The Hits Radio host and the professional dancer, who met on Strictly Come Dancing back in 2017, are no strangers to spending time apart
Gemma Atkinson and Gorka Marquez(Image: Gorka Marquez Instagram)
Gemma Atkinson has shared what she wouldn’t want to change in her relationship with Gorka Marquez after spending more than a month apart.
The Hits Radio host and the professional dancer, who met on Strictly Come Dancing back in 2017, are no strangers to spending time apart due to their careers, specifically Gorka’s touring of the country in various dance shows.
The Spanish star is currently on the road with some of his Strictly co-stars, with the string of shows set to be his swansong after he announced his plans to leave the hit BBC One dance show after 10 years.
The news came after Gorka stepped back from competing in Strictly’s 2025 series as he instead headed back to a judging role on the Spanish version of Strictly, Bailando con las Estrellas, a position he first took on back in 2024.
He made the announcement on Instagram at the end of last month, saying he will “forever be thankful” for his time on the dancing competition, but it is time to “hang up my dance shoes”. It made him the fifth pro to confirm their departure from the popular programme before the 2026 series gets underway later this year, with Karen Hauer, Nadiya Bychkova, Luba Mushtuk and Michelle Tsiakkas also confirmed to have left Strictly.
But before he leaves, Gorka has joined Luba and a number of their fellow Strictly stars on the Strictly The Professionals tour, which heads to Salford’s Lowry on Tuesday (May 19) and Wednesday (May 20) this week. It means Gorka will be able to head back home briefly to see his family after five weeks away.
Speaking about the distance during the recent episode of their podcast, Lost in Translation, which saw Gorka join Gemma, who was in their studio, via video link, the presenter and actress said: “My friend Katie, her fella, he’s an actor and he’s always working away on his projects. He’s very, very good, and he’s been away fro 16 days and he came home last night, and I said you’ve been away for five weeks.
“We both said we wouldn’t change any of it, and we were saying how lucky we are to have partners, whereby it keeps it exciting. She was saying to me, ‘Can you imagine if it were nine to five and they were always there, every night!’ And she said, ‘I’ve actually missed him!’ I said, ‘I do get it, Katie.'”
Gemma, who shares two children, Mia and Thiago, with Gorka, continued: “I said I’m the same. Although it’s difficult, I wouldn’t change any of it because it’s that not knowing what time they’re back or where they’re going. It’s not a routine. I think with a routine, I get comfortable, and I love the fact that it’s not.”
It comes after Gorka was previously heard discussing his Strictly departure with Gemma on their podcast. “We need to address the elephant in the room,” Gemma said. “Your Instagram post. No more [sings the Strictly theme tune].”
While Gorka insisted he’d still be watching the popular competition show, he shared: “After 10 years, I’ve said goodbye to Strictly. So yeah, it was a bit bittersweet. We all have, like, [life] cycles.” Gemma then went on: “You know, when we had that chat, and made the… you know… well, it wasn’t my decision,” before clarifying: “Which I’d like to point out for everyone who’s messaged me on Instagram saying, ‘You finally got what you want now!’ Absolutely not!”
