Gorka Marquez considered quitting 'Strictly Come Dancing' because he didn't want to miss out on time with his newborn son.
Gorka Marquez considered quitting Strictly to spend time with Gemma Atkinson and their newborn baby
The 33-year-old professional dancer and his partner Gemma Atkinson, 38, welcomed their second child Thiago into the world two months ago, but just days later Gorka had to head from Manchester to London to start rehearsals for the upcoming series of the BBC Latin and ballroom show.
Speaking in Wednesday (13.09.23) nights episode of 'Gemma and Gorka: Life Behind The Lens' filmed before the birth, Gorka said: "It's quite heartbreaking you know, to have to leave again a few days after Gemma gives birth and not be at home.
"In my head, it makes me think I want to quit and just be at home for the next three months, but at the same time, I need to do my job and work."
Gorka was in a similar situation with their daughter Mia, four, when 'Strictly' rehearsals clashed with her birth.
Elsewhere in the episode, the dancer admitted his worries over potentially missing the birth of their baby boy, as she was pregnant just 12 years before he had to go back to work.
He said: "I really don't want to miss the arrival of my son, so I am on a mission to speed things up."
Thankfully for the proud parents - who met on 'Strictly' in 2017 - the actress went into labour four days later, and her partner was able to be there.
After spending some quality time together for a few days, Gemma was devastated as Gorka - who was also emotional - had to leave for five days of rehearsals.
She admitted: "Normally I'm fine with him going away and I will be fine this time, but I feel bad more for Mia now because she misses him so so much.
"I always say to him 'she's fine, she's fine' but sometimes she'll cry for him and stuff but I don't tell him because I don't want him to be distracted at work, it won't change anything.
"So we do the whole 'everything's fine' and then when he looks the other way I go [fakes crying]."
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