IT’S movie night this weekend on Strictly… and Helen Skelton could well be taking inspiration from The First Wive’s Club and its motto: “Don’t get mad, get everything.”
The 1996 film starring Goldie Hawn, Bette Midler and Diane Keaton was all about strong women getting their own back on men who scorned them.
That’s just what fans of Helen are encouraging her to do - channel all her energy into scooping the Glitterball in a bid to make her estranged husband, Richie Myler, jealous.
The Countryfile presenter has been swamped with messages on Twitter including one which said: “I hope Helen Skelton’s awful husband watched that and realised what he’s lost.”
Another pointed out that she made a sensational debut on Strictly on the same day that Richie’s rugby team, Leeds Rhinos, were beaten in the Super League Grand Final.
Someone Tweeted: “I love that she was killing it tonight her ex was getting beat.”
Scrum half Richie left Helen, with whom he has three children, earlier this year and is now in a relationship with Stephanie Thirkill, who is six years younger than her.
She had hired a private investigator to watch her husband as she became increasingly suspicious about his behaviour.
A TV insider said: “It would be virtually impossible for Helen not to have notice the huge wave of support she’s received from people online.
“They are enjoying her showing her ex what he’s missing and encouraging her to go all the way in the ultimate act of revenge.
“It will come as a huge boost to her in a year which must have felt to her like she was trapped in the plot of a movie herself.”
For her dance with hunky Gorka Marquez on Saturday’s show she’ll be turning to another classic film, Grease. But it’s a surprising choice as they’ll perform a Viennese Waltz to the sound of Hopelessly Devoted to You by the late, great Olivia Newton-John.
Just as well….Helen’s ex might have completely lost it if saw her shimmying in black spandex to You’re the One That I Want.
9.6M DEFY VIEWERS’ DIP FEARS
THERE was no denying there was a notable dip in number of people watching Strictly’s first live show as it was broadcast last Saturday.
The programme was viewed by a peak of 7.3m on the night - compared to 8.4m on the same night in 2021.
But the drop was almost completely compensated for by fans watching Strictly on catch up, which is an increasingly popular way for dance devotees to follow the show.
When that was taken into account, the number of people who watched the first live show consolidated at 9.6m compared to last year’s figure of 9.7m.
I’m not sure the shortfall of 100,000 viewers will have the show’s producers worrying too much…
MOTSI IN HERE
HER AUTOBIOGRAPHY was only released a matter of weeks ago, but I can reveal that movie producers are already sniffing around Motsi Mabuse's book.
Simply titled My Story, it chronicles her rise from South Africa to Strictly, via a turbulent marriage and the fiercely competitive world of Ballroom Dancing.
Though anyone hoping it sees her dish the dirt on co-stars Craig Revel Horwood, Shirley Ballas and Anton Du Beke, will be disappointed.
If it does make it to the silver screen, I’m sure all three judges will feel relieved.
OLA LA
EX-STRICTLY star Ola Jordan is a show-stopper in a slinky scarlet dress for her 40th birthday bash.
The former pro dancer looked in great shape just weeks after sharing a pic of herself with husband James Jordan showing off their “mum and dad bods”.
The pair candidly admitted in August that they both wanted to slim down as it affected their sex lives.
Well, she was true to her word, telling fans: “Can’t quite believe I managed to get into this dress but hoping it’ll dis- tract from the number behind.
“Thanks so much to all of you gorgeous people who’ve been sending me happy birthday wishes.”
Over to you James…let’s see if you can get into the frock.
TONY IN FULL-ON ROUTINE
FOOTBALLER Tony Adams might just give the audience a shock when he struts onto the Strictly dancefloor on Saturday to the theme tune from Brit flick, The Full Monty.
The sound of Hot Chocolate's You Sexy Thing might just have the audience expecting him to strip off rather than dance this week.
But the Arsenal legend will be keeping his clothes on as he delivers a saucy samba with dance partner.
Meanwhile Richie Anderson and Giovanni Pernice will also be doing a samba, but they’ll be appearing as Timon and Pumbaa to Hakuna Matata from The Lion King.
Singer and DJ Fleur East will be serving up an American Smooth to the track, Part of Your World, from The Little Mermaid. She’ll be Ariel and partner Vito will be Prince Eric.
Jayde Adams will do a cha cha to What A Feeling from Flashdance with partner Karen Hauer.
And Will Mellor is playing Patrick Swayze's iconic role in Dirty Dancing with Nancy Xu as he does an American smooth to the sound of Cry to Me.
SU: I FEEL FOR YOU, ANTON
FORMER Strictly star Susannah Constantine says her underwhelming performance on the show left her feeling more sorry for Anton Du Beke.
He’s now a judge on the contest but back when the What Not to Wear style guru was on in 2018, he was her dance partner.
Speaking on the Walking The Dog podcast, she said: “It’s funny, you look up Wikipedia and it says ‘Anton’s worst score ever with Susannah Constantine…the only time he got knocked out first was with Susannah Constantine….the lowest score he got in X was with Susannah Constantine…’.
“I mean, what an extraordinary guy to go through that humiliation forced upon him by me.”
I’m sure he’d agree.