Former Strictly Come Dancing star Gemma Atkinson has admitted there was no “lightning-bolt” moment when she fell for boyfriend Gorka Marquez.
The ex-Emmerdale star, 33, told The Sun’s Fabulous magazine that she and professional dancer Gorka, 27, simply formed a close friendship that gradually paved the way for their romance.
They met while filming last year’s Strictly Come Dancing but because they both had different dance partners, they rarely saw each other – despite what the papers reported!
There were rumours from day one that Gemma and Gorka were absolutely smitten, but she told Fabulous the truth is they only ever had coffee together a few times after the Saturday night live show.
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“It was a gradual thing. There was no lightning-bolt moment, unfortunately. Not like in the movies,” she said.
Gemma has already revealed the Strictly Come Dancing Live Tour in January was when she and Gorka properly got together.
And it turns out the other Strictly stars can take credit for that!
Gemma explained that she and Gorka had never really had The Chat about their status, as she felt it would be “awkward” given they’d only really gone for coffees together.
But, thankfully, their pals sorted that one out for them!
“Some of the pros were saying: ‘What is it then? Are you together?’ And we looked at each other and said: ‘Well, yeah we are.'”
Gemma added that Gorka is a kind, funny person with a “great outlook on life.”
“You don’t get to see that side of him on the show, but he’s very easy-going and very caring and always makes sure I’m OK – an old-school gentleman but with the qualities of a mate as well. So it’s like your best mate who you can’t keep your hands off.”
The star previously opened up about her romance with Gorka on her own Key 103 Breakfast Show.
Gemma explained: “I have known him for nearly six months now but during the show we only saw each other at the weekend.
“Obviously everyone was saying we were together but we genuinely weren’t. We saw each other at the weekends because he was training in London and I was in Manchester.
“We would just go for coffees and stuff on Sunday – not every Sunday – but you can’t get to know someone just by seeing them on a weekend.
“It wasn’t until the tour started and we were together all the time that we were like, ‘Oh, this could work.’ And it did. So far!”
Gemma giggled when she as asked “what is it about the bendy 27-year-old dancer that really appealed” to her.
She replied: “He’s very funny. I like the fact he’s funny and he makes me laugh.”
The former Hollyoaks star went on to say she thinks the long-distance will work in their favour.
“He’s in London and I’m in Manchester and I think that’s a good thing as you both have to make the effort to see each other,” she said.
Gemma said she and Gorka FaceTime every day, gushing: “He is very lovely.”
She was also at pains to stress the couple never lied to anyone about not being in a relationship when the main Strictly show was on screen last year.
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“Someone messaged me and said, ‘I can’t believe you lied to us and were together the whole time’ but we weren’t. I would never get with someone that quickly.
“I think the reason it’s nice is we’ve known each other for six months now before it came to anything.”
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