Gemma Atkinson has previously spoken about why she and fiance Gorka Marquez haven’t tied the knot, with one reason being her late father David won’t be there
Gemma Atkinson(Image: ITV)
Gemma Atkinson has candidly revealed why she’s yet to tie the knot with her Spanish fiancé, Strictly professional dancer Gorka Marquez, despite sharing two children together, Mia and Thiago.
In a heartfelt open letter penned for Father’s Day, she addressed her beloved late father David, who sadly passed away from a heart attack aged 52 when Gemma was just 17. As she commemorated her 24th Father’s Day without the man she cherishes ‘every day’, Gemma, supporting palliative care and bereavement charity Sue Ryder, confessed that the prospect of walking down the aisle without him feels unbearable – his absence being a key factor in delaying her wedding.
She revealed: “I’m getting married, Dad! One day, anyway. I think one of the reasons we’ve not done it yet is because of you. We’ve come close many times, but something stops me. I’m now the last Atkinson in the family line and if I give up my name, there’s no more of us. I don’t want to lose that remaining tie to you.
Gemma Atkinson as a toddler in dad’s arms(Image: SUPPLIED)
“Not having you walk me down the aisle… maybe I’ll just stay engaged for a bit longer.”
Speaking about her future husband, Gemma poignantly expressed that she believes her late father would have been a huge fan of him and their two lovely children – kids who, she sadly reflects, he will never get to meet.
“I think you’d be really happy with my choice of fiancé,” she said. “You’d get such a kick out of Gorka being a professional dancer – you loved to dance – and I know you’d adore your grandchildren. Just like you adored me.”, reports Devon Live.
She continued: “I wish you’d got to meet him. There have been many times where he would have benefitted from your advice. You travelled so much for work and Gorka needs to be away a lot too.
“I remember when Mia was born, he had to leave for a tour when she was three days old. It broke his heart but I know you’d have helped him. I can hear your voice, saying, “I get it pal, I had to do the same. You’ll get through it.
“I often feel sad that he never got to shake your hand. You only ever met my high school boyfriend. That’s hard for me.”
Gemma and Gorka are parents to Mia, five, and Thiago, almost two(Image: Instagram)
The former Strictly star and radio presenter confesses she makes sure her father’s memory stays very much alive within her little family.
She revealed: “I talk to Thiago and Mia about you all the time. They call you GanGan David. We’ve got a picture of you in the house and Mia thinks GanGan David lives on the moon and you can’t get out. She always asks us how we can rescue you. When our dogs died it was devastating, but Mia took comfort in the fact you were looking after them somewhere. I really believe you are.”
In January, Gorka provided an update on their wedding plans, assuring fans that he and Gemma will tie the knot when little Thiago becomes more independent.
He elaborated: “We will do it, it’s just not at the moment. We are very good like this, especially with having the kids. Thiago is not independent yet so we don’t want to go into the wedding and be carrying him or halfway through the wedding he starts screaming that he only wants mummy, you know? !”.
