As Gorka Márquez becomes the latest Strictly Come Dancing star to quit the dancefloor, the Mirror takes a look at the pro-dancer’s potential Plan B as he waltzes towards a new and ‘intriguing’ chapter
After ten years, Gorka Márquez is bidding farewell to Strictly Come Dancing, with a somewhat cryptic post that has kept people guessing. And one line contains a particularly ‘heavy clue’ as to what will come next.
This comes at a time of huge upheaval in the ballroom. Gorka is the fifth professional dancer to bow out ahead of the upcoming series, while the shock departure of presenting duo Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly marks something of a reset.
In a bombshell statement, the 35-year-old Spanish star explained that this move follows his decision last year “to step down as a full-time professional” over “scheduling conflicts between Strictly and Dancing with the Stars Spain”.
Sharing a poignant black and white snap of him walking towards a studio door, back turned and expression unseen, Gorka revealed, “I’ve decided that now is the time to hang up my dance shoes and say goodbye to Strictly Come Dancing.” For many loyal Strictly viewers, this is the real end of a golden era.
The charismatic Spanish dancer, who met and fell in love with his now partner, 2017 contestant Gemma Atkinson, during Strictly rehearsals, has long been a fan favourite. His departure, which follows a bumpy period of scandals in the Strictly studio, will likely come as a blow to those hoping for some familiarity in the 2026 season.
READ MORE: Gorka Marquez’s statement in full as Strictly Come Dancing star quits after 10 years
As for Gorka, the first part of his farewell message strikes a breezy, positive note, throwing a “very polite veil” over any rumoured issues behind the scenes. Expressing gratitude for his time on the hit Saturday night show, Gorka wrote: “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.”
Analysing the tone of this opening, leading body language and communications expert Judi James told the Mirror: “This statement is part professional ‘conscious uncoupling’-style cliché as he refers to ‘always being incredibly grateful to Strictly’; the ‘sharing the love’, and of course the reference to the ‘incredible family’ of Strictly, all of which throws a very polite veil over any suspicions or potential rumours of any behind-the-scenes problems, letting the fans know he’s leaving on the best terms with only good things to say about the experience”
But it’s the second part of the statement that Judi finds to be most “intriguing”. In his announcement, Gorka alluded to what will come next, sharing: “Although I’m stepping away from the dance floor, I can’t wait to dance on the Strictly Pro Tour starting this week and continue being part of this incredible family. Now it’s time to take a step back, enjoy the sidelines… and hopefully hold up a few paddles and give out some tens along the way.”
He concluded: “Thank you to everyone who has supported me and shared their love throughout this incredible journey. Keep dancing.” Noting Gorka’s wording here, Judi remarked that there appeared to be somewhat of a “conflict” within his messaging. Judi reflected: “The intriguing aspect of this message, though, comes from the non-specific, hazy hints about what his job might be in future.
“He says he’s stepping down as a full-time professional, which should mean he’s stopping dancing, but then there’s still the references to ‘the Stars Spain’ and dancing on the Strictly Pro Tour, which sounds in conflict with his claims to be ‘hanging up’ his dance shoes.”
She continued: “Fans of the very popular dancer might also be confused by what sounds like a cryptic reference to maybe returning in the role of a judge. Is he teasing the fans when he refers to ‘hopefully holding up a few paddles and giving a few tens along the way’? He could just mean he’ll be watching and scoring from the sofa in front of his own TV, but this does read like a heavy clue to a new career as a judge, especially with the ‘Keep dancing’ sign off.”
Gorka was absent from the last series due to his commitments on the Spanish version of Strictly, where he sits on the judging panel. The dancer subsequently faced rumours about his future on the British show, with The Sun previously reporting how he was set to be axed back in March, with producers allegedly wanting a “fresh start” for the BBC1 show.
Meanwhile, speaking recently with The Sun, a source claimed Gorka had initially wanted to quit back in 2022 but was persuaded to stay by BBC bosses “digging deep with a new deal”. As per this source, dancers regularly got the “seven-year itch” to move elsewhere, a longing that was worsened for Gorka following a “painful moment”. In 2022, he and partner Helen Skelton reached the final, only to be bested by Jowita Przystal and Hamza Yassin.
According to this source, “It was a really painful moment when he didn’t win with Helen. He threw everything he could at winning that year, and it still wasn’t enough. It was heartbreaking for him.” They noted that, since then, as Gorka had “secretly struggled” to find “the perfect celebrity partner to match his high standards”, his exit won’t have come as a surprise to those in the know.
So could there be more to the narrative than meets the eye? The Mirror also heard from PR to the stars, Mayah Riaz, who advised that, in her professional opinion, Gorka’s decision “feels far less ‘sudden’ than it’s being framed.” According to Mayah: “When a long-standing professional like Gorka exits Strictly after a decade, it is almost always the result of a slow shift behind the scenes rather than one impulsive decision. I feel the cryptic tone of his statement is actually quite telling. It suggests a careful balancing act between gratitude and quiet frustration.”
Fellow professionals Karen Hauer, Nadiya Bychkova, Luba Mushtuk, and Michelle Tsiakkas have all quit the dancefloor ahead of the 2026 season, in a huge shake-up of the long-running BBC show. Adding to this sense of unease is the feeling by some that Gorka has been ‘sidelined’. Mayah told us: “There is a narrative gaining traction that he may have been sidelined without a consistent partner, and in TV terms, visibility is everything. If talent feels they are no longer front and centre, it can start to chip away at both morale and brand value. In that context, leaving on his own terms can be a power move for him rather than a setback.
“From a PR lens, this is about control. It is much better to step away while your audience is still asking questions than to fade out unnoticed. There is a real sense here of ‘leave them wanting more’, which is a classic celebrity play. It keeps him relevant, it sparks speculation, and crucially, it protects his long-term positioning.”
As explained by Mayah, “timing” is another “key factor” here, especially when taking into account the ever-shifting pace of the outwardly glittering industry. She observed: “If he already had another opportunity lined up, this becomes less of a risk and more of a strategic pivot. In today’s entertainment landscape, talent needs to think like brands. Loyalty to one show for ten years is rare, but so is staying past the point where you feel undervalued.
In terms of impact, I’d say that this puts a subtle spotlight back on Strictly itself. When a popular professional exits with even a hint of ambiguity, audiences start to question what is happening behind the scenes. That kind of narrative can quietly snowball if not handled carefully. All in all, I’d say this is definitely less a shock exit and more a calculated repositioning. He has chosen to close the chapter while he still holds the pen.”
Strictly Come Dancing has issued the following statement on Gorka’s departure: “We would like to extend our sincere thanks to Gorka for his exceptional contribution to Strictly Come Dancing over the years. Since joining the show in 2016, Gorka has been a hugely popular member of the professional dancer line-up, known for his passion, charisma and exceptional choreography.
“As well as being part of our Strictly family, it’s been heartwarming to see him start his own family during his time with us, and that journey reflects the same warmth, commitment and character he has always brought to the show. We are incredibly grateful for his dedication to the series over the years and are so proud to see him shining in his judging role on Bailando con las Estrellas in Spain. We wish him continued success and happiness in everything that’s to come.”
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