Gorka Marquez's Biography

Gorka Marquez began dancing at the age of 12.

In his youth he lived in Madrid.

He specialised in latin dancing and has been a finalist in the Spanish Championships in both the Youth and Amateur categories.

Gorka Marquez has also danced in the WDSF World Latin Championships in 2010, the WDSF World Cup in 2012, and the European Cup in 2013.

In 2014, Gorka joined Burn The Floor as one of their leads.

In June 2016, the BBC announced that Gorka Marquez would be a professional dancer on Strictly Come Dancing. He was paired with Tameka Empson.

They were the second couple to be voted off Strictly in 2016.

However, Gorka got a chance to dance again, stepping in for the ill Brendan Cole, in week 5, to partner Anastacia.

His first dancing partner was Veronica Guerrero Alguacil. Other dance partners included Marta Roldán, Alena Sergeeva, Irene Martin, and Leticia Cano.

Gorka Marquez was reportedly attacked by a group of youths on 20 November 2011, after filming Strictly's Blackpool show.

Two of his front teeth were badly chipped.

In 2017, Gorka Marquez was partnered with Alexandra Burke on Strictly Come Dancing and they reached the final four.

During that season he met Gemma Atkinson and they started a relationship.

In 2018, he was partnered with Katie Piper.

In February 2019, it was revealed that Gorka's partner Gemma Atkinson was expecting a baby. Their daughter Mia was born in July.

In Strictly Come Dancing in 2020, he was partnered by Maisie Smith. They ended up reaching the final (of the last four pairs).

In 2022, he was paired with Helen Skelton. They ended up joint runners-up.

In 2023, Gorka was paired with Nikita Kanda on Strictly. They were the second couple to be eliminated.

In 2024, Gorka appeared in an episode of the BBC series Anton and Giovanni's Adventures in Spain, in which he showed his fellow dance professionals around his home region of the Basque country.

In Strictly in 2024, he ws paired with Punam Krishan. They were the fifth pair to be eliminated.