DEPUTY Lieutenant for Cumbria Gerard Richardson MBE is urging all Cumbrian Strictly fans to get behind Helen Skelton with their votes this weekend.

This Saturday is the first week of voting and Gerard wants to ensure Helen feels the true warmth of the county.

Mr Richardson said: "Helen isn’t just our girl, she is a real star and I'm still ever so grateful for the support she gave us when we were getting the Maritime Festivals off the ground.

"It's been lovely to see her career take off so remarkably over the years. 

"I'm sure some folk will see this as frivolous but to be honest, the news is full of dismal reading about the cost of living and the threat of nuclear war and so the way I see it a wee bit of fun is needed - and why not Strictly?

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"I may be wrong but I think Helen is our first Cumbrian entrant in the biggest TV show in the UK so let’s support the lass and get her all the way to the Christmas final."

Helen used to work for BBC Radio Cumbria before moving onto Blue Peter and then her famous trek across the Amazon. 

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