By Pamela McGowan

Last updated at 13:00, Wednesday, 15 October 2008

Cumbrian television presenter Helen Skelton is doing anything but live up to her new tabloid image as a WAG.

Helen Skelton

The 25-year-old new star of Blue Peter, has been portrayed as a champagne-swilling party girl in the national media.

But Helen, who goes out with footballer David Graham, says in reality she is lucky to get a takeaway after a match, let alone a night out clubbing in London.

Down-to-earth Helen, originally from Kirkby Thore, near Penrith, landed her dream job on the famous show following a successful stint with Newsround.

Unlike her previous role co-hosting Radio Cumbria’s breakfast show, being a Blue Peter presenter has thrust her into the spotlight.

The tabloids immediately latched on to her long-term relationship with footballer David, who plays for Scottish side Hamilton.

They branded her a champagne-swilling WAG but Helen laughed it off, saying the reality is very different.

Rather than meeting at a high-class London nightclub, the pair were introduced when he played at Gretna with her older brother Gavin, who is now at Kilmarnock and formerly played for Carlisle.

And at weekends, when the papers would have her living it up with the likes of Victoria Beckham and Alex Curran, she travels to Scotland to cheer on her boyfriend and brother, who play for rival teams.

This week Helen has spoken out to put the party girl rumours to bed.

“The term Wag only applies to about three women who dine out on it. The rest of us have jobs. There are so many women who are super-intelligent and go to work and yet happen to have a boyfriend who plays football.

“I’m lucky if I get a Chinese takeaway after a match on a Saturday night, let alone champagne,” she said.

She added she spends most of her weekends at cold football grounds watching people she loves get grumpy.

“There’s no time for dining out and celebrating – most Saturday nights are spent sitting with two grumpy boys who’ve been tackled or sent off.

“There’s no Bentley in our garage. My boyfriend can’t even drive. He gets a bus to the training ground,” she said.

“As for living that champagne lifestyle, I don’t even know where Chinawhite club is. I’m always at work. I’ll go and see my mates for a few drinks but I’ve quite often got to get a really early start. Wag is an easy label but it couldn’t be further from the truth.”

• The Queen is hosting a tea party today at Buckingham Palace for Blue Peter presenters past and present.

Helen Skelton is one of the presenters expected to attend the party.

First published at 11:48, Wednesday, 15 October 2008
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk