Helen Skelton has revealed that her son played a Strictly Come Dancing-themed prank on teachers at school last week.

The television presenter, who is partnered with professional dancer Gorka Márquez on the current series, revealed to co-host Claudia Winkleman on Saturday's results show that her 5-year-old son Louis has been telling people that he had been dropped off at school for the day by two Strictly judges.

preview for Anton du Beke talking on replacing Len Goodman on Dancing with the Stars

"He [Louis] got dropped off in a taxi once and they asked, 'Who's in there?'" Helen told Claudia.

"He maintained the lie all day that Craig [Revel Horwood] and Shirley [Ballas] had dropped him off."

strictly judges hold their 10 scoring paddles during blackpool special
Guy Levy//BBC

Related: Strictly Come Dancing's Darcey Bussell explains why she quit as a judge

"They all believed him. You don't like to question a 5-year-old, do you? So he stuck with it and we went with it," she continued, to the amusement of Claudia, Gorka and co-stars Will Mellor and Nancy Xu.

Helen recalled the story after it was announced that she and Gorka had made it through to next week's semi-final, which will see each couple perform an additional dance as they seek to reach the showpiece final on December 17.

She will be competing against Will Mellor, Hamza Yassin, Fleur East and Molly Rainford, who prevailed over Kym Marsh in the dance-off.

helen skelton, gorka marquez, strictly come dancing 2022
BBC

Related: Ellie Taylor reveals who she'd like to win Strictly Come Dancing

Waterloo Road actress Kym, who made her return to the dancefloor following a week off due to illness, paid tribute to partner Graziano Di Prima in a heartfelt Instagram post following her elimination.

"My husband, my son, my daughter, their partners, my parents, my siblings, I could not have got through this without them, I love you my beautiful family!" she wrote.

"Graziano you are now an honorary Marsh!!" former Coronation Street star Kym added. "We love you. Thank you for the fun, the laughter and thank you for showing me that I am stronger than I think! Love you!!"

Graziano followed suit with an emotional post, describing Kym as a "warrior" and saying he had found a "friend for life".

For one week only, Strictly Come Dancing airs on Sunday (December 11) at 7.15pm on BBC One, with a results show on Monday (December 12). Spin-off show Strictly: It Takes Two airs on weeknights on BBC Two. Both shows also stream on BBC iPlayer.

Interested in talking about Strictly Come Dancing? Visit our dedicated sub-forum

Jojo: Finally Home by Johannes Radebe
Jojo: Finally Home by Johannes Radebe
Pre-Order Now
Credit: Hodder & Stoughton
Finding My Own Rhythm: My Story by Motsi Mabuse
Finding My Own Rhythm: My Story by Motsi Mabuse
Credit: Ebury Spotlight
Murder on the Dance Floor by Shirley Ballas
Murder on the Dance Floor by Shirley Ballas
Credit: HQ
Strictly Come Dancing - Motsi & Anton's Strictly The Best [DVD] [2021]
Strictly Come Dancing - Motsi & Anton's Strictly The Best [DVD] [2021]
Strictly Come Dancing: Shirley and Craig's Perfect 10 [DVD]
Strictly Come Dancing: Shirley and Craig's Perfect 10 [DVD]
Strictly Come Dancing: The Board Game
Strictly Come Dancing: The Board Game
Credit: BBC/John Adams
Strictly Ola: My Story by Ola Jordan
Strictly Ola: My Story by Ola Jordan
Credit: SJH Group
Better Late Than Never: From Barrow Boy to Ballroom by Len Goodman
Better Late Than Never: From Barrow Boy to Ballroom by Len Goodman
Credit: Ebury Press
Lettermark
George Lewis

Reporter, Digital Spy George is a freelance writer who specialises in Movies and TV. After graduating with a degree in Film Studies and Journalism from De Montfort University, in which he analysed the early works of Richard Linklater for his dissertation, he wrote for several websites for GRV Media.  His film tastes vary from blockbusters like Mission: Impossible and John Wick to international directors such as Paolo Sorrentino and Hirokazu Kore-eda, and has attended both the London and Berlin film festivals.