Our Helen is new face of Blue Peter

By Steph Johnson

Last updated 15:55, Thursday, 28 August 2008

CUMBRIAN Helen Skelton is the new Blue Peter presenter.

New star of children’s favourite: Former Radio Cumbria presenter Helen Skelton has been keeping her news secret for two months. She had to swear her proud mum and dad to secrecy

The former Radio Cumbria breakfast presenter has been keeping her news secret for the last two months.

She had to swear her proud mum and dad to secrecy but was able to tell the News & Star her good news this morning.

A delighted Helen, from Kirkby Thore, has just got back from filming the long running show’s annual summer trip.

She said: “It’s all been a been a bit of a whirlwind. I found out three weeks before we went to Alaska and was working on Newsround up until the day we went.

“My mum has wanted to tell everyone about it for so long but wasn’t allowed so she’s been biting her lip. People have obviously been asking where I am and she’s just been saying that I was away.”

Four weeks in the wilderness proved an eye opener for Helen, who had thought she was in for an easy initiation.

“It was really full-on. Having watched it I thought it would be a walk in the park, go to amazing places, do a few pieces to camera but it wasn’t like that at all, it was so extreme.”

“I like to think I’m not a girly girl. Then I did ice climbing and I was so scared I was nearly crying, that’s not like me. My friends were saying I must have been putting it on for the camera but I wasn’t, it was real.”

Helen, 24, will make her first appearance on the BBC1 children’s programme on September 23.