Gemma Atkinson and Strictly Come Dancing’s Gorka Márquez opened up about the challenges of being apart on the latest episode of their podcast
Gemma Atkinson has spoken candidly about her mixed emotions when it comes to having a professional dancer as her fiancé. Strictly Come Dancing favourite Gorka Márquez is widely recognised for his decade-long appearance on the show, which he departed last month. To mark the end of his run, the 35-year-old is currently on the road with his former Strictly colleagues, performing at venues across the country.
Five weeks into the tour, Gorka and Gemma caught up for the latest instalment of their podcast, Lost In Translation, speaking from separate locations.
On the subject of the distance between them, she told him: “It’s been so long, I’ve lost count.” Gemma went on to reveal that a close friend, whose partner is also regularly away from home, shares the same sentiments.
She told listeners: “We both said we wouldn’t change any of it and we were both saying how lucky we are to have partners whereby it could change [frequently], it keeps it exciting.
“She said, ‘Can you imagine if it were a 9 to 5 and they were always there and they were under your feet every night?’.
“I said, ‘I do get it Katie, I’m the same’.” Gemma continued: “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, you know what I mean, it’s not like a routine. I think with a routine I’d get comfortable and I love the fact that it’s not.”
Gorka responded by saying his varied schedule kept her on her toes, a sentiment she was quick to agree with. The former actress has previously revealed that being separated from her fiancé proved more challenging when their two children, Mia, six, and Thiago, three, were younger.
When an Instagram follower asked whether they managed better during Gorka’s extended absences or his occasional brief visits home, she responded: “For us, Gorka always comes home when he can, even for just the day but it’s because he wants to really more than Mia’s routine. 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, [but] now she’s old enough to understand it’s work and he’ll be back on a certain day etc. But 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.”
Last month, Gorka confirmed his departure from Strictly after a decade on the programme. This came after he stepped back from the 2025 series, owing to diary clashes between the show and his judging role on the Spanish version of the show.
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 crossed paths during the 2017 series when she competed alongside Aljaž Škorjanec, while he was paired with Alexandra Burke. They publicly confirmed their romance the following year and became engaged three years afterwards, although they have not yet married.
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