Helen Skelton breaks silence after 24 hour Comic Relief challenge with Gethin (2025)

Helen Skelton has taken to social media to break her silence after she and Gethin Jones raised more than £1 million for Comic Relief by roller-skating for 24 hours.

Helen Skelton has expressed her 'love and respect' for co-host Gethin Jones as she looked back on their 24-hour challenge for Comic Relief, which contributed to raising millions for the charity.

The BBC Morning Live presenters were part of the team that helped amass a whopping £34 million for Comic Relief during its 40th anniversary celebrations, a figure announced at the conclusion of the live BBC broadcast on Friday (March 21).

Red Nose Day, staged at Salford's MediaCity, featured sketches from some of the BBC's biggest shows, including Strictly Come Dancing, Gladiators and Beyond Paradise.

Leading the charitable event were TV personalities Joel Dommett, Rylan Clark, Alison Hammond, Jonathan Ross, Davina McCall, Tom Allen, Alesha Dixon and AJ Odudu.

In one of the highlighted sketches, The Inbetweeners actors James Buckley and Joe Thomas reenacted the moment Oasis decided to reunite for a tour, reports the Manchester Evening News.

Buckley, playing Liam Gallagher, and Thomas, portraying Noel Gallagher, were urged to reconcile after their managers informed them they were financially strapped. This sketch comes in the wake of the real-life Gallagher brothers announcing their eagerly anticipated reunion in August 2024, with a global tour scheduled for this summer.

However, before the telethon, Helen and Gethin undertook their Wheely Big Challenge, which was later disclosed to have raised over a million pounds for Comic Relief's Red Nose Day. These funds will support crucial initiatives aimed at combating poverty, injustice, conflict, and climate change both in the UK and globally.

Gethin and Helen received a warm round of applause from their Morning Live colleagues and a variety of special guests like Kimberley Walsh, Dr Ranj, boyband Dear Alice, Bluey, and luminaries from The Traitors and Gladiators.

The duo were buoyed by video calls from notables such as Claudia Winkleman, Faye Tozer, Janette Manrara, Kevin Clifton, Sir Chris Hoy, and Rick Astley. In the final moments of their effort, support from fellow Comic Relief participants Jamie Laing and Billy Monger kept the spirits high.

Following their 24-hour broadcasting and roller skating endeavour, Helen shared her gratitude on social media after retrieving her phone from the Morning Live team: "Broadcast and roller skated for twenty four hours. Overwhelmed by your support."

Filled with awe at the generosity shown, she posted: "In awe of your donations. Thank you for watching and messaging through the night. Thank you for supporting some selfless people who run charities that are trying to give people a bit of an easier ride in difficult times. Thank you for travelling from all over the country to cheer us on team ML. So much respect for @bbcmorninglive @versastudios @comicrelief. This is why we do telly."

After celebrating their fundraising success on the live appeal show alongside Gethin, Helen also highlighted the importance of collaboration: "Teamwork makes the dream work.....behind every good woman and all that," she confessed.

The former Strictly Come Dancing star expressed her astonishment and gratitude saying: "@emmamorrismorrismorris not sure how you masterminded and pulled this off but fair to say i am beyond proud. Token of appreciation to.... My mum who still taxis me even though I am an adult.

"To the work mates who literally hand feed you breakfast because they know you won't get chance to eat. @alexandrayoungfashionstylist @carlymediamakeup @aimesjackson @nancyspencermakeup. To teams that treat you like a racing car and pop eye patches on you 26 hours in to your day without hesitation.

"To friends who distract your kids and hype up your job even though it is an alien world. Here's to keeping life fun and fulfilled. Here's to propping each other up. #team #teamwork #telly #manchester #work #workingmums #thejuggle."

Yet, it was Gethin who earned a special mention as Helen reflected on their journey together beginning with their challenge and culminating in Red Nose Day celebrations, all captured through various snaps and videos. Helen remarked alongside images of them rollerskating: "Still not over it. Sorry.... Humbled by your generosity and so impressed the @bbcmorninglive team pulled this off.....

"Raised over a million for some charities that lift all of our communities. Celebrated some unbelievably selfless people and their work. Broadcast live for around 26 hours. Shone a light on volunteers who deserve the credit. True privilege to be part of. Watch for highlights.... Put together by just some of the team who volunteered their time."

She then expressed her sentiments saying, "My dear @gethincjones .... You are some man. I don't publicly say often enough how much love and respect I have for you my friend because I assume it is well known, but for the record you're a legend and I am beyond grateful to have you by my side on the rink, the sofa and beyond. I can gush he doesn't read beyond one paragraph on an insta post."

The response was overwhelming as comments poured in. @jonesemmas posted: "Both of you are legends. Such great sports that love a great challenge. @sassywyattofficial wrote: "What' absolute legends you both are! An incredible amount of money raised!". @allthingskps_ said: "You both absolutely nailed it! You are Fab-u-lous."

Meanwhile, @cumbriyam shared their emotional reaction: "You both moved me to tears. You each brought something unique to the challenge and the causes and things that matter to you. Epic. Thank you both."

And @suemcgregor congratulated the pair with, "Congratulations! What an amazing achievement."