Helen Skelton, a beloved BBC Morning Live presenter, has had a remarkable career but also faced personal heartache. The 42-year-old star, known for her time on Blue Peter and Countryfile, recently opened up about her 'very sad' split from ex-husband Richie Myler, which she 'didn't see coming'.
Who is Helen Skelton's famous ex-husband?
Helen married England national rugby league player Richie Myler in December 2013. The couple had three children together: Ernie, 11, Louis, nine, and Elsie, four, during their eight-year marriage. However, in April 2022, Helen confirmed their separation in an Instagram statement, writing: 'Very sad to say that Richie and I are no longer a couple. He has left the family home. We will be doing our best to co-parent our small children.'
In her autobiography, In My Stride, Helen shared the heartache she experienced: 'I was in shock. I know that following break-ups, people often say they didn't see it coming and it sounds like a cliche, but that was me.'
The presenter faced further pain when Richie began a relationship with marketing executive Stephanie Thirkill, who gave birth to their first child together in April 2023.
Romance rumours with Gethin Jones
Speculation has been rife about a potential romance between Helen and her Morning Live co-star Gethin Jones, but both have denied the claims. In December 2025, Helen clarified: 'We just work together, we are not together. No, no, no. We are just work friends. They printed pictures of us at work and that we're together because we are at work together.'
Gethin also addressed the rumours last year, telling The Sun: 'We are very supportive of each other, we like to look out for each other. I think that's fair to say on and off camera. You sometimes could get... you might need a little pep talk every now and then. Because she's very passionate.'
Helen currently presents BBC's Morning Live weekdays from the Salford studio alongside Gethin Jones, Greg Rutherford, and Michelle Ackerley. She also co-hosted Blue Peter from 2008 to 2013, has been a Countryfile fixture since 2014, and fronted two series of Holiday Hit Squad. In 2022, she finished second on Strictly Come Dancing with professional partner Gorka Márquez.
Morning Live airs weekdays on BBC One at 9.30am.
