Gemma Atkinson has spoken candidly about her mixed emotions regarding her fiancé Gorka Marquez's career as a professional dancer. The Strictly Come Dancing star, who left the show last month, is currently on a five-week tour with former colleagues, performing across the country.
Bittersweet Feelings on the Podcast
During the latest episode of their podcast Lost In Translation, the couple discussed the challenges of being apart. Gemma admitted, "It's been so long, I've lost count." She revealed that a close friend, whose partner is also frequently away, shares similar sentiments.
Gemma told listeners: "We both said we wouldn't change any of it. We were both saying how lucky we are to have partners whereby it could change frequently, it keeps it exciting." She added: "Although it's difficult, I wouldn't change any of it because it's that not knowing what time they're back or where they're going. It's not like a routine. I think with a routine I'd get comfortable and I love the fact that it's not."
Impact on Their Children
The former actress previously shared that separation was harder when their children, Mia (six) and Thiago (three), were younger. Responding to an Instagram follower, she explained: "For us, Gorka always comes home when he can, even for just the day. The hard age for Mia was when she was around two as she didn't understand why he wasn't home. As a baby, she had no clue. Now she's old enough to understand it's work and he'll be back on a certain day. That 18 months to age two and a half stage was tough for her. I'm assuming it'll be easier for Tio at that age as he'll have Mia to distract him."
Gorka's Departure from Strictly
Last month, Gorka confirmed his departure from Strictly Come Dancing after a decade, following a step back from the 2025 series due to diary clashes with his judging role on the Spanish version. In a statement, he said: "I've decided that now is the time to hang up my dance shoes and say goodbye to Strictly Come Dancing. 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."
Gorka and Gemma first met during the 2017 series when she competed with Aljaž Škorjanec, while he was paired with Alexandra Burke. They confirmed their romance the following year and got engaged three years later, though they have not yet married.
