Gemma And Gorka: Life Behind The Lens stars Gemma Atkinsonand Gorka Márquez on pushing back their wedding, life with daughter Mia and son Thiago and why they’re done at two kids
WORDS: JEN PHARO PHOTOS: UKTV/MARK FORRER
He’s a sequin-spangled dancer on Strictly and she’s a charismatic actress-turned-DJ, but for Gorka Márquez and Gemma Atkinson it’s never about the glamour.
The loved-up pair are back with their reality show Gemma And Gorka: Life Behind The Lens, which brings the all-too-real adventures of their “Spancunian” household to their fans.
And while it features their celebrity lifestyles at fashion shoots, awards ceremonies and TV appearances, it never pulls away from the domestic reality of having two young children and two bouncy dogs.
“There is more poop in this one!” laughs Gemma. “That’s what new mums need to see. I would hate as a new mum to sit and watch this family looking pristine with the house spotless and everything in its place. I’d be thinking, ‘Oh b****r off! That’s not normal.’ We’ve kind of stuck to the same rules as we had for series one in that we don’t want any glam team, we don’t want any hair and make-up and or any lighting. We just want it natural, raw and honest.”
Like most modern mums, Gemma’s maternity leave has been frantic. While she’s taken nine months away from her DJ job, she’s still written a children’s book, embarked on a new fitness regime and filmed two series of her reality show.
“For someone who’s supposed to be on maternity leave doing nothing, I’ve done pretty much everything under the sun,” laughs Gemma.
On top of that, Gorka has been working away on Strictly Come Dancing and the Spanish version of the show, Dancing With The Stars, where he sits on the judging panel.
“It’s fun to be working in Spain,” says Gorka. “This is my first TV job in Spain. It’s nice to be judging. I feel like Anton Du Beke because I know how it feels to be in that situation. I try to help them and be encouraging. The last thing you need is someone telling you how bad you are if they don’t tell you anything positive.”
Gemma jokes that Gorka’s judging is just like his parenting – “firm but fair”.
Gemma, 39, and Gorka, 33 – along with their children Mia, four, and Thiago, nine months – all live in Manchester, but are currently buying a second home in Spain, while little Mia is enjoying learning the language.
“We want to get somewhere so that we al
