Gorka Márquez
Spanish dancer on Strictly Come Dancing since 2016.
via Wikipedia: Gorka Márquez · see source
Gorka Márquez (born 4 September 1990) is a Spanish professional dancer, best known for appearing on the British dance show Strictly Come Dancing. He began dancing at age 12 and represented Spain at the World Latin Championships in 2010, later reaching the semi-finals of the 2012 World DanceSport Federation World Cup. Before joining Strictly, he performed as a lead in the touring live dance show Burn the Floor in 2014. On Strictly, Márquez has partnered with celebrities including Alexandra Burke, with whom he set a record of 32 tens in a single series, and has reached the final three times. He also serves as a judge on the Spanish version, Bailando con las Estrellas, and announced his departure from the UK show in April 2026.
Quick Facts
- Born
- 4 September 1990
- Birthplace
- Bilbao, Basque Country, Spain
- Known for
- Strictly Come Dancing
- Partner
- Gemma Atkinson
- Children
- 2
Facts from the source article.
Strictly Come Dancing
Márquez joined the BBC ballroom dancing show as a professional dancer for its fourteenth series in 2016, partnered with EastEnders actress Tameka Empson; they were eliminated in week three. In 2017, for the fifteenth series, he was paired with singer and former The X Factor winner Alexandra Burke. They reached the final as joint runners-up and set a record of 32 tens in a single series, surpassing the previous record of 28 held by Danny Mac and Oti Mabuse; this record stood until the twenty-second series, when Tasha Ghouri and Aljaž Škorjanec scored 33 tens.
In 2018, he danced with television presenter and campaigner Katie Piper in the sixteenth series, finishing 13th after elimination in week four. The following year, Márquez was demoted from the main professional line-up but continued in weekly group dances. He returned as a professional for the eighteenth series in 2020, reaching the final with EastEnders actress Maisie Smith. In 2021, he partnered Coronation Street actress Katie McGlynn and was eliminated in week three.
In 2022, he reached the final with television presenter Helen Skelton. In 2023, he was partnered with Nikita Kanda and was the second couple eliminated in week three. In 2024, he danced with Punam Krishan and was the fifth couple eliminated in week six. In 2025, due to filming commitments with the Spanish version of the show, he did not receive a celebrity partner. In April 2026, Márquez announced he was leaving the show.
Personal life
Márquez got engaged to British actress Gemma Atkinson on Valentine's Day 2021. Atkinson gave birth to a baby girl, Mia, on 4 July 2019. On 19 July 2023, Atkinson announced she had given birth to their second child, a boy, Thiago Thomas. In 2025, Márquez was a substitute for the Rest of the World team in the Soccer Aid for UNICEF game, which defeated England XI 5–4. He is a supporter of Manchester United F.C.
Bailando con las Estrellas
Márquez features on the Spanish version of Strictly Come Dancing, called Bailando con las Estrellas. Since Season 2, he has been a judge on the show. Due to his filming commitments in Spain, he did not get a celebrity partner in the UK Strictly Come Dancing in 2025.
Dance tours and other professional engagements
In October 2025, Márquez announced he would be teaching and performing with Karen Hauer at Donahey's 2026 Dancing with The Stars Weekends.
Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special
He danced with his partner, Gemma, for the 2019 Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special. It was announced he would dance with Keisha Buchanan for the 2023 Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special. He danced with Vogue Williams in the 2024 Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special after her original partner Carlos Gu got injured.
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