Gorka Marquez has admitted his struggle to leave his fiancee Gemma Atkinson and their daughter as he headed off for work. The Strictly Come Dancing star is preparing to hit the road with a number of her BBC One co-stars on the Strictly Come Dancing – The Professionals UK tour.
As he left his and Gemma's Greater Manchester home, which they share with their little girl Mia, the dancer took part in a Q&A with his Instagram followers. By one, the 32-year-old was asked: "Do you find it really hard leaving Gemma and Mia?"
In a typed-out response, Gorka confessed: "Yes!!! And more the Mia gets older." He was also asked what the most enjoyable thing he does with three-year-old Mia is at present to which the proud dad simply replied: “Anything with her!" alongside a recent holiday snap of the pair playing on the beach.
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It comes after it was announced that Gorka will be returning to the ballroom later this year when Strictly returns to screens in the autumn. Spanish-born Gorka was reportedly set to quit the show after missing out on the Glitterball with Helen Skelton back in December. Gorka, and even Gemma, denied the claims after fans felt the dancer and former Blue Peter host Helen were 'robbed'.
But he has been confirmed to return alongside Dianne Buswell, Nadiya Bychkova, Graziano Di Prima, Amy Dowden, Karen Hauer, Katya Jones, Neil Jones, Nikita Kuzmin, Luba Mushtuk, Giovanni Pernice, Jowita Przystal, Johannes Radebe, Kai Widdrington, Nancy Xu, Carlos Gu, Lauren Oakley, Michelle Tsiakkas and Vita Coppola all take to the floor once more, promising viewers an abundance of spectacular routines.
Away from work, Gemma and Gorka are preparing to welcome their second child together. The couple, who met on Strictly in 2017 when Gemma was a contestant before love blossomed on the show's live tour at the start of the following year, announced the joyous news that they're expanding their brood next year.
Gemma, 38, and Gorka decided to share the news alongside a string of adorable black and white snaps as the mum-of-two-to-be said it had become "impossible" to hide her baby bump any longer. They also confirmed that they were expecting a baby boy.
Meanwhile, over the weekend Hits Radio host Gemma was left emotional and said her mascara was running after friends sprang a surprise baby shower for her. The former soap star, who is pregnant with her second child with Gorka Marquez, 32, was treated to a celebration when she thought she was going to a business meeting as president of Bleakholt Animal Sanctuary in Edenfield.
In a video clip shared on her Instagram Stories, Gemma said she was still in shock from the thoughtful surprise. "Well I'm still in shock from that surprise baby shower," she said into the camera. "Crikey my mascara's ran," she said. "I thought I was going for a meeting."
Animal lover Gemma, who has two dogs Ollie and Norman, thought she was going to discuss the next open day at Bleakholt so was stunned to find cakes, treats and gifts waiting for her with the ladies that she took part with in the CoppaFeel! cancer charity challenge. "They all drove from all over the place," said a grateful Gemma. "They've got so much stuff going on and s*** to deal with. It was really really lovely."
She then joked about turning up in an outfit to meet the dogs at Bleakholt as she posted "ewwww" and "disgusting" over her video message. She explained that she'd 'rocked up' in "scruffy leggings, a T-shirt and a body warmer full of poo bags."
She explained: "I thought I'd nip up to the sanctuary and see some dogs," she said. And she added: "It's the memories that count isn't it?"
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