Gorka Marquez sets record straight on real reason he rejected BBC Strictly live tour: ‘Quite intense’

Strictly Come Dancing professional Gorka Marquez has opened up about why he decided not to take part in the show’s live tour this year.

Strictly Come Dancing: The Live Tour! is a nationwide arena tour in the UK that was first staged in 2008 and has continued every year since.

The contestants who take part in the competition and make it to Blackpool are automatically invited to take part in the tour – with the full line-up of professionals also taking part.

However, this year, Marquez has decided to not go along with his fellow Strictly co-stars due to wanting to spend time with his family.

Opening up about his reasonings, Marquez told Radio Times: “Strictly is quite intense and I have to balance work with time with Gemma [Atkinson] and the children.

“They are five and one, and this time will never come back.”

Marquez and his wife Atkinson first met on the show back in 2017 and announced their relationship in the following months in 2018.

In 2019, the couple revealed they were expecting their first child, Mia, before getting engaged in 2021 on Valentine’s Day.

They later welcomed their son Thiago in 2023 – meaning it has been harder for Marquez to be away from his family during the intense competition.

The family have recently suffered two devastating losses – their pups Norman and Ollie – who died within a few months of each other.

Norman and Ollie’s death was tough on the family, with Atkinson recently admitting their daughter Mia had been so strong considering the dogs were in her life since she was a baby.

Marquez recently opened up on whether he and Atkinson would consider expanding their brood despite their already hectic schedule.

Speaking to Express.co.uk, when asked if they were having any more children, he admitted: “No. We’re very happy and we’re very grateful that we got to have a boy and a girl and I think we are complete.”

However, they are open-minded about bringing in a new furry friend for their children to grow up with and keep company.

He teased: “Obviously, we lost our dogs recently so I know Gemma wants to have another dog, but we will wait a little bit. We will have another dog one day but for now, it’s just the for of us.”

The BBC star explained how Christmas helped distract the family while they have been dealing with the sudden loss last year.

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He went on: “I think Christmas helped because obviously we have the distraction of Santa Claus and the Christmas gifts and everything.

“But obviously it is weird, especially for Gemma. She says when Thiago is at nursery and Mia is at school, it’s the silence [that hurts the most].

“Like not hearing the paws walking around or watching telly and having a coffee and having the dog at the bottom of the sofa snoring, things like that she misses.”