Gemma Atkinson has compared her family to a mix of Pheonix Nights and Shameless - and she says she's 'proud'. The Hits Radio host made the comments in an Instagram post as she paid tribute to her mum on her birthday.
She shared a string of images with her millions of followers, showing her with her mum, Sandra, when she was just a baby to holidaying together as adults. And it wouldn't be a birthday post without something slightly mortifying making its way in and so Gemma couldn't not sure a video of her mum in a bit of difficulty while out on a walk.
"Happiest of Birthdays to my mum Sandra," the 38-year-old started her post. "The matriarch and Glue to our family. What would we do without you. My aim in life is to be as good a mum as you are." Referencing the video, Gemma typed: "Ps. Sorry for the last slide, couldn’t resist," alongside a laughing emoji.
The former Emmerdale and Hollyoaks star, from Bury, then rounded off her post by writing: "I always describe our family as a cross between the tv shows Phoenix nights and Shameless! And I couldn’t be more proud."
And the birthday messages for Sandra form Gemma's followers soon came flooding in. Gemma's fiance, Strictly star Gorka Marquez, was among the first to respond, writing to his future mother-in-law: "Happy Birthday," alongside two kissing face emojis.
But aside from the birthday messages, fans couldn't help but tell Gemma just how much she looks like her mum and not just her, but her three-year-old daughter, Mia. @zeroducksclub said: "Ahhh you and Mia are so like your mum!!" @raindeers_256 wrote: "You’re the double of your mum."
@lynnbadger commented: "Happy birthday to your mum. You can really see Mia in her." @cheri.sjackson posted: "That second picture you can really see Mia in you! Happy birthday to your mum." @audiboocoleman65 replied: "She looks and sounds so like you Gemma . Happy birthday Gemma’s mom."
@carole_hsh shared: "Your the double of your mum." @kathryn_wiseman5 typed: "Happy birthday to your lovely mumma. She couldn’t disown you could she?! Peas in a pod." @mustarddenise added: "Eeh, you are the spit of your mum. I hope she has a fantastic day."
Last week, Gemma joked about why she hasn't married Gorka Marquez yet in a tongue-in-cheek chat with radio co-star Mike Toolan. The duo, who present the drivetime show on Manchester's Hits Radio, were discussing the busiest day for divorce on the first working day of the new year.
The pair were chatting about the first working day of the year when divorce law specialists see a sharp increase in enquiries, which this year fell on January 3, and Gemma had fans in stitches with her blunt retort. "Today is the busiest day of the year for divorce lawyers, because of the tension of Christmas," explained Mike.
Gemma replied: "It's kind of like you spend it with their families as well. It's not just you and your partner, it's families, and relatives and a lot of food and drink in a close proximity."
She then added to Mike: "Without delving too personal you were part of that stat weren't you? You initiated a divorce on this very day in 2009." As they discussed the matter further, Gemma surprised Mike as she said: "The thing I always say about this day, if it's the busiest day for divorce, is the best thing to do, just don't get married."
"But you're engaged?" he quizzed. "Yeah but there's a reason you ain't had an invite," she quipped in response. "Hang on, let's go over this logic," Mike said in amazement. And Gemma joked: "If I don't marry him he can't divorce me. He can leave me but he ain't taking anything because there's nothing legal. Off you pop sunshine on to the next one."
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