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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Entertainment
Jessica Sansome

Gemma Atkinson surprises fans before sharing bodysuit habit that got her through BBC Strictly Come Dancing

Gemma Atkinson is back on top form after being struck down with a painful infection. Last week, the Hits Radio host was keeping her followers updated as she told them about the agony she was in after having her wisdom tooth removed.

She made a trip to the dentist after suffering from toothache and ended up undergoing the emergency procedure. A day or so later she said that she was "coping OK" with the pain and "soldiering on" but she was suddenly hit by severe pains down her arm, in her neck and around her eye socket.

Another emergency visit to a dentist and Gemma was told it was a 'dry socket' - where a blood clot fails to develop in the tooth socket, or if the blood clot becomes dislodged or disappears - and an infection.

READ MORE: ITV Coronation Street's Samia Longchambon issues important health reminder after moving tribute

The 37-year-old went on to thank her fans for their "lovely messages" as she felt like "a proper s**t house" for moaning about having a tooth removed. She then shared a video of herself at her Greater Manchester home with daughter Mia, three, who was helping apply some cream to her mum's face.

Her fiance Gorka Marquez joked she had her 'pregnant face' back due to the swelling and had to postpone her planned shoot with Manchester fashion brand In The Style ahead of the launch of her new autumn collection. But on Monday (September 12), Gemma was back in action and headed for a day modeling her latest range for the online retailer.

The former Hollyoaks and Emmerdale star took to her Instagram Stories as she took them behind the scenes of her photoshoot, chatting about the items in her latest range - including matching tracksuits, a puffa jacket and classic day dresses in more autumnal colours.

Gemma was showing off her new range with In The Style (Gemma Atkinson Instagram)

However, it appears one detail on her striped bodysuit in the range. Gemma shared how the long-sleeved, black and white striped bodysuit, which she paired with a pair of black skinny jeans, didn't have press studs on the crotch. It led to her being questioned on how it would be possible to use the bathroom if wearing the bodysuit while out.

And the mum-of-one had a very simple response and also let her millions of followers into a trick she used for her full time on Strictly Come Dancing back in 2017. "Thank you for your lovely messages about my range," Gemma said to the camera as she lounged in one of her own tracksuits in her Greater Manchester home.

"Loads of questions about the striped knitted body when I said there was no press studs... Come on. You're not telling me you're too posh to do the pull aside pee. It's what I do even with press studs. As long as you've got enough give on the material, which this has, it's still hygienic, it's very quick and it's very efficient."

Gemma said the method got her through Strictly Come Dancing (Gemma Atkinson Instagram)

And it turns out it came in very handy during her time on Strictly as they were sown into their costumes. "Once you were in, you were in and I always needed a wee before a live show so I just had to go, pull to the side and wee. And it worked a treat."

She then shared a picture of her on the Strictly dance floor as she performed with professional partner Aljaz Skorjanec. She penned alongside it: "For example, here I am all elegant and pretty, but mins earlier I'd had to go do a 'pull aside pee'." And Gemma made it all the way to the final of the BBC One dance contest.

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