Will he, won't he... Gorka Marquez has been the talk of Strictly fans since narrowly missing out on the big win this year. Captured on camera looking, in what fan have described as 'gutted', rumours soon flew as to whether the professional dancer would return to the Strictly Come Dancing dance floor for next year's show. Gorka has finally addressed the question.
It was Hamza Yassin and Jowita Przystał who eventually lifted the coveted glitterball to become 2022 winners of Strictly. The final saw Hamza and Jowita up against Molly Rainford and Carlos Gu, Fleur East and Vito Coppola and Gorka and celeb Helen Skelton.
As viewers flocked to social media after spotting Gorka's reaction to the announcement of the winners, the pro dancer's fiancée Gemma Atkinson flatly denied rumours that the show regular would quit the BBC One hit programme. The suggestion by fans, according to Manchester Evening News, was that after making it to three finals since joining the show in 2016, Gorka was set to leave the show.
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Gemma, 38, took to Instagram to share one of the reports that spoke of his departure, writing: "Keep being sent this." She added with a cheeky-face emoji: "Wish I hadn't said to all backstage crew 'see you next year' now." She went on: "Obv this isn't true at all! Same as it wasn't true about Gio last year. Merry Christmas!"
Gorka, 32, whose previous celeb dance partners include Alexandra Burke, Katie Piper and Maisie Smith, previously appeared to confirm after coming runner-up that he would be back for Strictly 2023. Now he has teased his return again. Responding to a fan who said that they "couldn’t believe" he had "left Strictly", Gorka said: "Don’t believe it!" with a winking emoji. It is the first time he has directly addressed claims he was to leave.
He did, however, previously appear to confirm his return. "Oh… Where to start, it’s been an incredible journey," he wrote on his Instagram alongside a string of images of himself and Helen during their 13-week journey on the show. "I feel so grateful I got not only to dance with you @helenskelton but also to be by your side in your own personal journey and see your transformation from day one.
"Thank you for all the memories, laughs, coffees, toast, parent chats, car journeys. Like I said yesterday In the show you’re a special person who lights up a room when you walk in and I am so proud you got to smile and shine again. I’ve loved every single moment dancing with you and I am so proud of us until the last dance! You’re a star."
And he added to the 2022 champions: "Big congratulations!! to the @bbcstrictly champions @jowitaprzystal @hamzayassin90 you guys have been amazing the whole series and deserve it. Congrats to the other couples in the Final @vitocoppola @fleureast @gkx_carlos @mollyrainford it has been a pleasure to share the floor with you guys."
Gorka then finished his post: "And to all of you guys! The biggest THANK YOU, because without you we wouldn’t be here and your lovely messages of support means the world. Strictly 23 lets go!!! In the mean time Keep dancing!!"
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