Gorka Marquez, a Strictly Come Dancing pro, has admitted he was on the verge of leaving.
Gorka, 33, who first appeared on Strictly in 2016, has become one of the show’s most recognised stars, finishing as runner-up three times.
Last year, he and partner Helen Skelton reached the final, only to be beaten by champion Hamza Yassin and partner Jowita Przystal.
But, after missing out on precious family time last year, he’s now claimed that he almost didn’t return for the 2023 edition of the dancing competition.
Gorka just gave birth to his second kid, two-month-old Thiago, with former model and influencer Gemma Atkinson, 38.
And the birth of Thiago looks to have caused Gorka great pause when contemplating whether to return for the forthcoming Strictly series.
‘It’s quite heart-breaking, you know, to have to leave again a few days after Gemma gives birth and not be at home,’ he said on Life Behind the Lens.
The Strictly professional had to leave Gemma and their baby Thiago in Manchester to begin training for the forthcoming shows.
‘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.’
This isn’t the first time he’s had to miss the first few months of one of his children’s lives due to business obligations.
When the couple’s daughter Mia, 4, was born in July 2019, Gorka took a year break from the show while Emmerdale star Kelvin Fletcher won Strictly.
Thankfully, the three-time Strictly finalist was able to attend Thiago’s birth, despite Gemma’s 28-hour labour and ultimate caesarean delivery.
Watch Strictly Come Dancing from September 23 on the BBC.
