Gemma Atkinson has revealed what her future plans are with Gorka Marquez, over a year after the pair got engaged. The Strictly Come Dancing star got down on one knee on Valentine's Day last year.
But Gorka caused confusion last week when he shared two snaps that showed the difference in the loved-up couple's lives, three years apart. One of the images showed Gemma, 37, and Gorka's hands interlocked while the other was the same, but with Mia's hand, featuring nail varnish on her little nails, firmly placed on top while Gemma's stunning engagement ring also sticks out as it sparkles on her left hand.
And the congratulatory messages came flooding in because people thought the pair had just got engaged when actually, as already mentioned, the pair got engaged in February last year three years after the pair went public with their romance after meeting on Strictly in 2017.
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Now, Gemma has revealed that she and Gorka are planning a small wedding abroad. The Bury-born actress said on Vicky Pattison’s podcast The Secret To: "We've said we would prefer to try for another baby rather than have a big, fancy wedding.
"There are people who will spend £50k on a wedding and you think, ‘Oh my God'". She added: "Twice we thought about going to the registry office and just doing it and then having a big party."
The Spanish dancer and former Emmerdale and Hollyoaks star met on the BBC One show in 2017. Gemma, who was a finalist in the series, was partnered with Aljaz Skorjanec and Gorka was paired with singer Alexandra Burke. Following the end of the hit dance contest, the pair were once again together on the show's arena tour where Gamme says they became close, after which they confirmed their relationship.
Speaking about the show, Gemma said: "My favourite reality show was Strictly because I met Gorka on there. Strictly was the job that changed my whole life. As a result of that show I have my fiancé and little girl."
After Gorka invited her to join him for a breakfast while on the road, they became inseparable but Gemma insisted they later went on holiday together to test their relationship. She said: "It wasn’t secret on the tour. All the cast knew because we were staying in the same hotels.
"We used to just book the same room. It was so nice. You are very well looked after — cars to and from the studio. You get your schedule and your call time. Everything is done for you and it is easy. We said, ‘This isn’t real life at all. This is a bubble we are very privileged to be in. Once this ends, you live in London and I live in Manchester'.
"We booked a holiday to Tenerife. We were together all day every day for three weeks. They always say going on holiday with someone is a good test. We went — and we loved it."
And the country continues to hold a special place in their hearts and the doting parents, to nearly three-year-old Mia, recently enjoyed their first holiday together abroad as a family of three. Gemma shared updates from their time away.
It comes after Gemma opened up over the weekend about missing her fiancé as he prepares to hit the road with some of his Strictly Come Dancing co-stars. The Spanish dancer has already left to prepare for the Strictly Come Dancing - The Professionals tour which comes to Salford's The Lowry theatre next Thursday.
The 37-year-old from Bury revealed their daughter Mia's reaction to her professional dancer daddy being away, saying the two-year-old asked if she could walk to London to see him. "Missing Gorks at home these spring nights. He left for the tour the day we landed back from Tenerife so it’s been face times with a cuppa the last two and a bit weeks," Gemma wrote alongside a snap of the couple smiling for the camera.
She continued: "Mia asked yesterday if she could walk to London to see him. Excited to see the show next weekend but more excited to see him mid week." And she added jokingly: "Just for two days mind then I need my space @gorka_marquez."
