BBC Strictly Come Dancing's Gorka Marquez responds as…

BBC Strictly Come Dancing's Gorka Marquez responds as he splits from Helen Skelton and gets new dance partner for live tour

Gorka Marquez has responded after it was revealed that he wouldn't be continuing his Strictly Come Dancing journey for a little bit longer with Helen Skelton. The pair were subject to 'robbed' complaints after they missed out on lifting the Glitterball trophy.

The pair pulled out all the stops as they performed their final routines of the BBC One dance competition during the grand final on Saturday night (December 17) as they faced Fleur East and Vito Coppola, Hamza Yassin and Jowita Prytzal and Molly Rainford and Carlos Gu.

Each couple took to the ballroom three times each in a bid to impress viewers, as the judges scores were for guidance only, and be crowned the champions of Strictly 2022. And it was Hamza and Jowita who emerged victorious and lifted the Glitterball in emotional scenes.

And while the final also saw the return of the Strictly Come Dancing class of 2022, the dancing journey isn't over for some as they're set to hit the road in the new year in the Strictly Live tour. It was announced on Tuesday (December 20) that finalists Helen and Fleur East have completed the cast of the show's UK arena tour.

But while Hits Radio host and singer Fleur will be reunited with Vito after their high-scoring partnership this series, TV presenter Helen will dance with new partner Kai Widdrington despite competing on the show alongside Gorka. They'll join Mollyand Carlos and Strictly 2022 champions Hamza and Jowita who have also been confirmed to be taking part in the string of arena shows.

They also be joined by the previously announced Will Mellor and Nancy Xu Ellie Simmonds and Nikita Kuzmin, and Tyler West and Dianne Buswell on the dance floor. Judges Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood and Anton Du Beke, who is part of the tour for the first time, will be joined by Janette Manrara as host.

But as Helen and Fleur's addition to the line-up was announced, fans couldn't help but comment on Helen's change in partner. @jillthompson436 said: "No Gorka? Kai lovely but Helen and Gorka go together , no one else could do their couples dance like them." @jaimie2048 wrote: "So excited to see this and gutted that gorka isn’t on tour but love Kai as well."

Helen won't be reunited with Gorka during the Strictly live tour (PA)

@faith_the_senior_staffie commented: "Gutted no Gorka, understand he has commitments elsewhere but....." @des_moongirl posted: "Helen and Kai will feel strange." @kevgeo2013 shared: "Won’t be the same without Gorka. Can’t see Kai wearing a corset." @hayleslou198 added: "Awww gutted about Gorka."

But Gorka appears to have shown his support by commenting on the Strictly Come Dancing Live Instagram post. Under the announcement that Helen had joined the lineup, the Spanish dancer, who is engaged to Gemma Atkinson and lives in Greater Manchester, posted a string of clapping emojis.

And as fans rightly pointed out, Gorka missed the tour earlier this year with his former dance partner Maisie Smith also dancing with Kai. While no reason has been given for his absence, the dad-of-one is going back out on tour with Strictly co-star Karen Hauer with their string of Firedance shows starting in Manchester in March.

As for the Strictly tour, the live show visits venues including Nottingham’s Motorpoint Arena, Leeds’s First Direct Arena, the AO Arena in Manchester and Newcastle’s Utilita Arena. The dancers will also stop at London’s O2 Arena and the SSE Arena in Belfast, before ending at the OVO Hydro in Glasgow on February 12.

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