Helen Skelton’s estranged husband Richie Myler gushes about girlfriend amid star’s Strictly triumph

Helen Skelton's estranged husband Richie Myler gushed about girlfriend Stephanie Thirkill after the Countryfile presenter's triumphant Strictly Come Dancing debut.

Skelton and her professional partner Gorka Marquez scored 26 points on the BBC programme, which kicked off its first live show on Saturday.

But, once the ballroom show ended, Myler broke his silence and took to instagram to boast about his new love Thirkill, who he called “family”.

The rugby player, 32, first re-posted a selfie taken by Thirkill pitch-side after his final Leeds Rhinos game of the rugby-league season.

She captioned it: “Wasn’t a win but couldn't be more proud of this one.

“Grand Final at Old Trafford and a great game for you. Love you so much @richiemyler.”

He replied: “Love you.”

Myler then posted a snap of himself with Thirkill and her family to his Instagram Stories and gushed: “Finished this season as a family,” beside a drawing of a heart.

The sports player shares sons Ernie, six, Louis, five, and daughter Elsie Kate, eight months, with Skelton.

He ended his eight-year marriage to the 39-year-old presenter in April - just four months after she gave birth to their third child.

He struck up a romance with Thirkill, 32 - the daughter of Leeds Rhinos president Andrew Thirkill, who is one of the richest businessmen in Leeds and is worth an estimated £175 million - shortly after.

The pair's relationship came to light in May, days after it was announced that his marriage was over.

Myler also wasted no time in showing off the new romance, posting an image on Instagram of him with Thirkill at Wimbledon in June.

Skelton was said to have felt blindsided by the split, with a source telling MailOnline: "Helen is absolutely devastated.

“Now she is contemplating life without him while he has moved on with his new partner.

“Richie is insisting there was no crossover, that he began the romance with Stephanie after their marriage collapsed, but Helen feels let down. They are still married, and their baby is literally four months old.

"She thought their marriage was safe and secure, and is totally shocked by what's happened.”

Skelton, who is a former Blue Peter star, confirmed their break-up on Instagram at the time, writing: "Very sad to say that Richie and I are no longer a couple. He has left the family home.

“We will be doing our best to co-parent our small children.”

The presenter put her marital troubles behind her as she hit the Strictly dance floor on Saturday to perform an American Smooth to You Send Me by Aretha Franklin, to praise from the judges.

Craig Revel-Horwood said: “Love the energy and you do have elegance, darling.” Anton Du Beke added: "Brilliant line, when you do lines it's gorgeous. Own it! Own the dance. Just believe in yourself a little bit more because, when you do, it's brilliant.”

While head judge Shirley Ballas gushed: “You weren’t too fast, you weren't too slow. The beginning was divine, the arms were love. Well done.”