TV star Helen Skelton has opened up about an unexpected chapter in her love life – a blind date with former rugby player and I’m A Celeb star James Haskell.
Although Helen, now 42, is known for her roles on Strictly Come Dancing, Morning Live, and Yorkshire Great and Small, her romantic past recently resurfaced after fans remembered the surprising connection she once had with Haskell.
The pair’s date happened back in 2010, long before Helen married rugby league player Richie Myler and James wed fitness expert Chloe Madeley.
In a candid feature for The Guardian at the time, Helen described her first impression of James as being “huge – so wide! But in a good way,” while James said Helen was “very funny” and “a really pretty girl.”
The dinner date was far from dull. “We talked a lot – the waitress couldn’t get a word in,” Helen shared. Their conversations ranged from pets to James’ life in Paris. They bonded so well that they stayed at the restaurant until midnight.
Helen fondly recalled that they even kissed, and she was open to seeing him again: “He’s fit, he made me laugh, and it was good banter. We kissed. I think if we were both in the same country for more than five minutes, we’d go out and have a laugh.”
James echoed her thoughts, describing her as his “perfect girl in some respects” and praising her “immaculate table manners” – as well as her habit of not finishing her meal, which meant more food for him.
Ultimately, their romantic connection didn’t blossom into a relationship. In 2011, Helen met Richie Myler and they tied the knot in 2013. They had three children – Ernie, Louis, and Elsie – before parting ways in 2022.
As for James, he began dating Chloe Madeley in 2014 and they wed in 2018, but also split in 2023.
Now, with Helen celebrating her 42nd birthday, this nostalgic date tale has fans wondering: what could have been?
