Gemma Atkinson has revealed how Gorka Marquez's co-star on Strictly Come Dancing got involved when the couple were feeling a bit of 'resentment' towards each other.
The former Hollyoaks and Emmerdale actress revealed in a new interview about the 'grief' that she and her fiance received from the public following the birth of their daughter. The couple had a baby girl who they named Mia in 2019.
It came after Gorka returned to work after Mia's birth, less than two years after they met on the BBC One dance show. The Spanish dancer had to return to touring with Here Come The Boys alongside fellow Strictly pro, Giovanni Pernice after he and Gemma brought their daughter home from the hospital.
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In the interview, Gemma said: "We got a lot of grief for that. He had people messaging him saying: ‘What kind of father chooses his work over his child?' They didn’t realise he was contractually obliged – and how do they expect him to fund this child without working?"
She told The Sun: "But I resented that he was back on the road touring. What I didn’t realise was that he was feeling resentment towards me for being at home."
The Hits Radio present said she got a text message from Giovanni urging her to check on Gorka as he was just as upset as she was about the situation. Giovanni told Gemma that her then-boyfriend had decided against going out after the show had finished.
"I FaceTimed him and he was in the hotel room on his own and he got upset and said: ‘I just want to come home. I don’t want to be here. Then I felt upset and said: ‘Oh my god, I’ve been thinking you are having a whale of a time,’ and he replied: ‘You’re crazy!"
"If we’re lucky enough to do it [have a baby] again, we’ll know next time that the grass isn’t always greener, but we have to do what's necessary for the family."
The couple, who got engaged on Valentine's Day last year had a traumatic time during Mia's arrival. Gemma has spoken out about Mia's terrifying birth which saw the radio star needing an emergency C-section after doctors noticed Mia's heart rate had dropped dramatically. The new mum almost died when she lost a litre of blood after suffering a haemorrhage.
The 37-year-old has not been put off and says that having another baby with Gorka with 'definitely' on the cards. She shared a poignant reason for wanting a sibling for Mia.
She told the Sun: "Yes, we’d definitely love to give Mia a sibling. I’m one of two, Gorka’s one of two. I think growing up it’s nice to have someone. When my dad passed away, without my sister Nina there, I probably wouldn’t have coped very well at all. I would love for Mia to have that kind of support network."
Gemma is currently preparing for the launch of her second book, The Ultimate Body Plan for New Mums 12 Weeks to Finding You Again. She shared a section of the new release on her Instagram in a post titled: "10 things no one tells you will happen after having a baby."
