Gemma Atkinson and Gorka Márquez say spending time apart helps keep their relationship fresh
EXCLUSIVE
So much has been written about the Strictly ‘curse’ that it’s easy to forget that some of the romances formed on the show weren’t actually the result of a dramatic relationship break-up.
The love story between former Hollyoaks actress Gemma Atkinson and professional dancer Gorka Márquez is a case in point, and five years after falling for each other on the show, their relationship is still going strong. They now have two children and are engaged to be married.
And despite subsequent rumours they’ve been going through a “rough patch” because of Gorka’s hefty time away due to work commitments, when we chat to the pair, Gemma tells us that while she misses Gorka when they’re apart, his absence “keeps the spark alive”.
Although the couple weren’t dance partners when they first met on Strictly in 2017, they admitted that after clocking each other in rehearsals, they knew they fancied each other. Gorka, 33, said he immediately thought Gemma, 39, was “hot” and fortunately for him, the feeling was mutual, with Gemma going home that evening and texting her friend, “I’m gonna pipe the Spanish one!”
The pair, who live together in Manchester, are now parents to Mia, four, and seven-month-old Thiago, and last year recorded their own reality show Gemma & Gorka: Life Behind The Lens which aired on W Channel. Gorka is currently working in Madrid, where he is a judge on the Spanish version of Strictly.
Here, they tell us why not living in each other’s pockets helps keep thing fresh, how Gemma gives Gorka’s Strictly partners advice on ways to deal with him, and why she would love her own TV show one day.
Do you miss Gorka when he’s away working, Gemma?
Gemma: I do and I don’t. Part of the reason why it still feels so fresh is because we’re not together 24/7. In February, we’ll be six years [together], with two babies, and I still get excited to see him, but I think if we were together all the time, I wouldn’t. I miss him, but I also think it’s a good thing because it keeps the spark alive.
Is it the same for you, Gorka?
Yes, for example, we have different jobs and we do different things, even though it’s kind of within the same industry. But then we come together, and in a way, it keeps [the relationship] alive and gives you a freshness.
How has life changed since you welcomed a second child?
Gemma: I’ve been a lot more relax
