Gorka Marquez has spoken out about his departure from Strictly Come Dancing after being inundated with messages from fans. The 35-year-old announced his exit from the show in April, following a decade as a professional dancer on the BBC programme.
Grateful for the Journey
In a statement shared with fans at the time, he said: "I've decided that now is the time to hang up my dance shoes and say goodbye to the popular BBC show. I will always be incredibly grateful to Strictly and the BBC for everything. Being part of the show has been so much more than just a professional opportunity; over the past 10 years, it allowed me to build a career from my passion, find love, start a family, and make lifelong friends. For that, I will forever be thankful."
The professional dancer added that he would continue watching the show from the sidelines and expressed gratitude to everyone who supported him throughout his journey.
Podcast Revelations
On the latest episode of his podcast Lost In Translation, co-hosted with his fiancée Gemma Atkinson, the couple read out messages from listeners. One fan wrote: "I can't imagine Strictly without Gorka's presence and I hope he soars with his next venture. I hope Gorka hasn't picked up a Scottish accent while on tour."
In response, Gemma said she "loved" that people were still sending well wishes to Gorka following his departure. "I know, they're so kind," Gorka replied. "But I'm fine." Gemma chimed in: "In fact, he's actually better, he's better than ever."
Two Things He Won't Miss
Sharing two aspects of being a dancer on the show that he insists he will not miss, Gorka said: "My hair will grow now," while Gemma added: "And his back won't be sore."
Addressing Speculation
During a previous episode of their podcast, Gemma, a former Strictly Come Dancing contestant, addressed speculation that she was the reason behind Gorka's decision to quit the show. She said: "Well, it wasn't my decision, which I'd like to point out for everyone who's messaged me on Instagram, saying, 'You've finally got what you want now'. Absolutely not."
Coming to her defence, Gorka interjected: "She was happy when I did Strictly because she has her own space." The actress clarified: "It was a nice break for me when he was doing it," before adding: "10 years is a good round number."
Recent Projects
Gorka was absent from the professional line-up last year due to his judging commitments on the Spanish version of the show. His most recent project connected to the programme was the Strictly: The Professionals tour, which recently concluded after travelling across the UK.
Gorka's announcement came following the departures of his co-stars Karen Hauer, Nadiya Bychkova, Luba Mushtuk, and Michelle Tsiakkas. Since then, the show's new hosts have been unveiled as Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe, and Johannes Radebe. The trio will take over hosting duties later this year, following Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman's departure last year.
