Gemma Atkinson is reportedly growing frustrated as her fiancé Gorka Marquez's dance commitments continue to keep him away from their family. The former Hollyoaks actress, 39, and the Spanish Strictly professional, 33, have been struggling to balance work and family life, according to sources.
Gorka, who was voted off last year's series of Strictly Come Dancing in week three, was unable to return home to Manchester during the final six weeks of the show. He has now signed up as a judge on the Spanish version of the programme, Bailando con las Estrellas, which will require him to spend significant time in Madrid.
The couple, who have been engaged since Valentine's Day 2021, share two children: daughter Mia, four, and son Thiago, who was born in July last year. Due to work commitments, they have yet to visit Gorka's elderly parents in Bilbao with Thiago.
A source told the Daily Mirror: 'Gemma knows how important Gorka's work is to him and goes above and beyond to be supportive. But she found it challenging when he wasn't able to travel back to Manchester to spend time with her and the kids, even when he'd been voted off last year's series.'
The insider added: 'She'd been hoping they would have more time after the show finished, as he usually opts out of the tour to focus on family. But then he signed up to Bailando con las Estrellas, and the plan changed. Gemma knows he's just wanting to support his family, but it's disappointing for her. It's a really rough patch for them.'
Representatives for Gorka and Gemma declined to comment on the matter.
