Helen Skelton has candidly spoken about the tough decision to leave what she called her “dream job” at the BBC. The 42-year-old presenter announced in 2023 that she would be stepping away from her Sunday show on BBC Radio 5 Live, a role she had held for just one year.
At the time, Helen explained to fans that balancing the demands of her career with raising her three children made the choice unavoidable. “The juggle is real,” she said, highlighting the challenges of working life alongside motherhood.
Following her 2022 split from rugby player Richie Myler, Helen found managing her busy work schedule alongside single parenting increasingly difficult. She admitted that while she was reluctant to leave, she also recognized that her eight-year-old child would be happier with her spending more time at home.
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Reflecting on her decision during a February interview on Kate Thornton’s White Wine Question Time podcast, Helen revealed the role had been “a dream job in a million and one ways.” She spoke fondly of her love for live radio and the privilege of working for the BBC, especially on a weekend sports show that perfectly suited her passions.
“It was a jackpot on every level,” she said, emphasizing how much she enjoyed working with talented colleagues she considered friends. The proximity of the job to her home was another major plus in her hectic schedule.
Despite the reluctance to leave, Helen acknowledged she had little alternative after her personal circumstances changed. She recalled that she hadn’t intended to make a public statement about her departure, but felt compelled when her co-worker raised the topic on air.
“We were like a little family, and it was really hard to walk away from something that felt so special,” she said.
Since then, Helen has become a regular host on BBC’s Morning Live, appearing Monday to Wednesday alongside presenters including Gethin Jones. She also continues to work on other shows like Countryfile, On the Farm, and Lost and Found in the Lakes.
Most recently, Helen has returned to screens in new episodes of Springtime on the Farm, a series that celebrates the vital work of agricultural workers across the UK.