Dan Walker defends Helen Skelton quitting BBC radio show after outcry from fans

DAN Walker has defended Helen Skelton after she quit her BBC radio show - prompting an outcry from fans.

Helen, 40, became emotional on Sunday as she revealed she was stepping down from her Radio 5 Live show, just a year after joining.

The move came just days after she came under fire from bosses after tagging her show Instagram posts with brand mentions.

Now Dan - who has been working with Helen on their new travel series Dan & Helen’s Pennine Adventure - has came to her defence.

Speaking on today's Jeremy Vine show, Dan, 46, said: "She is a great Mum. She is an incredibly dedicated mum to her three children and she would say if she were here this morning – she’s not , she is with her kids this morning - she would say that parents are making compromises all the time.

"Of her three children, two of them play football on a Sunday morning and she’s made the decision practically she would much rather watch them play football and encourage them to do that than be on the radio at that time.

"And I think that is a decision that parents are making all the time."

He continued: "And anyone who ever spends any time with Helen or watches her on her programmes, all she does is speak about her kids.

"She’s a brilliant mum and when we were filming the show, we made sure that we did it around both of our families as well - as parents have to do all the time.

"I hope she is not getting any flak for it ‘coz she is lovely to spend time with, lovely to work with.”

Speaking to co-host Lloyd Griffith, former Strictly star Helen said: "You're emotional because I'm leaving.

"I am not alright about it but, you know, needs must. The juggle is real."

Former Countryfile host Helen insisted she was leaving to spend more time with her three kids, Ernie, eight, Louis, five, and Elsie, one.

She added: "I've loved every minute of the past year.

"Thank you to all the team and thank you to all of you. Its hard to know what to say without getting emotional!"