BBC Breakfast’s Sally Nugent rescued by Helen Skelton’s dad after crazed fan tries to pick her up
Helen Skelton has revealed how her dad rescued BBC Breakfast’s Sally Nugent from a crazed fan.
The Countryfile presenter’s heroic dad warned the man off, telling him ‘that’s enough’ during the 2013 BBC Sports Personality Awards.
BBC Breakfast host Sally Nugent was once helped by Helen Skelton‘s dad, Richard, during an awkward encounter with a fan who pestered her at the award show.
During a sit down with Zoe Ball on her BBC Radio 2 Breakfast show, Helen briefly discussed the time when her dad became an “inadvertent security guard” for the 52-year-old presenter, which the latter seemed grateful for but said was a “story for another day”.
Helen began: “So years ago, it was 2013, and it was the Sports Personality Awards.
“Sally Nugent is obviously a stunning lady, she has an army of admirers.
“Let’s just say one bloke was getting too familiar, and he kept trying to have a picture and pick her up.
“And my lovely stoic dad stepped in and basically said, ‘I think that’s enough’, and I think ever since that moment, my dad has been an inadvertent security guard.”
Before the 40-year-old started to replay the incident, she was gushing about how supportive her parents had been, particularly during recent times.
After her split from long-term husband Richie Myler, she signed up for Strictly Come Dancing last year and made it to the final with dancing partner Gorka Marquez.
Helen shares three children with her ex-partner, who now has a baby daughter with a new woman.
Speaking to Sally and Jon Kay on the BBC Breakfast Show, the TV star said she needed something “all-consuming” at the time and that the dancing competition was the perfect distraction.
She said: “I went into it at a time when I needed something to be really noisy and all-consuming, and that’s what Strictly was.”
The presenter then praised the Strictly team, from the professional dancers, make-up team and the judges.
The BBC presenter continued: “What a wonderful opportunity to be dropped into something so all-consumingly brilliantly, distracting and fun.
“It was the best time with the best people.”
Helen has recently stepped down from her BBC Radio 5 Live show and told fans “the juggle is real” as a working mum.
At the time of her exit, she thanked everyone involved and said: “That’s it for me on Sundays for now. Thank you for your company over the last year, I’ve loved every minute of our time together on this show…
“Thank you to all of the team, thank you to all of you. Maybe we’ll meet again soon. It’s hard to know what to say without getting emotional.”
BBC Breakfast airs weekdays from 6am on BBC One.