23 September 2023 , 16:00
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It’s that time of year again when all things glitz and glamour take over as Strictly Come Dancing arrives back on our TV screens.
For the Strictly professionals like Gorka Marquez it’s another chance to pick up the coveted Glitterball trophy with their new celebrity partner. But it can also mean time away from family and friends because of the intense training regime and film schedules. Pro Gorka Marquez, 30, had fans feeling emotional this week when he said a final farewell to his two children and fiancee Hollyoaks actress Gemma Atkinson. The dancer waved goodbye to Gemma, 38, and their children, four-year-old Mia and two-month-old Thiago, as he prepared to dedicate his time to the Strictly show.
Gemma and Gorka are now a family of four (Instagram)
Nikita Kuzmin & Gorka Marquez (BBC/Ray Burmiston)Sharing a selection of images for fans on Instagram of the family, the 33-year-old wrote: "Last one at home for a while” with a red heart emoji and the hashtag "home". The Spanish dancer shared a selfie with Mia, picture of Gemma and Mia looking after Thiago and Mia at home. Fans rushed to support Gorka, with one woman, Kathy, writing: "Oh Gorks, feel for ya," and another, Julie, saying: "Good luck, your beautiful family will be cheering you on along with the rest of us."
Gemma and Gorka first met on Strictly in 2017, although they weren’t Strictly partners - with Gorka partnered with Alexandra Burke and Gemma with Aljaž Škorjanec. Rumours swirled around the couple during the show until February 2018 when the pair went public with their romance. She insisted however that they were “genuinely” not together while competing on the show.
By the end of the year, Gemma announced she was pregnant with their daughter Mia, who was born in July 2019. On Valentine's Day in 2021, Gorka finally popped the question. Gemma recently admitted she’ll feel a bit of a Strictly ‘widow’ during the show because of the “gruelling” hours involved. She said: “When Strictly is on it’s all sequins and sparkles and everyone’s all happy, for me it’s the best show on telly and the countdown to Christmas. But the reality of it is it’s time away from family.”
Strictly's Molly Rainford and Tyler West fuel romance rumours while on tour
In last week’s launch show (September 16), fans found out that Gorka was paired with BBC Asian Network radio host, Nikita Kanda. The 28-year-old TV presenter has interviewed everyone from Killing Eve actress Sandra Oh, Bridgerton star Charithra Chandran and Marvel actress Awkwafina, as well as fronted reports on BBC One’s The One Show.