‘She was very tall for me’: Gorka Marquez reveals he DIDN’T want to dance with fiancée Gemma Atkinson when they first met on Strictly Come Dancing in 2017 due to her height
They first met during the 2017 series of Strictly Come Dancing and are now engaged and doting parents to daughter Mia, two-and-a-half.
But in a new interview, dancer Gorka Marquez has suggested he was relieved not to have been paired with Gemma Atkinson when they appeared on the same series of Strictly, revealing he thought she was ‘too tall’.
Speaking to Angellica Bell on Scala Radio over the weekend, 31-year-old Gorka – who was partnered with Alexandra Burke that year – said of 37-year-old Gemma – who danced with Aljaz Skorjanec: ‘I didn’t want to dance with her.’
Honest: Gorka Marquez has suggested he was relieved not to have been paired with Gemma Atkinson when they appeared on the same series of Strictly as she was ‘too tall’
He explained: ‘ I didn’t want to dance with Gemma. She was very tall for me.’
The doting father went on: ‘You see some people when they know who they want to dance with or who they don’t want to dance with, if they say they want to dance with that person over there they are very friendly, very happy, very helpful.’
He added: ‘If they don’t want to dance with someone, some people don’t even talk to them.’
Fellow dancer Karen Hauer, who was being interviewed alongside Gorka, echoed: ‘We try to be courteous and amicable to everyone whether you want to dance with them or not.
Gorka explained: ‘I didn’t want to dance with Gemma. She was very tall for me’ (pictured during Strictly’s 2019 Christmas special)
‘If they can’t dance they might turn out to be the loveliest person.’
Both Gemma and Gorka made it through to 2017’s Strictly finals with their respective partners – with romance rumours flying between them throughout.
Gemma and Gorka announced their engagement on Valentine’s Day last year.
Hollyoaks actress Gemma wrote on Instagram at the time: ‘Valentine’s forever… Of course I said yes’ while Gorka penned: ‘The best day with my forever Valentine’s. I asked and she said YES!!!!!! Happy Valentine’s Day everyone.’
They confirmed their romance as they celebrated their first Valentine’s Day together in 2018.
Pairings: During 2017’s Strictly Come Dancing Gemma was partnered with pro dancer Aljaz Skorjanec
Throwback: Meanwhile, Gorka was paired with Alexandra Burke and made it all the way to the final