Gemma Atkinson has hit back at a fan who took aim at her over partner Gorka Márquez’s Christmas plans
Gemma was attacked after sharing an ad for Gorka’s tour(Image: Mike Marsland, Mike Marsland/WireImagevia Getty Images)
Former Hollyoaks star Gemma Atkinson was understandably disappointed to learn that partner Gorka Márquez had accepted the offer of a 10-date dance tour in December.
On the couple’s Lost In Translation podcast, Gemma opened up about her frustration at Gorka’s decision to commit to the show.
She said: “It’s funny, because he’s not doing Strictly this year. I was like ‘Oh my gosh, so the build up to Christmas, we’ll do together. Father Christmas shopping, we’ll do all that together.. And then the offer for a tour came in and he went ‘Gemma, I’ve been asked to go on tour,’ and I went, ‘When?’ He went, ‘The week before Christmas’.”
But nevertheless, Gemma did her best to remain supportive, sharing a promotional poster for the show, called Xmas on the Dance Floor, across her social media platforms. But to her surprise, the poster sparked a hostile backlash online.
She revealed that an irate fan had taken issue with her use of the abbreviation – which originates from the Greek version of the Bible – claiming that Gemma had “Taken the Christ out of Christmas.”
Pointing out that Xmas on the Dance Floor is the tour’s official title, Gemma fired back: “Channel the anger at Gorka, not me!”
The former Strictly Come Dancing professional announced earlier this year that he will not be taking to the floor to compete for the iconic glitter ball trophy for the first time since 2016.
The dancer had discussed his decision to step back from the programme with his partner Gemma Atkinson and their daughter Mia, explaining that he wished to leave the long-running BBC dance competition in order to spend more time at home. Potential “scheduling conflicts” with the Spanish version of the show, on which Gorka serves as a judge, also played a part in his choice.
Speaking shortly after the news broke, Gemma was keen to stress that she had not pressured her partner into leaving the show. She explained: “When we were talking about it, we did include Mia. We said to Mia, ‘What would you rather Papa do? Would you rather he work in Spain at weekends or work in England during Strictly?'”.
“She said, ‘Well, I do love watching him dance, but I love having him home more.’ And we were like, ‘Right, signed, sealed, delivered.’ She said to my mum, ‘Me, mummy and papa have decided, this year he’s not going to be dancing on Strictly.”
But, jokes Gemma, the 35-year-old Spanish dancer has now “ruined Christmas” by agreeing to take part in a 10-date live tour running throughout December.
In defence of his choice, Gorka argued that it was a relatively brief commitment. “It’s only a week of rehearsals and 10 shows,” he said. “It’s not that long.”
As well as allowing time for a family Christmas, the tour has been scheduled to fit around his other obligations. Gorka, who also shares son Thiago with Gemma, served as a guest judge on last year’s Spanish equivalent of Strictly, Bailando Con Las Estrellas, but will not be joining the show as a permanent fixture.
Upon announcing his exit from Strictly, Gorka spoke candidly about the profound impact the show had on his life, stating: “Being part of the show has been so much more than just a professional opportunity – over the past 10 years, it allowed me to build a career from my passion, find love, start a family, and make lifelong friends. For that, I will forever be thankful.”
