19 August 2023 , 16:06
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Gemma Atkinson has confessed she wants fiancé Gorka Marquez to have "chemistry" with his Strictly Come Dancing partner, as she shares her wedding plans.
The former soap star, 38, recently welcomed her second child with the pro dancer. The family of four have been spending as much time as possible together ahead of Strictly's return, as the new dad will have to work away. Gemma and Gorka met on the show when the Hollyoaks actress was paired with Aljaž Škorjanec in 2017. Their daughter Mia is "obsessed" with the show and can't wait for her dad to hit screens again.
The couple are very much aware of the so-called Strictly curse, yet Gorka has branded it a "myth". Gemma and Gorka are confident in their relationship, and she even wants him to connect well with his dance partner. Speaking of the infamous curse, Gorka said: “That can happen everywhere in any job.”
The couple recently welcomed their baby boy Thiago (UKTV)Gemma has encouraged Gorka to find some chemistry with his dance partner, as she told OK!:“I remember when I had to dance the rumba with Aljaž. Everyone said, ‘You have to look into his eyes and get close,’ and I was like, ‘Oh my God, this is awful!’. But the dance looked rubbish because I didn’t do it. She added: "I’m always rooting for them to have chemistry! I think Gorka and I are very lucky in that we’re both understanding of each other’s jobs."
The BBC show has gained a wild reputation over the years thanks to the infamous show 'curse', with many celebrity contestants hooking up with their professional dance partners. Most recently Great British Bake Off star John Whaite confessed to "falling in love" with his dance partner Johannes Radebe. Yet Gemma and Gorka have nothing to worry about as they prepare to say "I do".
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When asked about their wedding plans, Gemma joked: “Let me fit in my dress first!. We’re quite chilled with it all. We have two babies. I’m not really fussed by a white wedding." She shared how she would like a "nice little quiet affair". The couple have been engaged since the Strictly Come Dancing professional popped the question on Valentine's Day in 2021.
Last year Gemma admitted they have even considered exchanging vows in a register office due to the pair wanting a 'really small and really intimate' ceremony. Speaking about how wedding planning is going, Gemma said: "There have been a few times now where we’ve driven past a registry office and said, ‘Shall we just go in and do it? Yeah, let’s do it!’"
"We’ve not planned anything other than we know we want it really small and really intimate," she added when chatting with OK! magazine. "We’ve agreed on just close family, a handful of friends, and a big party a week or so after. It’s just finding the time really. We’ve had lots of people saying, ‘You clearly don’t want to get married if you haven’t done it yet!'. But I think it’s because we’re so happy with how it is." While earlier this year the couple sparked rumours they had already wed, thanks to a clue in their kitchen. Fans spotted a couple of mugs inscribed with the words 'Mr' and 'Mrs'.