Strictly Come Dancing star Helen Skelton was left 'blindsided' when her ex-husband found new love months after their split.

Revealing the shock for the first time, Skelton has shared that her appearance on Strictly helped her grieve the abrupt end to her marriage.

Helen, 40, a popular TV presenter on Countryfile, announced that she had split with Richie Myler, a player for Leeds Rhinos, in April last year.

Their separation came not long after the birth of their third child, Elsie.

Speaking about it on Instagram, Skelton said: "Very sad to say that Richie and I are no longer a couple.

"He has left the family home.

"We will be doing our best to co-parent our small children."

Myler, 34, began a relationship with Stephanie Thirkill, daughter of Leeds Rhinos' president Andrew Thirkill, just a few short months after the couple's rift.

In her new autobiography, In My Stride, Helen admits that she "still has questions" over the end of her marriage.

She credits her time on Strictly for helping her begin the process of healing.

However, she recalls how in one rehearsal during week two, her partner Gorka Marquez asked her why she did not feel sexy.

Skelton wrote: "Gorka asked me why I didn’t feel sexy.

"It was an awkward question that immediately made me cringe.

"He was asking a woman with three children under six, whose husband had just left her and was with another woman, TO BE SEXY.

"I thought, ‘Who would feel good about themselves in that scenario."

Despite the pain of the split and her estranged husband's new relationship, Skelton is reportedly dating again, a year after ending her marriage.

According to the Daily Mail, Helen was handed official divorce papers from Richie this week, with the ex-couple now awaiting the granting of the decree absolute.