Helen Skelton

Helen Skelton is best known for presenting long-running CBBC show Blue Peter and BBC1’s Countryfile.

Graduating from Cumbria Institute of the Arts with a degree in journalism, she briefly worked in public relations before deciding to concentrate on journalism. She worked in the newsroom at CFM Radio before becoming a breakfast presenter on BBC Radio Cumbria in 2005, one of the youngest breakfast slot presenters on the BBC network at that time.

She was then a reporter and occasional presenter on children's news programme Newsround and its weekend sports-based version, Sportsround. Helen joined the Blue Peter team in the summer of 2008, as the 33rd presenter of the long running show. Until her departure five years later in 2013, Helen achieved some remarkable feats and made a name for herself as the team's all action girl.

Having grown up on a dairy farm in the Lake District, it was inevitable that Helen would return to her rural roots, reporting first for Country Tracks and the joining the Countryfile presenting team in 2014.

Prior to that, in 2009 she became only the second woman ever to complete the Namibia Ultra Marathon, and two weeks later she was back in her running shoes, taking part in the London Marathon for Leonard Cheshire Disability.

Helen has climbed out of a moulin on an Alaskan glacier, beaten a world power boat champion and come in 6th place in the UK Women's Downhill Skateboarding Championships. To say she is game is an understatement!

In 2010, Helen completed her most extreme challenge to date - Kayaking 2,010 miles down the Amazon in support of Sport Relief. Along the way she broke two Guinness World Records; the longest solo journey by kayak, and the longest kayak by a woman in 24 hours. A two-part Blue Peter special documenting her trip was shown in the run up to the Sport Relief weekend.

For Comic Relief 2011, Helen Skelton decided to train in the art of high wire walking and completed a spectacular 150 meter long, 66 meter high walk between the towers of Battersea Power Station. ‘Girl on Wire' was aired as a BBC1 special, and it led to her being nominated for Best Presenter at the 2011 Children's BAFTAs.

In late 2011 early 2012 Helen completed The Polar Challenge, in aid of Sport Relief 2012. The feat saw her tackling the icy and treacherous 500 mile Antarctica terrain to reach the South Pole, setting a new Guinness World Record title in the process, for the fastest 100km by kite ski.

Helen Skelton's other presenting credits include her covering the London Marathons in 2010 and 2011 as part of the BBC 5 Live team. Since then she has reported from the Epsom Derby and Wimbledon Championships for the station. During the two week tennis tournament she co-presented a daily podcast with Jeff Tarango for the 5 Live website, rounding up all the day's action both on and off court. Helen was also part of the BBC presenting team for the London 2012 Olympic coverage reporting live from the Olympic park and BMX track.

Previous corporate work has included her writing a feature for The Sunday telegraph sponsored by Range Rover, hosting the Tollymore National Outdoor Centre launch event, speaking at the Kendal Mountain Festival, delivering a presentation at the NHS Cumbria AGM, and working with Bupa Team Telegraph when she captained and mentored three ‘Team Telegraph' members to run the 2010 Bupa Great North and South Runs.

Helen Skelton’s experiences and determination are an inspiration to others, which make her perfect for motivational and after dinner speaking.

She is available for a variety of corporate engagements from awards hosting and presenting to motivational and after dinner speaking.

Helen can speak about her inspirational Amazon adventure and other exploits for a variety of audiences, tailoring her speech for each client.

Clients often ask about purchasing books for giveaways and delegate packs. Below you’ll find a selection of products by Helen Skelton. Click the images to view on Amazon's website. For bulk orders, please speak with your Booking Agent.