Gemma Atkinson, known for her roles on Hollyoaks and Emmerdale, and fiancé Gorka Marquez, from Strictly Come Dancing, will appear in a new documentary this summer.
The docu-series Gemma And Gorka: Life Behind The Lens will air on channel W this summer and will give viewers an “intimate glimpse” at the celebrity couple's lives and the journey of their second pregnancy.
The couple met on Strictly Come Dancing in 2017 when Atkinson, who also appeared on Casualty, was partnered with Aljaz Skorjanec and dance professional Marquez was with Alexandra Burke.
The couple have since welcomed daughter Mia in 2019 and announced their engagement in 2021.
☀️COMING THIS SUMMER☀️
— W (@wchannel) June 26, 2023
We're excited to announce a brand new documentary series following the unfiltered lives of celebrity couple, @MissGAtkinson and @GorkaMarquez1, who fell in love in front of the nation on Strictly Come Dancing. 💃
Coming to W and @UKTVPlay this summer. pic.twitter.com/QQ9Rl5WpLq
What to expect from Gemma And Gorka: Life Behind The Lens
The pair said they were "excited to be working with W" on a project that looks at not only their lives but also "the journey of a second pregnancy after a previous traumatic birth".
During Mia’s birth, actress and radio presenter Atkinson, 38, needed an emergency C-section when the baby’s heart rate dropped suddenly.
She also suffered a haemorrhage after the birth, losing nearly a litre of blood.
Atkinson, who rose to fame on Channel 4 soap Hollyoaks and is also a drive-time host for Hits Radio, said: “We’d been approached and had inquiries about doing reality shows previously but the timing was never right.
“Although it’s always lovely to be asked, we haven’t even done a joint at home photoshoot together.
“When the W channel approached us though, it was different in that they wanted it to be an informative documentary alongside our personal lives."
She added: "Digging into why some of us end up having emergency C-sections and postpartum haemorrhages like I had, and showing the daunting reality of having another baby after a previous traumatic birth.
"That was the game-changer as I’m asked about it by so many women who had similar circumstances.
“To be able to sit and film with midwives, pelvic floor specialists, doctors and get all that info, as well as showing the chaos we live in as parents, we thought it’d help a lot of people.
“Plus it’s nice to show people that despite what we do for a living, we’re still very much trying to juggle family life, Gorka working away, social lives and be on time for preschool drop off like everyone else.
“We’re hoping it shows people that every parent is ultimately winging it. We all make mistakes and that’s okay.
"It’s total and utter chaos with two dogs, a toddler, a Spanish dancer who works away and a heavily pregnant northern bird. But we try our best and get by regardless.
"We wanted it to be raw, unfiltered and honest so there’s no ‘glam squad’ beforehand. It’s real-life day-to-day."
Marquez has been on Strictly since 2016 and has made it to the show’s final on three occasions – in 2017 with singer Burke, in 2020 with actress Maisie Smith, and last year with Helen Skelton.
He has also been touring with Strictly co-star Karen Hauer, performing in the UK tour of Firedance – a passionate dance theatre show.
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