Take Five with… Blue Peter presenter Helen Skelton
Blue Peter’s Big Olympic Tour is one of the star attractions at the Mayor’s Newham Show on Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 July at Central Park, E6, where the team will be broadcasting live. Blue Peter presenters are household names. How does it feel to be a part of something like that? Cheesy as it sounds I can honestly say I feel really privileged to be a part of the show. My job is amazing and I love taking part in the challenges and activities. Do people stop you in the street or supermarket? People are genuinely interested in the challenges I do and I get kids and parents stopping to ask me about them, which is great. I spend a lot of my spare time training and travelling for new challenges though, so it happens less than you might think. What’s the most exciting thing you’ve done? Trekking to the South Pole was amazing, it was such an incredible feeling when I completed it. Overall, I think the Namibian Ultramarathon was my most exciting film, though no one, including me, thought I would make it.
What advice would you give for someone who wants to become a TV presenter? Education is important. I trained as a journalist before I became a presenter and this has stood me in really good stead. Work experience is important too, it makes you useful in the workplace.
“ Education is important. Work experience is important too, it makes you useful in the workplace.” What are you looking forward to about the Games? The most exciting thing for me personally is being a part of the Olympic Torch tour. The atmosphere is electric as we’re broadcasting live from each of the events. Plus, each week Barney and I take on Brendan Cole, Adele Silva, Laura Wright and Romeo in a series of challenges with a gold medal at stake at the end of the series. Were you sporty at school? I grew up on a farm so we were always outside playing games. I was one of those kids who tried everything and made the team because I was eager rather than any good though. Turn to page 20 for details of Blue Peter’s Big Olympic Tour.
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