‘She won’t allow anything to happen to their marriage’: Truth behind Gorka Marquez’s sudden decision to quit Strictly, role wife Gemma Atkinson played… and whispers about his relationship with Jowita Przystal

For a decade he’s been making fans swoon while expertly guiding female celebrities around the dance floor.

And so hearts were heard breaking across the country when Spanish ballroom star Gorka Marquez announced she would be leaving the BBC’s flagship program altogether on Tuesday.

The 35-year-old, who joined in 2016, is the latest member of a troupe of professional dancers to leave the show following a cast overhaul. Among those leaving are popular dancers: Karent Hauer, Nadiya Bychkova, Luba Mushtuk and Michelle Tsiakkas.

Some showed their feelings. But inside his In her departure statement, Gorka was certainly keen to impress upon her superfans that it was her decision to leave the show.

She wrote: ‘I’ve decided it’s time to put down my dancing shoes and say goodbye to Strictly Come Dancing.

He told fans he will always be incredibly grateful to the show and the BBC ‘for everything’.

‘Being part of the show was much more than a professional opportunity; Over the last 10 years it has allowed me to build a career based on my passions, find love, start a family, and make lifelong friends. I will be forever grateful for that.’

The former professional said he would enjoy being part of the Strictly family and watching from the sidelines as a referee on the Spanish version.

Gorka with his wife of six years, Gemma Atkinson, and their daughter Mia

‘Now is the time to take a step back, enjoy being on the sidelines… and hopefully pick up a few shovels and give a few tens along the way,’ he said.

For female fans it’s a devastating blow, but there’s one woman much closer to home who will no doubt be grateful she won’t be returning to the Strictly dancefloor any time soon.

His wife of six years, Gemma Atkinson, 41, whom he met while competing on the show in 2017, is ‘not totally against’ the move, I’m told.

The actress and presenter watched her compete on prime time television for eight years while staying at home in Cheshire with her children Mia, seven, and Thiago, three.

And it was a relief to Gemma that Gorka had not fallen under the Strictly ‘curse’, which has caused the breakdown of many marriages and relationships of both dancers and celebrities who have appeared on the show.

‘Gemma won’t let anything like ‘Absolute curse’ happen to their marriage,’ a Strictly source says. She adores ‘Gorka’ and they have two adorable children.

‘The curse has divided so many families that any spouse will be relieved that Gorka will not be appearing on what has become such a colorful show as Strictly.’

There are no allegations that Gorka cheated on Gemma, the Bury-born no-nonsense actress who rose to fame in the 2000s with her role as Lisa Hunter in teen soap Hollyoaks.

Gorka to appear in Strictly’s 2024 series with Dr Punam Krishnan

But she became a shoulder to cry on for the beautiful Polish star dancer professional Jowita Przystał, who is rumored to be romancing her partner, Essex star Pete Wicks, in 2024.

‘Gorka and Jowita have formed a beautiful friendship,’ says a show source. ‘Jowita really went through a phase, as a single professional dancer she was linked to many men which at times overshadowed her role on Strictly.

‘He’s also relatively new to Strictly, which can be a challenge at times, but Gorka has so much experience there so it’s been invaluable to him.

‘There were some rude whispers that their friendship had the potential to develop, but this was nipped in the bud and there is nothing to indicate this.’

However, as one star associated with the show observed about Jowita: ‘She’s so beautiful, I’m not sure if I could be Gorka’s wife, I’d like that even though she’s done absolutely nothing wrong.’

Last year the dancer reduced her hours on the show by opting to join the judging panel of the Spanish version of Strictly and will continue in that role. The group returned in the final weeks of the final UK series to perform their number.

‘Gorka is looking for a longer-lasting role,’ a well-placed Strictly source told me, ‘He enjoyed his time on Bailando con las Estrellas and wants to focus on that for now.

‘Trial is a clear step forward for him and who knows, he could return to the England version in a very different role.’

Gorka, Gemma and their two children Mia and Thiago

A BBC statement announcing the former professional’s departure said: ‘We are incredibly grateful for his dedication to the series over the years and are so proud to see him shine in his role as a judge on Spain’s Bailando con las Estrellas.

‘We wish him continued success and happiness in everything that comes next.’

Gorka’s departure is the latest blow for the BBC, which is undoubtedly reeling from the loss of one of its fan favourites; especially for the BBC, who managed to avoid getting involved in any scandals, unlike her co-stars, professional dancers Giovanni Pernice and Graziano Di Prima.

In March 2024, Giovanni was forced to leave the show after his partner, actress Amanda Abbington, made a series of allegations about him, including that he bullied her during their partnership in 2023.

He was cleared of most, and all of the most serious, charges after a lengthy investigation by the BBC’s legal department.

This scandal was followed by Giovanni’s Sicilian ballroom star friend Graziano Di Prima, who was punished for angrily kicking his famous co-star Zara McDermott during training in the same series. He was dismissed immediately.

The following year, Wynne Evans, the former face of Go Compare adverts and presenter of BBC Wales Breakfast, disgusted viewers when they spotted his partner Katya Jones’ ‘wandering hand’ around his waist and stomach – the pair later insisted it was just a private joke between them.

Wynne left in May last year after The Mail on Sunday specifically called him out for making a disgusting ‘spit fry’ comment about professional dancer Janette Manrara at the start of the Strictly Come Dancing live tour.

Giovanni Pernice was forced to quit his job following allegations from his dance partner, actress Amanda Abbington

There was more bad news for Strictly Followed when the BBC called the police and launched its own external investigation after Wynne made a claim through his lawyers that he had witnessed a star of the show taking cocaine, further damaging the show’s reputation as a family programme.

Although no arrests have yet been made, police have confirmed they are investigating allegations of drug use.

Strictly insiders are now accusing Wynne of wanting to ‘ruin’ the show after he’s gone. My source describes him as a ‘very tough guy’.

Then last year it was reported that a Strictly star had been arrested for rape. The suspect, whose name was not disclosed, was interrogated by the police at the time following allegations of ‘non-consensual private image abuse’ of a third party.

It was announced earlier this month that no charges would be brought against them.

Gorka’s decision to hang up her dancing shoes and bid farewell to Strictly Come Dancing has certainly dealt another blow to the beloved programme.