which states there is no reason why the couple cannot officially separate.
Richie and Helen split in April 2022 and shortly afterwards the rugby league ace began a new romance with Stephanie Thirkill, the daughter of the multimillionaire president of the Leeds Rhinos club he plays for, and 12 months later they had their first shared baby.
The couple were married for over eight years and have three children together, including the youngest Elsie, who was born just four months before Helen announced the end of her relationship with Richie.
A source close to the exes says Helen’s refusal to cooperate has left Richie “frustrated because he wants to move on with his life” and “no one can understand her continued delay.”
They explained: “You get the feeling that Helen is refusing to sign the papers because she’s afraid Richie will propose to his new partner Stephanie and she’s just not ready to deal with that.”
Another source said: “Helen is the person who filed for divorce and although it is incredibly emotional to say goodbye to her marriage, there is no reason why she would want to stop the marriage from becoming official.”
Web revealed in August that Helen had been issued a Decree Nisi and from September 26, the former Blue Peter presenter could apply for a Decree Absolute, which would officially end her marriage to Richie.
But according to a source, Helen, who is the only party eligible to apply for the writ since she filed for divorce, and her lawyer have remained silent, and Richie is struggling to understand the reason for the delay.
Richie and her new partner Stephanie gave birth to their daughter Olivia in May. Friends close to the couple said their long-term plan was to get married one day.
Two weeks ago, Stephanie commented on an Instagram post shared by Richie at the end of the 2023 rugby season, saying she was “proud” of him “both on and off the field”.
Helen is now the main carer for her children Ernie (eight), Louis (six) and 22-month-old Elsie.
Web has contacted representatives for Helen and Richie for comment.
The news follows the release of Helen’s autobiography In My Stride, in which she opens up about the former couple’s split for the first time.
Helen’s heartbreak was the catalyst for her decision to join Strictly last year. The presenter has now admitted that she found it difficult to feel “sexy”, even when encouraged by her professional dance partner Gorka Marquez.
She wrote: “During the second week, Gorka asked me why I didn’t feel sexy.”
“It was an uncomfortable question that immediately made me cringe.
Ex-partners: The couple were married for over eight years and have three children together, including their youngest Elsie, who was born just four months before Helen announced the end of her relationship with Richie (pictured in June 2014)
Moving on: Richie and Helen split in April 2022 and shortly afterwards the rugby league ace began a new romance with Stephanie Thirkill, the daughter of the multimillionaire president of the Leeds Rhinos club he plays for
“Why ask me that? I was just there for the joke. I was never sexy, I was the sweet and funny type.
“He asked a woman with three children under six whose husband had just left her and was with another woman to be SEXY.”
“I thought, ‘Who would feel good in this scenario?’
She also recalls her “shock” when she found out her marriage to Richie had failed, and says it sounds cliche that she didn’t foresee their split.
Helen added: “I was shocked. I know after a breakup people often say they didn’t expect it, and that sounds like a cliché, but that was me.”