When Gemma Atkinson sits down with us to chat about family life, fitness and her latest nutrition campaign, she’s refreshingly honest about the need for structure and support as she balances being a mum of two with a busy career, while her fiancé Gorka Márquez is often on the road.
Gemma, 41, first met former Strictly Come Dancing professional Gorka, 35, back in 2017 when she competed on the hit dance show. Since 2020, the couple – who share daughter Mia, six, and son Thiago, two – have built a life together in Manchester.
Gorka recently confirmed that he won’t be returning to Strictly in September, after 10 years on the show, but Gemma keeps diplomatically schtum about his shock exit during our chat.
5View 5 ImagesGemma first met former Strictly Come Dancing professional Gorka, 35, back in 2017(Image: Gorka Marquez Instagram)
5View 5 ImagesThey share two kids together
And when it comes to her thoughts on the soon-to-be-announced new hosts, she says, “I’ve got loads of friends in the running, so I don’t want to name anyone specifically because I don’t want to offend any of them if I say one and not the other. But I’m very excited and whoever gets it I’m sure will be wonderful.”
Gemma admits her home life is as hectic as ever, so she’s thankful for the support system the family has.
“It really does take a village,” she tells us, as she opens up about how she and Gorka make it work when their schedules pull them in different directions.
“My mum will do the school run if Gorka’s away. When he’s home and I’m at work till seven on the radio, he does the pick-up and does tea and bed and bath time. My sister’s 15 minutes away, so we kind of just juggle everything.”
Gemma admits becoming a parent has completely changed her outlook on work. “I turn a lot more stuff down now because it would involve being away from the kids, but that’s the decision and sacrifice I made in wanting children,” she says.
Her honesty about motherhood extends to its challenges too, particularly the worry that comes with raising young children.
“For me, the hardest part is when they’re too young to tell you what’s wrong with them,” she says. “I remember when Mia had a rash all over her body when she was about four months old and I was petrified. She was crying and I had no clue what was wrong. It turned out I’d just changed my laundry detergent, but at that moment, it’s terrifying.”
The rewards far outweigh the difficult days though, she says. “The most rewarding thing is seeing them thrive without you and develop their own personalities,” she says. “And just having two little buddies all the time is brilliant. Even when they argue, I sit back and laugh because they’re like mini versions of me and Gorka.”
As for their parenting dynamic, Gemma says there’s a clear shift depending on whether Gorka – who often works in his native Spain for Ballando Con Le Stelle , the Spanish version of Strictly – is home or not.
“When I’m on my own, I’m definitely a bad cop,” she says. “And when he comes home, he’s an overly good cop because he’s not seen them for a while. But when we’re both home full-time, he’s actually the stricter one.”
Routine, she says, is key to keeping everything running smoothly, especially when she’s solo parenting.
“It’s quite a militant routine in terms of bedtime and wake-ups. They’re in bed at eight o’clock every weeknight and it’s something I’ve always been strict with. When you’re on your own, the temptation is to just give in, but I know having those boundaries benefits everyone. They’re better behaved, more energised and ready for school.”
Family time is something Gemma and Gorka clearly prioritise, and while glamorous date nights might be less frequent, these days it’s the simple things that bring them the most joy.
“A date night for us is genuinely just being home, away from everybody,” she says. “A movie, a nice meal, the kids at my sister’s, taking the dog out for a walk. We love a brunch as well, which just shows how rock and roll we are these days.”
Laughing as she reflects on just how much her life has changed since her days on Hollyoaks , she says, “The thought, now, of going to a nightclub or queuing for taxis in the cold, I just couldn’t think of anything worse. I’m so glad I did it in my twenties, but I’m also so glad it’s no longer part of my life.”
Gemma shot to fame as a teenager on the Cheshire-based soap, and went on to appear in a string of reality and entertainment shows, including I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! , famously celebrating her 23rd birthday in the jungle. Despite the drama this year, she says she’d love to go back.
“I’m nearly 42 now, so it was a long time ago. To go back in as a more mature woman, I’d love that,” she says.
View 5 ImagesGemma is now maintaining a healthy lifestyle
View 5 ImagesGemma is keen to pass on the healthy lifestyle mindset to her children too
Though she’s only seen online clips of the latest All Stars series, she says, “ Adam Thomas is a friend of mine, he’s the kindest soul.”
Since her jungle stint, Gemma has successfully transitioned into radio and podcasting (she presents the hilarious Lost In Translation with Gorka), building a career that slots into family life.
Famously into her fitness, Gemma says her approach to health and fitness has also evolved over the years.
“When I grew up, it was all about being as skinny as possible,” she says. “It was that whole ‘heroin chic’ vibe, and I’m not naturally built like that. Then it changed to a completely different trend with curves. It’s exhausting trying to keep up with all of that.
“I’m 5ft 9in, broad shoulders, strong legs – I was athletic growing up. Then it changed to the Kim Kardashian body trend. I think with fitness, it’s all a trend, and it would become very tiresome and depressing trying to fit into them. So I’m just like, live your best life, focus on your health and your routine, and forget what everyone else is doing.”
Now in her forties, Gemma has found a routine that works for her. “Fitness in my thirties and forties has been so much easier as it’s about training for longevity and life quality,” she explains. “There’s nothing quick-fix about it. It’s small daily habits, moving your body, doing strength sessions and making good choices with nutrition, while still enjoying yourself.”
That balanced mindset is something she’s keen to pass on to Mia and Thiago, encouraging them to stay active while also enjoying treats.
“We’re quite structured during the week, but at the weekend it’s more relaxed,” she says. “If Mia wants a biscuit after tea, she can have it. It’s about balance, not restriction.”
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It’s this approach that made partnering with Whitworths a natural fit for the star, who is passionate about changing the conversation around health and nutrition. She says, “A lot of people think it’s about restricting food or punishing yourself in the gym, but it’s not. It’s about adding nutrition and making sure you’re getting the vitamins and minerals your body needs.”
It’s not so daunting, Gemma says, to make small changes to everyday meals. “You can add Whitworths’ mixes to stir fries, porridge and salads and instantly boost the nutritional value,” she says. “It’s about simple swaps rather than overhauling everything.”
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