Gemma Atkinson has candidly opened up about one of the frustrating moments she experienced with fiancé Gorka Marquez — just days after the professional dancer confirmed he was quitting Strictly Come Dancing for good.
The Spanish ballroom star, 35, shocked fans this week when he announced he would be stepping away from the BBC ballroom competition after a decade on the show. His exit comes amid major cast changes ahead of the programme’s upcoming 24th series.
But while Gorka’s emotional farewell focused on gratitude and family, resurfaced comments from Gemma have now given fans a rare glimpse into the tensions they sometimes face at home.
The couple, who met on Strictly in 2017 and now share children Mia, six, and Thiago, two, were discussing everyday relationship frustrations on their Lost In Translation podcast when Gemma admitted there was one moment she nearly lost patience with him.
Recalling the incident, Gemma explained that Gorka had just returned home after a trip to New York and immediately started inspecting the house.
“You walked around the house like an inspector doing a check on a tenant,” she joked.
As Gorka admitted, “I moan about everything,” Gemma continued by revealing how irritated she became when he noticed one of his shelves had been rearranged.
“He said, ‘I’ve been away for one week, and you take my shelf,’” she recalled.
Gemma explained that their children had simply been playing games and accidentally moved things around the house, but Gorka’s complaints still tested her patience.
“And as I was walking up the stairs, I mumbled to myself… I thought, ‘Shut the f*** up Gorka,’” she admitted, laughing. “Then I just stomped upstairs.”
The honest confession quickly resonated with fans, many of whom praised the couple for openly discussing the realities of long-term relationships instead of pretending everything is perfect.
Gorka’s Strictly departure was officially confirmed on Tuesday when he shared an emotional statement on Instagram announcing that he was “hanging up” his dance shoes.
“Being part of the show has been so much more than just a professional opportunity,” he wrote.
“Over the past 10 years, it allowed me to build a career from my passion, find love, start a family, and make lifelong friends.”
The dancer also explained that juggling Strictly with his commitments on Dancing With The Stars Spain had become increasingly difficult, prompting him to finally step away from the BBC series.
Despite leaving the competition itself, Gorka confirmed he will still appear on the Strictly Pro Tour and insisted he will always remain grateful to the programme that changed his life forever.
His departure follows a wave of exits from the show, including fellow professionals Luba Mushtuk, Karen Hauer, Nadiya Bychkova and Michelle Tsiakkas.
Meanwhile, rumours continue to swirl that Strictly bosses are planning a dramatic reboot aimed at attracting younger viewers, with social media popularity reportedly playing a major role in who stays and who goes.
