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Helen Skelton is a popular TV presenter, radio broadcaster, actress, and author, best known for presenting Blue Peter (2008-2013) and Countryfile (2008-present),
Helen has participated in a range of challenges and endeavours for charities close to her heart. In 2009 she became the second woman ever to finish the 78-mile Namibian ultra marathon, achieving it in 23 hours and 45 minutes. She has also competed in the London Marathon on a number of occasions.
Helen is popular in the corporate world, and has worked with brands including Argos, Go Outdoors, Lloyds Bank, Smart Energy GB, Victoria Plum, and Warburton.
Contact Great British Speakers today to book TV Presenter Helen Skelton for your next event.
Helen Skelton’s career in media started at University whilst studying for a degree in journalism; she worked as an extra on Coronation Street (1999), and Cutting It (1999). This would be the last acting she would do on screen, until 2023 when she started doing voice work for children’s favourite Fireman Sam.
MEDIA
Helen first worked in the newsroom at CFM Radio, before becoming a breakfast presenter on BBC Radio Cumbria in 2005. She quickly became a favourite, and would star as a guest presenter for Newsround (2007-08) and Sportsround (2008).
Her big break came in 2008 when she became one of the presenters of long-running show Blue Peter (2008-13). Since then, Helen has built up an impressive portfolio of presenting credits, including Countryfile (2008-present), Country Tracks (2009-11), Holiday Hit Squad (2013-14), The Instant Gardener (2015-present), Tonight (2016; 2018), The School That Got Teens Reading (2016), Lorraine (2016-17), Walks With My Dog (2017), Big Week at the Zoo (2018), Digging up Britain’s Past (2019), Luxury Christmas For Less (2020), Steph’s Packed Lunch (2021), Summer on the Farm (2021-present), Inside the Superbrands (2022), Morning Live (2023-present), Dan and Helen’s Pennine Adventure (2023), and Lost and Found in the Lakes (2024).
She has presented a number of sports coverage, including at Wimbledon, the London Marathon, European Swimming Championships, Super League Football, the 2012 Olympics, World Aquatics Championships, and Super League Rugby. Through her sporting gigs, she has co-presented with former swimmers Mark Foster and Rebecca Adlington.
Helen has guest starred on programmes such as Countdown (2013), and The One Show (2023), and took part in Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins (2020), and Strictly Come Dancing (2022) – finishing as runner-up.
She is also a proficient author, with a number of books to her name:
– Amy Wild: Amazon Summer (2015)
– Wild Girl: How to Have Incredible Outdoor Adventures (2019)
– In My Stride (2023)
CHARITY
In 2010, Helen kayaked the length of the Amazon River for Sport Relief, breaking two Guinness World Records in the process – the longest solo journey by kayak, and the longest distance in a kayak in 24 hours by a woman. In 2012, she once again took part in a challenge for Sport Relief, becoming the first person to reach the South Pole using a bike. In 2018 she took part in a celebrity boxing match – which she won – against Camilla Thurlow
For Comic Relief 2011, she walked a 150-metre tightrope between the Battersea Power Station’s chimneys, 66 metres above the ground. Two years later, she upped the ante, taking on seven challenges, known as the “magnificent 7”. These challenges included rugby, performing in two shows in one night, a phot shoot, a rope bridge, flying with the red arrows, a coin toss, and the longest line of bunting.
She has also worked on charity campaigns for MIND’s “Hats on for Mind” campaign where she designed her own hat and flash; Cumberland’s Kinder Kind of Kitchen Initiative; and the Victoria Plum Community Foundation.