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Gemma Atkinson Reveals Shocking Reason She Won’t Return to Soaps Despite Loving Them!

BBG News

Gemma Atkinson has revealed why she chose not to revisit the soap opera industry, despite cherishing her experiences there.

The actress, aged 40, initially gained prominence as the sultry Lisa Hunter in Hollyoaks, and later played the character Carly Hope in Emmerdale, along with other acting roles in soap operas.

She stopped appearing on the program in 2017 and shifted her attention towards other ventures like radio broadcasting and television reality series since then.

Now, revealing why she wouldn’t join a soap again, Gemma told The Mirror: ‘My partner, Gorka [Marquez], he starts Strictly Come Dancing from July, so from July to Christmas, he’s kind of wherever his partner is based, if he has a partner. 

‘So it’s kind of all up in the air. So to go back to a soap wouldn’t really be realistic because the hours are so few and far between, you’re either in 12 hours a day or you’re in two hours a day, your schedule can change at the drop of a hat.’

Gemma stated: “I enjoyed every moment in all the soap operas; they’re the reason I am where I am today. However, with my kids now, I’m afraid I can’t make the necessary commitments, regrettably.

Gemma is engaged Strictly dancer Gorka, after they started dating on the show in 2017. 

The couple officially got engaged in 2021; however, they’ve had to postpone their wedding several times because of job-related obligations.

The couple are also proud parents to daughter Mia, five, and son Thiago, 21 months.

Gemma’s soap admission comes after she insisted she has no regrets about her wild past after settling down with fiancé Gorka.

In my twenties, I admit that my focus was primarily on my romantic escapades rather than maintaining physical fitness. I shared this aspect of my past with Women’s Health Magazine, acknowledging that I was not an unfamiliar figure when it came to the infamous ‘walk of shame.’

The star has also been engaged twice before, but hopes to make it down the aisle with Strictly dancer Gorka.

Gemma revealed: ‘I’ve done the, people say walk of shame. I call it a stride of pride, across someone’s landing, praying that their mum or dad doesn’t come out of a bedroom.

Avoid any communication. Avert your gaze, as I would prefer if you weren’t aware of my actions involving your son the previous night. Please try not to catch my eye.

Gemma went onto reveal that she was no stranger to wild girls’ getaways in Majorca, when she and her pals would stay in ‘two-star apartments’ next to the biggest nightclubs in the hopes of picking up boys.

Nowadays, Gemma is more focused on her fitness regime, after being surprised by how long it’s taken to recover from her Caesarean section after having her second child, son Thiago, in July 2023.

She told the publication that she wakes up at 4.30am before throwing herself into a kettlebell-and-cardio routine designed by personal trainer Elliott Upton at her home gym in Manchester.

Previously, this celebrity openly admitted to having been engaged on two occasions. Firstly, she was set to marry football player Marcus Bent back in 2008. Secondly, her fiancé in 2010 turned out to be Britain’s Got Talent finalist and martial arts expert, Liam Richards.

On her podcast, Gemma shared that it isn’t necessarily meant to be with just one person, as she herself has been engaged three times.)

‘Me and Gorka discussed it. He is the only person I said, ‘Yeah, I would love to marry you’.’

The other two suggested something, and I responded, “Ah, yes.” However, six weeks later, I found myself saying, “I can’t do it.” It’s obvious now.

‘People do sometimes go through with an engagement or wedding knowing it is the wrong person — but a fear of, ”How do you get out of it?” But imagine trying to get out of a divorce. It is even harder.’

Gemma also revealed that she and Gorka had actually crossed paths before they started dating on Strictly, after she saw him perform while on holiday with an ex.

She added: ‘I was on holiday with my [now] ex and we were dancing in the Bahamas. And unbeknown to me a cruise ship pulled up on the beachfront and we were stood with some drinks, pointing at the cruise ship going, ”Oh look, it is massive”.

‘And Gorka was performing on that cruise ship. We worked this out. I was there with my ex who at the time I thought, ”I am going to marry, have kids, this is it”. Three months later, turns out he had another life elsewhere — another partner.

‘But then I met Gorka. It is the whole sliding-doors moment. We were in the same country without even knowing, both of us together.’

Gorka previously praised Strictly for helping him to build a family, after he and Gemma grew close after meeting on the show.

He told the Daily Star: ‘Strictly has changed my life, if you look back and go back nine years ago, I came here to the UK for the first time to do Strictly, after never been here before, and now look at me now, I have a family, a partner, two children all because of Strictly.

Our romantic connection didn’t develop until after the tour, since during the show we primarily socialized as a group and during rehearsals.

‘But then we were on tour after the Strictly, we had more time and would say “let’s go for a coffee” or “I’m going to the gym, can I come with you?” so then we ended up spending a lot of time together, we were like travelling every day to different cities.’

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2025-03-15 22:22

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