Helen Elizabeth Skelton was born 19 July 1983 in Carlisle, Cumbria, England, and grew up on a dairy farm in the nearby village of Kirkby Thore. Her parents are Richard Skelton and Janet Skelton, and she has an older brother, Gavin Skelton, a former professional footballer.

She attended Kirkby Thore Primary School and later Appleby Grammar School before studying journalism at the Cumbria Institute of the Arts (now the University of Cumbria). During her studies she gained media experience and later worked in radio.

Skelton began her career in broadcasting with CFM Radio and later became a presenter on BBC Radio Cumbria. Her television breakthrough came in 2008 when she joined BBC children’s programme Blue Peter, where she remained a presenter until 2013.

After leaving Blue Peter, she presented various BBC programmes including BBC One’s Countryfile and daytime show Morning Live. She also worked as a sports presenter covering major events such as Wimbledon and the Olympic Games. Skelton currently balances her TV career with raising her children and often spends time at her family’s farm in Cumbria.