Dan Walker has defended Helen Skelton after she quit her BBC Radio 5 Live show.
The former Countryfile presenter, 40, made the emotional announcement live on air on Sunday (August 13) and revealed the decision to leave after just one year came from wanting to spend more time with her children.
Dan and Helen have been close pals for several years and are now fronting a new travel show together, Dan & Helen’s Pennine Adventure.
READ MORE: Helen Skelton strips to tiny bikini for hot tub dip in new series with close pal
During an appearance on the Jeremy Vine Show, Dan discussed their upcoming project and also addressed Helen’s recent exit.
(Image: @helenskelton/Instagram)
The former BBC Breakfast presenter branded his co-star an “incredibly dedicated mum,” adding: “Of her three children, two of them play football on a Sunday morning and she’s made the decision practically she would much rather watch them play football and encourage them to do that than be on the radio at that time.
“And I think that is a decision that parents are making all the time.”
The Channel 5 star continued: “And anyone who ever spends any time with Helen or watches her on her programmes, all she does is speak about her kids.
“She’s a brilliant Mum and when we were filming the show, we made sure that we did it around both of our families as well – as parents have to do all the time.
(Image: Instagram)
“I hope she is not getting any flak for it ‘coz she is lovely to spend time with, lovely to work with.”
Explaining her decision to leave, Helen admitted she found it difficult juggling the job with being a single mum to her three children, following her split from Richie Myler last year.
As her show came to a close, she told listeners: “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.”
Helen’s exit came shortly after she came under fire from the BBC after plugging brands on Morning Live.
(Image: James Veysey/REX/Shutterstock)
The Strictly Come Dancing star broke strict guidelines after sharing a snap on Instagram from inside the Salford studio which featured fashion and jewellery brand tags.
BBC guidelines state that “no on-air talent should promote products, goods, services or clothing they use”.
A BBC spokesman said: “Helen pays for the clothes she wears on the show and does not have relationships with the brands tagged. She has now removed brand mentions from social posts linked to the programme.”
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
