Gemma Atkinson and Strictly Come Dancing professional Gorka Márquez address online speculation and public criticism following Márquez’s departure from the BBC show. Multiple outlets report that Márquez announces he is leaving in an emotional Instagram post, ending his 10-year run on Strictly. In response, Atkinson rejects claims that she influenced or pressured him to quit, saying the decision is not something she forced. Other reporting also presents a shared-account explanation, with Atkinson and Márquez describing the choice to move on as joint. Separate coverage adds that Márquez wanted to leave for personal reasons, including a “realisation” that his time on the programme was coming to an end.
The couple also discuss ongoing challenges in their relationship, including the difficulties of being apart as he spends an extended period away. Across the reports, the central points are that Atkinson denies wrongdoing, Márquez frames his exit as his own decision to progress, and both maintain that their split is not driven by external blame or public accusations.
