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Simon Duke & Victoria Scheer

Strictly's Helen Skelton's 'snub' to Gorka Marquez picked up by mic during live show

Strictly Come Dancing star Helen Skelton fired a cheeky "snub" at her dance partner Gorka Márquez during their performance in Blackpool on Saturday.

Blue Peter and Countryfile presenter Helen impressed judges with a quickstep to Valerie by Amy Winehouse. The routine gave a nod to Grease as Helen dressed in a pink and black petticoat dress and Gorka donned a leather jacket.

The duo came a close second with 39 points after Fleur East secured the first perfect 40 with her partner Vito Coppola. Helen and Gorka are still ranked among bookies' favourites to win this year's glitterball trophy.

Read more: Leeds restaurant to feature in new ITV drama Platform 7 as it shuts for filming

After Saturday's dazzling performance, notoriously hard to please judge Craig Revel Horwood was booed for not doing what all his colleague did and awarding them a 10, ChronicleLive reports. Shirley Ballas even challenged him on his criticism.

Helen and Gorka, just like all their ballroom rivals, featured in a video of "overheard" moments shared by the show's official Twitter account on Tuesday. The "secret" mic moments allow fans a chance to hear comments made between the remaining couples that they don't get to witness on the live show.

Helen Skelton and Gorka Márquez impressed the audience and judges on Saturday (BBC)

One of the latest clips includes Helen's "snub" to Gorka as she got into character at the start of their dance on Saturday. Standing with female backing dancers, Helen shot a look at her pro partner and quipped: "He wishes!" before getting on with the performance.

It comes after Kiss FM DJ Tyler West became the eighth celebrity to be sent packing after facing actress and singer Molly Rainford and her partner Carlos Gu in the dreaded dance-off. Helen and Gorka made it through another week, and took to Instagram thank the dancers who performed with them as well as fans.

The duo wrote: "Thank you for being on this crazy adventure with us! Thank you for getting us to Blackpool and beyond."

A Strictly spokesperson confirmed yesterday, November 22, that ex-Coronation Street actress Kym Marsh and her professional dance partner Graziano Di Prima were forced to pull out of this week's show. This is due to the mum-of-four testing positive for Covid-19.

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