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Gemma Atkinson lifts the lid on her Strictly Come Dancing romance

The radio presenter, actress and model has lifted the lid on her romance with Strictly professional Gorka Marquez.

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Gemma Atkinson has said her romance with Strictly Come Dancing professional Gorka Marquez developed gradually and there was “no lightning bolt moment”.

Alongside a photograph of the pair sitting on a rock together, looking out over the ocean, she wrote: “Here’s to many more kid. Happy Valentines Day @gorka_marquez”.

She told Fabulous magazine: “We were never hiding anything, but now that we’ve said: ‘Yes, we are together and we’re very happy,’ we can all just get on with it and things can calm down a bit.”

“We’d go for coffee together on the Sunday after the show, but had never really spent more than two hours together. Even every week over six months, that’s not enough time to get to know someone.

“I couldn’t have contemplated a relationship while the show was on, it was just too stressful. So it was a gradual thing. There was no lightning bolt moment, unfortunately. Not like in the movies.”

Strictly Come Dancing Live Tour Launch – Birmingham
Gemma Atkinson and Aljaz Skorjanec during the Strictly Come Dancing Live Tour Launch held at Arena Birmingham (BBC/PA)

She said: “He’s just a really good person. He’s got a great outlook on life and he’s very funny.

Atkinson was paired with Aljaz Skorjanec for the 15th series of Strictly, which was won by former Holby City star Joe McFadden.

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