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Moment darts ace Ross Montgomery ‘gropes’ Helen Skelton on live TV… and calls it an ‘innocent slap on the bum’
TV host Helen Skelton has claimed she was “groped” by a darts ace live on TV.
The 34-year-old Countryfile star, who was pregnant at the time, said her bottom was grabbed at a major tournament in 2015.
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It later emerged the incident happened as she interviewed Scottish star Ross Montgomery for BT Sport.
A video posted online seems to show the presenter flinch after Montgomery pats her rear.
The player nicknamed The Boss had just won a British Darts Organisation World Darts championship match at the Lakeside Country Club in Frimley Green, Surrey.
The Sun can reveal that Helen confronted him once the cameras stopped rolling and told him it was unacceptable.
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She went on to file an official complaint with her employers who then raised it with Montgomery’s bosses at the BDO.
A pal of the presenter said: “She was very angry about it at the time.
"She immediately told Ross it was unacceptable, confronting him straight away.
"He said it was just a joke but she raised it with BT, who complained to the BDO on her behalf.
“She deemed the matter dealt with and is mortified it’s all come up again.
"She thinks that had he just kept his head down no one would have spoken about it again.
“But he spoke out and now everyone knows it’s him responsible.”
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Montgomery, 55, said he was spoken to and apologised to Helen at the time.
He told The Sun: “There was nothing sexual intended.
"I think ‘groping’ is too strong a word, but I was in the wrong and I put my hand up to that.
“I’d just finished what was probably the best game of my life.
"I came off the stage and she approached me for an interview.
“I patted her backside while she was hugging me.
"I was spoken to about it and apologised right after.
“She wasn’t happy but accepted my apology and we all moved on.”
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Montgomery’s wife Dorothy backed her husband, saying: “It’s a bit extreme to say it was groping.
“I respect everyone’s rights but it’s absolutely out of order for people to make such a big deal out of it.
"It was just an in-the-moment thing when he was coming off stage after a big match. It’s a split second thing.
“He’s put his hands around her and it’s a bit lower than probably it should have been, but it’s not a big incident.
“For something to come out three years later is a bit shocking.”
In addition to Countryfile on BBC One, mum-of-two Helen, who is married to Leeds rugby league star Richie Myler, fronts the Beeb’s swimming coverage and has previously worked on Blue Peter.
She did not name Montgomery when she spoke about the incident to The Telegraph.
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Helen said: “Basically, this guy grabbed me on the a*** when I was presenting live telly.
“I felt really awkward about it. I was pregnant as well.
"I didn’t really know what to do. It’s intimidating and you don’t want to be the person who is being difficult and awkward.
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