Gorka Marquez has admitted he'd love to one day be a judge on Strictly Come Dancing, after tasting disappointment in the final once again and turning down the chance to be on the show's live tour.
Gorka,.one of Strictly's most popular pros, made it to the final for a third time in December, this time alongside Blue Peter and On The Farm star Helen Skelton. Helen and Gorka were many people's champions for 2022, but ended up being beaten to the Glitterball trophy by Hamza Yassin and Jowita Przystal.
Given they were so popular, anticipation was high from fans to see Helen and Gorka dance together on tour, so they were left gutted when Gorka's name was nowhere to be on the confirmed line-up, with Helen instead dancing with Christmas special winner Kai Widdrington.
Responding directly to a fan who asked him why he wasn't doing the tour, Gorka said it was 'important' to spend quality time with other half Gemma Atkinson and their daughter Mia.
The Strictly live tour, a big draw right across the country every year, kicked off in Birmingham a few weeks ago and arrives in Newcastle on Wednesday night, with Helen already notching up a series of victories in her new partnership with Kai.
The nationwide jaunt wraps up in early February and, just as that concludes, Gorka will be entertaining packed houses on the Firedance tour, alongside fellow Strictly Karen Hauer.
And, when quizzed on their respective futures on Strictly by Hello magazine, both Karen and Gorka confessed to having their eye on a spot on the panel.
Talking about what the future holds for him in the BBC ballroom, Gorka, who is expecting a second child with Gemma, said: "I will dance for as long as my body allows it, but I would love to be in the chair like Craig (Revel Horwood) and Anton – and give an opinion.”
Karen added: "I will dance for as long as my body allows it, but I would love to be in the chair like Craig (Revel Horwood) and Anton – and give an opinion.”
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