Strictly Come Dancing professional Gorka Marquez left his fiancée Gemma Atkinson thoroughly embarrassed during the latest instalment of their joint podcast, Lost In Translation, as the conversation took a decidedly adult turn. The couple, who share two young children, were discussing Gorka's use of anti-snoring strips when Gemma revealed he had kept one on during intimate moments in the bedroom.
Racy Banter and Cheeky Jokes
Laughing heartily, Gorka quipped about the nasal aid, stating: "It helps me breathe, you know, when I go down there..." to which Gemma immediately shot back with mock exasperation: "As if you did a m**f diving gag!" The Spanish dancer, clearly enjoying the playful exchange, continued the joke by claiming he was planning to break the world record for holding his breath.
The risqué banter did not stop there. Later in the podcast episode, Gemma, aged 41, mentioned her desire to purchase a property in Mallorca. Gorka, 35, quickly set a vivid scene, musing: "Topless... nice bikinis... your t**s out" before humorously imitating motorboating her. As Gemma rolled her eyes and sighed "oh no", Gorka confessed with a chuckle: "I love to do this, I know it annoys her."
Gemma's Amused Annoyance
Gemma confirmed his assessment, replying: "It does annoy me, that and when you do the helicopter at the top of the stairs." As Gorka playfully ground his hips in jest, Gemma posed the question to listeners: "Is that something all men do?" The entire segment showcased the couple's lighthearted and openly flirtatious dynamic, much to the amusement of their podcast audience.
Strictly Come Dancing Departure Rumours
While Gorka appeared in excellent spirits during the recording, Strictly Come Dancing fans have been left reeling by recent reports suggesting the dancer has been "axed" from the BBC show as part of a significant cast shake-up. The Spanish dancer joined the popular series in 2016, which is where he met his now-fiancée Gemma Atkinson, with whom he shares daughter Mia, aged six, and son Thiago, two.
According to widespread media speculation, Gorka is being let go in a mass cull of professional dancers, alongside colleagues Nadiya Bychkova, Luba Mushtuk, Michelle Tsiakkas, and Karen Hauer. Producers are said to be seeking a "fresh start" for the BBC One programme, with new presenters expected to be announced soon after long-time hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman decided it was time for them to move on.
Gorka's Decade on Strictly
Gorka has been a fixture on Strictly Come Dancing for nearly a decade, reaching the final three times with celebrity partners Alexandra Burke, Maisie Smith, and Helen Skelton. Last year, he did not have a celebrity partner as he was also filming the Spanish version of the show, instead participating in group numbers. His potential departure marks the end of an era for many devoted viewers.
Future Projects and Dance Workshops
Following the swirling exit rumours, Gorka took to his Instagram Story earlier this month to reveal he is hosting a dance workshop later this year with Strictly choreographer Arduino Bertoncello. Addressing his followers directly, Gorka shared that the workshop would take place in May and encouraged fans to sign up.
He explained: "Happy Tuesday, hope you're having a good, good day. After the workshops that we did a few weeks ago, Arduino and myself, a lot of the people who came to the workshops asked us if we're going to do it again. The answer is yes. We're going to be doing another workshop around mid May, because dates... doesn't work if not."
Gorka continued, providing details for interested participants: "So I'm going to leave a link here you can go in and follow and join the group so you can answer the question I wrote in there to know your preferences. What would you like to learn to dance? What you don't like to learn to dance? And yeah, so if you answer that, it will give us a good feedback so then we know what to do best for everybody."
Looking Ahead
He added warmly: "We will love to see you there. So you have a lot of time to think about it, because we are in March and it will be roughly two months time now. So I'll see you there. Arduino will be there, and we will have the best time. Happy Tuesday." This announcement suggests Gorka is actively pursuing new ventures and maintaining his connection with the dance community, regardless of his Strictly Come Dancing status.
