Gemma Atkinson delivered Easter cheer as she shared a selection of brilliant photos from a Strictly Come Dancing reunion in Manchester. The mum-of-one took her two-year-old daughter Mia to meet up with Gemma's former pro partner Aljaz Skorjanec and his wife Janette Manrara, who was also a long-standing professional on the BBC dance contest before taking up a presenting role on spin-off It Takes Two.
Mother and daughter also met Gemma's former Hits Radio breakfast show co-host Gethin Jones who competed on Strictly back in series five in 2007. The pair posed for snaps together at Albert's Schloss, and little Mia, Gemma's daughter with Strictly favourite Gorka Marquez, stole the show as she pouted for the camera in a fluffy pink fleece coat decorated with a carrot.
Fans also loved the faces pulled by Mia as the group captured memories in a photo booth. "When they’re in Manchester it’s obligatory that we go to Albert Schloss! Felt a bit odd being there sober but it was lovely all the same! #reunion," wrote former Hollyoaks and Emmerdale actress Gemma who hosts the drive time show on the Manchester-based Hits Radio with Mike Toolan.
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Gemma and Aljaz made it to the final of Strictly but lost out to Holby City actor Joe McFadden. Aljaz left fans gutted last month as he announced that was quitting the much-loved show after nine years. During his first year he lifted the Glitterball Trophy with model Abbey Clancy.
whitesandshomeaccessories commented about the reunion: "The photo booth pics I love that the Strictly Family always keep in touch in Manchester." And cathy.healey said: "Mia's face in the 2nd photo is hysterical."
kirstie.foster13 told Gemma: "Mia is so sassy." karyngreen01 said: "Love these ....Mia's face in some of these are classic."malkachaya wrote: "OMG Mia in these photos is life love it."
laura_coutts1 exclaimed: "Omg! The look on Mia's face." ferguson.caroline said: "Mia is adorable and so much her own person and looks like Gorka." karenrouse8711 told her: "Mia in photos are just so real it’s brilliant." And xnenex68 said: "Mias face is everything."
Bury actress and broadcaster Gemma, who recently returned to the Channel Four soap Hollyoaks for a guest stint reprising her role as Lisa Hunter, welcomed Mia with Gorka in July 2019. She and Gorka met on Strictly in 2017 when she was paired with Aljaz and he danced with singer Alexandra Burke.
Gorka popped the question during a romantic dog walk on Valentine's Day last year and he was recently cheered on in the audience by Gemma and Mia when his live show Firedance came to Manchester's The Bridgewater Hall. "Last Night was Special…" he typed on Instagram about the moment.
"To perform in Mcr is always amazing but for the first time Mia and @glouiseatkinson came to watch me dance and in my head the only thing I could think of it was to make them both proud. To see her little face so lit up and how she say said Papa before our last dance. It was just special! I love you both princess and mummy."
Fans recently commented that Mia had picked up her mum's accent and that Gorka, who is from Bilbao, Spain, seems to have a 'Manchester twang' as she shared a video from a family holiday in Tenerife. Arleyandme30 commented: "Gorka sounds like he’s picking up on Gemma’s accent. Beautiful family." And tlc_beautytherapy said: "Love the Manchester accent and the bag think Gorka’s getting a Manchester twang too."
In the video clip doting mum Gemma asked Mia her name and where she lived. She enthusiastically replied 'Manchester.' And her mum and dad corrected her as she declared that she was in Manchester on holiday rather than Tenerife.
