I’m a body language expert – 5 damning messages Helen Skelton sent to cheating ex with sizzling Strictly performance

IT was the dance of the night on Friday for more reasons than one.

Helen Skelton and Gorka Marquez got 39 points for their incredible Couple’s Choice dance to Mein Herr from Cabaret, on this week's Strictly Come Dancing.

But body language expert Jo Hemmings has also revealed the Countryfile presenter sent her ex Richie Myler five messages throughout her performance, by “packing a number of boldly confident and independent messages into her moves”.

Helen's marriage to Richie broke down earlier this year, months after the birth of the youngest of their three children, and just before she began her Strictly journey.

The 39-year-old has openly admitted to struggling with her confidence in the early days of her time on Strictly, with things getting to her so much that she fled rehearsals through a fire exit in the run-up to the first live show.

However, since pro partner Gorka, 32, gave a very public display of support for her and the tough time she's had, she seems to have turned a corner, and has been constantly near the top of the leaderboard.

Jo reveals the five messages she sent to her ex with this dance…

The ‘revenge dress’

For her dance, Helen wore a tiny black dress to play Sally Bowles in Cabaret.

Jo says Helen’s sexy black dress was reminiscent of the LBD worn by Princess Diana after her split from King Charles.

“With echoes of Princess Diana’s ‘revenge dress’, Helen also wore a (very) little black number, cinched at the waist and making her look seriously hot,” Jo says.

“Leaving little to the imagination, she clearly wanted to exude confidence and sass, which she did brilliantly.”

Showing him what he’s missing

Helen performed loads of sexy moves during her performance, including the splits on top of Gorka’s back.

Jo says: “Her moves were equally suggestive.

“Showcasing her fit and flexible body, she not only danced while sitting on Gorka’s back - she also did the splits on top of him. 

“These are hot and sensual positions, oozing sex appeal and very possibly showing her ex just what he is missing.”

The middle finger

Jo notes how Helen chose one pertinent line, “Bye bye, mein lieber herr, It was a fine affair but now it’s over,” to make a dig at Richie.

The line means “bye bye, my dear man.”

And Jo notes: “She brushed her middle finger up against her cheek , in a not-so-veiled message to tell Richie where he can go.”

Ready to move on

Jo notes how every element of the dance worked together to tell everyone she was over her ex, who is now expecting a child with his new girlfriend.

She says: “Her almost-there burlesque outfit, her racy dancing, her sassy moves along with the full siren make-up, combined to create a self-assured, composed and assertive image.

“It was telling both her ex and any doubters out there that she is over her relationship and more than ready to move on.”

‘You’re better off without me’

On Strictly, the focus is always on the dancing, and contestants are actually often told off by the judges if they sing or mouth the words to the song.

But Helen managed to get away with miming one telling line in particular.

Jo says: “Although she is meant to dance only, rather than sing, she managed to mouth the line ‘You’re better off without me’ with smouldering eyes, direct into the camera. 

“No more direct message to her ex than that!”