Strictly Come Dancing star Jayde Adam has clapped back at an article written by a former professional dancer on the show about Helen Skelton. Comedian Jayde appeared on the 2022 series of the BBC dance contest alongside Karen Hauer.
The pair were one of two same-sex couples on the 20th run of the hit competition alongside Richie Anderson and Giovanni Pernice. But Jayde and Karen were eliminated in week four after losing the dance-off to Molly Rainford and Carlos Gu.
However, her exit from the show, which comes to an end this Saturday (December 17) after three months, doesn't mean she hasn't been supporting her former co-stars and her latest Twitter message shows just that.
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Jayde was responding to a column written by former Strictly champ Joanne Clifton who said Helen's journey in the dance contest was "like no other". Joanne, who won the show alongside Ore Oduba and is also the brother of another former Strictly star Kevin Clifton, went on to write of the Countryfile star: "The comparison from the beginning until now is indescribable.
"The confidence from musicals week needs to stay. The joy of Blackpool needs to stay. If she has a slower dance, the beautiful softness needs to stay. Watch the dances back, reimagine the feelings you had with them, and bring it all back onto that floor."
But when the article was shared in a tweet, Jayde was quick to respond and point out many of former Blue Peter host Helen's achievements way before she made it to the Strictly final.
"Before #Strictly Helen was the 2nd woman only, to finish 78-mile Namibian ultra marathon 23h 45. Kayaked the Amazon, tightroped 150m over Battersea Power Station, cycled to the South Pole, TV, radio, sports career & had 3 babies one she birthed herself," she typed before adding: "Not confident? HAHAHAHA."
However, not everyone agreed with Jayde's comments. @SheepieSinger said: "Those things she did for a reason - charity, Blue Peter, because she was asked/dared/challenged. Dancing live on #Strictly each week is much more self exposing, and an entirely different ball game. I absolutely get why people talk of her growing self confidence. #HelenToWin."
To which Jayde replied: "Helen, like Hamza. Is stoic. Yet Hamza is ‘humble’ and Helen ‘lacks confidence.’ I’ve spent time with Helen, and I know this description is entirely false. I’m just wanting to change these unfair narratives around the women on Strictly. I could point out so many imbalances."
While @jolawrence11 wrote: "She has never shied away from a challenge but confidence is not a constant. She lost her sparkle for a while there and found it again and now she shines. It’s something wonderful to see."
As Jayde responded: "I’ve spent major time with Helen, she’s been consistently happy, smiley and working hard." She also said: "No one ever talks about Hamza’s confidence," in response to another message.
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