Gemma Atkinson shared that one reason she hasn’t gotten married yet is because her dad won’t be there. She feels that tying the knot would mean losing the last connection she has to him.
Gemma Atkinson has shared why she hasn’t married her fiancé, Gorka Marquez, with whom she has two children. In a heartfelt letter on Father’s Day to her late dad David, who died of a heart attack when she was 17, Gemma expressed how much she misses him every day. As she observes her 24th Father’s Day without him, she revealed that the idea of getting married without her dad there to support her is almost unbearable. His absence is a major reason why she hasn’t walked down the aisle yet.
Gemma said she plans to get married one day, but part of her hesitates because of her late dad. She’s the last Atkinson, and getting married would mean losing that family name—and her last connection to him. The thought of not having him walk her down the aisle makes her consider staying engaged a little longer.
She also shared how she believes her dad would have loved her fiancé, Gorka, especially since he’s a professional dancer and her dad loved to dance too. Gemma is heartbroken that her dad never got to meet Gorka or see their two children. She feels that Gorka could have really used her dad’s advice, especially during tough times like when he had to leave for a tour just days after their daughter Mia was born. Gemma often imagines her dad encouraging Gorka, and it saddens her that her dad only ever met one of her past boyfriends, never Gorka.
Gemma, a former Strictly star and radio host, says she keeps her dad’s memory alive for her family. She often talks to her kids, Thiago and Mia, about him—they call him GanGan David. They have a picture of him at home, and Mia imagines that GanGan David lives on the moon and wonders how they could rescue him. When their dogs passed away, Mia found comfort thinking that her grandad was looking after them somewhere, and Gemma truly believes he is.
In January, Gorka comforted fans by saying their wedding will happen eventually—just not right now. They’re happy with how things are, especially with their kids. Since little Thiago isn’t independent yet, they don’t want to risk having to carry him during the ceremony or dealing with him getting upset halfway through and only wanting his mum.