Helen Skelton

Helen Skelton is a Blue Peter Presenter and former CBBC Newsround reader. Helen began her career at BBC Radio Cumbria where she worked as a breakfast show presenter before being asked to audition for Blue Peter. Helen is often called a ‘daredevil presenter’ and known for her willingness to take on extreme challenges, believing ‘impossible and difficult are different things’. In April 2009, Skelton became only the second woman ever to finish the 78-mile Namibian Ultra Marathon, completing the run in 23 hours and 45 minutes - just 15 minutes under the time limit of one day.

Helen is an avid supporter of Comic Relief and over the years has undergone many challenges. In early 2010, Skelton kayaked 2,010 miles down the Amazon River for Sport Relief achieving two Guinness world records: the longest solo journey by kayak, and the longest distance in a kayak in 24 hours by a woman.

In 2011 Skelton became the first person to high-wire walk between the chimneys of Battersea Power Station, in aid of Red Nose Day. The Blue Peter presenter took just 14 minutes to complete the 150 metre stretch of wire at a staggering 66 meters above the ground; earning her a new record for the highest wire walk by a female in the UK.