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Strictly star reveals they’ve GAINED weight doing the show

This is a first!

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We’ve all heard of the stars who hope to lose a bit of weight when they sign up for Strictly Come Dancing.

But now Gemma Atkinson has revealed that she’s actually put on weight while doing the show this year.

Appearing on yesterday’s Lorraine, the actress and DJ joked with the presenter that she was the “only person” in Strictly history to put weight ON during the show!

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“I’ve put on nearly a stone,” Gemma admitted. “It’s because Aljaz keeps bringing in doughnuts and chocolates. It’s alright for him because he can get away with it!”

But Aljaz reassured Gemma that it’s “all muscles”.

In a recent Instagram post, the 33-year-old fitness fanatic also responded to questions from fans about her health and fitness regime.

Alongside a picture of her looking trim in the gym, the actress wrote: “Loads of you have asked about my training blogs recently, so I thought I’d explain in one post.

“Firstly, this pic is 3 months old. I don’t look like this now. In all honesty, since Strictly started, both my training and my diet especially have been neglected.

“I’d be lying if I said a part of me isn’t enjoying the daily cakes, doughnuts, pizzas and chocolates.”

When she appeared on Lorraine, Gemma also dropped a hint that she could be on her way back to Emmerdale

She left the Dales where she played Carly Hope earlier this year, but is keen that her exit isn’t forever.

“[The Emmerdale cast] have all been down to watch me [on Strictly],” she said.

“I’d like to think [I will return to Emmerdale]. It’s been left open so yeah, hopefully I will. I loved Emmerdale – but I don’t want Strictly to end!”

Lorraine also quizzed Gemma about the rumours she is romantically involved with another professional dancer, Gorka Marquez.

It has been reported that Gemma and Gorka’s romance has left his celebrity partner Alexandra Burke “seething” and jealous.

But Gemma, who has previously dated men including Ryan Giggs and Cristiano Ronaldo, was quick to dismiss the rumours.

“No, I’m just pals with Gorka. Just pals,” she insisted.

She also denied that there was any bad blood between her and Alexandra.

“Oh my gosh no, everyone gets on so well, it’s a cliché but we’re all like a family,” she said.

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“We’ve all got a WhatsApp group so we can keep in contact. And that’s the sad thing about the show coming to an end because we’re going to miss each other.

“People just love drama though, and they love romance, so they try and pinpoint things.”

In this week’s quarter final – which has a Musicals theme – Gemma and Aljaz will be dancing a quickstep to ‘Hello Dolly’.


Carena Crawford
Associate Editor (Soaps)