A professional dancer joined the UK’s hit show Strictly Come Dancing in 2016. He quickly became one of its most recognizable faces. His career spans international tours and television appearances.
During the 2017 season, he met actress Gemma Atkinson. They weren’t paired together on the show. Their connection grew later during the Strictly Come Dancing Live tour.
The relationship led to an engagement and two children. Daughter Mia arrived in 2019, followed by son Thiago in 2023. They balance demanding careers with raising their young family.
Life includes tours, television commitments, and everyday parenting. They recently added a goldendoodle puppy named Benji to their household.
His dance world extends beyond the UK. He serves as a judge on Bailando con las estrellas, the Spanish version of the popular dance competition.
This profile examines how he manages professional commitments while prioritizing family moments. It explores the realities of maintaining a relationship when both partners have separate careers.
Spotlight on Gorka Marquez: From Stage to Home
A shift in 2024 brought an unexpected gift: autumn at home. For years, this time was consumed by rehearsals and live shows for Strictly Come Dancing.
Dance Career Highlights and Strictly Come Dancing Roots
His partnership with Alexandra Burke in 2017 was a career highlight. But the real turning point happened off-camera that season. The following Strictly Come Dancing Live tour provided the perfect setting for a new connection to grow.
Traveling across the UK without competition pressure allowed a relationship with Gemma Atkinson to develop naturally. This foundation proved essential for the challenges ahead.
Balancing Professional Tours with Family Life
The dancer’s schedule often clashes with family milestones. He left for a tour just three days after his daughter Mia was born in 2019. The timing was brutal, a heartbreak that highlighted the career’s demands.
A recent six-to-seven-week tour meant leaving when their puppy was small. He returned to a fully grown dog with new habits. This constant change makes stability precious.
Stepping back from a celebrity pair on the show created more time for school events and daily routines. He finally experienced simple firsts with his children.
Their new podcast, “Lost in Translation,” guarantees one full day together each week. It’s a professional project that also protects their connection, turning potential arguments into shared content.
Strictly Come Dancing and Beyond: Tours, Dog Tales, and Stage Shifts
For one couple, the simple act of sharing a bed became a negotiation point after a prolonged absence. The professional dancer’s return from a lengthy tour was complicated by a new, furry family member who had firmly established his own nighttime routine.
Nocturnal Puppy Escapades and Homecomings
The goldendoodle puppy arrived just before the dancer left for his six-to-seven-week tour. This timing meant missing the crucial bonding period. The puppy, Benji, became a constant companion to his partner during that time.
He started sleeping in their bed. When the dancer finally returned home, his sleep was immediately disrupted. Benji would leap onto the bed around 3 a.m., licking ears and landing awkwardly.
The situation peaked one early morning. After settling their young son, the dancer returned to find the puppy had taken his spot. This was the final straw in a week of sleepless nights.
A direct request was made. The puppy could not stay in the bed. The partner’s practical solution was swift. The dancer could use the spare room instead.
Adjusting to New Roles in the Dance Arena
The fact is, some couples maintain separate sleeping spaces without issue. The dancer clarified he was happy to share with his partner, just not with a large, restless puppy. The couple had to navigate this new domestic challenge.
Leaving the puppy downstairs seemed an obvious fix. But the worry was he would cry all night. This created a different problem for the entire household.
The discussion even turned to getting another dog. The dancer joked that would make him leave. It captured the genuine tension that can arise when priorities over pets and peace clash.
Balancing a demanding career with family life is one thing. Adding a puppy with strong attachments creates another layer entirely. It’s a shift that requires patience and compromise from everyone involved.
Gemma Atkinson and Family Dynamics: Navigating Love, Loss, and Milestones
For Gemma Atkinson, the prospect of marriage is intertwined with grief. Changing her surname would mean severing the last tangible connection to her late father David.
Wedding Plans, Parental Reflections, and Childhood Moments
Her father died from a heart attack when she was just 17. Now, walking down the aisle without him feels unbearable.
Gemma keeps his memory alive for their daughter Mia and son Thiago. They know him as “GanGan David” through stories and pictures.
Mia believes her grandfather lives on the moon. She often asks how they can rescue him from there.
Wedding plans wait until their son gains more independence. This practical delay gives breathing room for an emotionally complex decision.
Overcoming Health Challenges and Cherishing Memories
The family faced new challenges when their daughter was diagnosed with epilepsy. She experienced absence seizures where she would space out unexpectedly.
Doctors recommended a ketogenic diet, originally designed for epilepsy patients. The diet helps rewire brain function.
In the last six months, Mia has had no seizures. This fact brings cautious optimism to the couple.
Weekly routines help maintain family connection. Every Thursday, they record their podcast after school drop-offs and walking their dog together.
These sessions turn relationship discussions into shared content. They create guaranteed time together during busy weeks.
Final Reflections on Dance, Love, and Life’s Rhythm
After years of chasing the spotlight, a new rhythm emerged for Gorka Marquez. It was dictated by school bells and a puppy’s bark, not a touring schedule. This shift from star to present father brought a richness that fame never could.
Their “Lost in Translation” podcast anchors this new life. Each recording day is protected time. It turns potential friction into connection, giving their relationship a dedicated space to breathe.
This pair found that true strength is built off the dance floor. It’s in managing a child’s health, delaying a wedding for the right reasons, and sharing a laugh over a disruptive puppy. Strictly Come Dancing brought them together, but this life they’ve built is their real masterpiece.
