Helen Skelton was all smiles at a book signing for her new autobiography in Yorkshire on Wednesday.
The former Blue Peter presenter, 40, seemed to be in high spirits after it was revealed she would be joining the new line-up at BBC Morning Live.
She wore a bright yellow high-neck jumper to reflect her sunny mood at the signing at Cannon Hall Farm in Yorkshire, where she is filming Winter On The Farm for Channel 5.
The TV star styled her blonde locks with a side parting as she got ready to greet her fans.
Helen released her new autobiography In My Stride in October, in which she opened up about her love life, including her difficult split from Richie Myler.
Helen Skelton was all smiles at a book signing for her new autobiography in Yorkshire on Wednesday
She wore a bright yellow high-neck jumper to reflect her sunny mood at the signing at Cannon Hall Farm in Yorkshire
The tell-all book opens up about her life, from Blue Peter to joining the cast of Strictly Come Dancing in 2022.
According to The Sun, she writes: ‘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.’
She recently stepped down from her presenting role on BBC Radio 5 Live to spend more time with her three children.
But just three months later, Helen Skelton has landed a more family-friendly role as a new permanent host of BBC One’s Morning Live, which will be going head-to-head with This Morning in a new, extended time slot.
Morning Live will now overlap with beleaguered This Morning, which starts at 10am, by 45 minutes, making it a direct rival for the first time. It used to end at 10:00am, just before This Morning started.
The ITV daytime show is also set to revamp in January with new presenters after Holly Willoughby announced her shock departure in October.
Former Countryfile star Skelton has three children with her ex-husband Richie Myler – Ernie, eight, Louis, six, and Elsie, 20 months – and has been announced as one of the main faces of the revamped mid-morning magazine show, alongside Michelle Ackerley and Gethin Jones.
Helen released her new autobiography In My Stride in October
Helen Skelton has landed a permanent role on BBC Morning Live after stepping down from her Radio 5 show to spend more time with her children
The former Countryfile star, 40, has three children with her ex-husband Richie Myler – Ernie, eight, Louis, six, and Elsie, 20 months
She will present the show from Monday-Wednesday every week as of January as part of its new extended format, which will see it broadcast for 75 minutes instead of the previous 45.
This means it will now be on air for longer than ITV rival Lorraine, broadcasting from 9.30am-10.45am every weekday, compared to Lorraine’s hour slot from 9am-10am.
The BBC show, which also counts Sara Cox, Kimberley Walsh, Gaby Roslin and Rav Wilding as regular guest presenters, has been a hit in the ratings and regularly beats its competitor.
Skelton announced her shock departure from her Sunday morning radio show in August due to being unable to ‘juggle’ it with being a single parent.
The new role, consisting of weekday mornings, is likely to be more manageable for the presenter as her two oldest children will be at school.
‘I am so excited to become a more regular member of the Morning Live family, and be in such good company,’ she said.
‘It’s really nice to be part of a programme giving so many people a voice. Everything we talk about on the show is what my friends and family are texting me about, we’re right at the heart of what matters to people right now.
‘We’re not just highlighting problems though, we’re finding solutions and I love that we’re able to help in some small way.
Skelton will present the show with Gethin Jones from Monday-Wednesday every week in rotation with Michelle Ackerley as of January as part of its new extended format
The Morning Live Team is now (L-R) Kym Marsh, Gabby Roslin, Michelle, Gethin, Helen, Sara Cox, Rav Wilding, Kimberley Walsh
‘It’s stuff you need to know but also stuff that’s nice to know, and even when I’m not hosting, I’m sat at home with a cuppa taking it all in. I can’t wait for January.’
Emma Morris, Morning Live’s Executive Editor, said: ‘Helen and Michelle have been a huge hit with audiences as guest co-hosts since September and are both a joy to work with, so we are thrilled they will now become a permanent part of the team, alongside Gethin.’
Skelton, who rose to fame on Blue Peter and then Countryfile, competed in last year’s Strictly Come Dancing just months after she announced her marriage was over.
Her rugby player ex-husband was later revealed to be in a relationship with Stephanie Thirkil and they had a baby in April 2023, just a year after his split from Ms Skelton.
Myler has since accused Skelton of ‘dragging her heels over divorce proceedings’ and ‘preventing him from moving forward with his life.’
Just weeks after Skelton announced her departure from BBC Radio 5 Live, Countryfile’s Ellie Harrison, 46, announced that she was leaving the show to focus on raising her children.
Claudia Winkleman, 51, has also now quit her BBC Radio 2 Saturday morning show to spend more time with her children.
She said: ‘The truth is my children are growing up inordinately fast so I have decided to follow them around at home before they leave for good.’
Skelton and Ackerley will begin their rotations as permanent BBC Morning Live hosts from January 2, alternating alongside Mr Jones every Monday to Wednesday.
Jones will continue to present four to five shows a week and Kym Marsh will present on Thursdays.
Skelton and husband Richie Myler separated in April 2022 and shortly afterwards the rugby league ace started a new romance with Stephanie Thirkill (pictured together)
