Beloved celebrity couple's reality show AXED - despite killer ratings and pair teasing new series

Daily Mail​

02-05-2025

Gemma Atkinson and Gorka Marquez 's reality show has been axed, despite its killer ratings - and the pair previously teasing that a new series was to come.
Gemma and Gorka: Life Behind The Lens, which followed the couple's lives with their two children behind the scenes, has been cancelled after only two series, The Sun reports.
The radio presenter, 40, and professional dancer, 34, met as co-stars on Strictly Come Dancing in 2017, despite not being dance partners on the show.
But their relationship soon blossomed and they announced they were dating in 2018 - and now they share Mia, five, and Thiago, one.
A spokesperson for UKTV - which owns U&W, the channel the pair's series aired on - said: 'It's been a privilege to make two series of Gemma and Gorka: Life Behind the Lens with Two Rivers Media.
'Gemma and Gorka are both very busy with other projects at the moment, so at this time, there are no current plans for another series, but we look forward to working with them again soon.'
The announcement comes as a shock following Gemma's suggestion in November last year that the reality show would likely return - because it did so well.
When asked if it would return at the Pride of Britain Awards, she told the Express: 'Potentially, yeah.
'We're currently in talks to do it but we keep thinking, "Why do people want to keep watching us doing nothing?"
'But it did really well, it was like the biggest show on their channel so possibly.'
The fly-on-the-wall programme promised to 'follow the unfiltered lives of actress and radio presenter Gemma Atkinson and professional dancer Gorka Marquez' when it hit our screens in August 2023.
The first series, which had just three episodes, primarily followed Gemma's pregnancy with their son Thiago.
Fans saw Gorka try to balance his dance tour with preparations for his son's arrival - and were even let into the couple's baby shower, before Thiago's arrival in the final episode.
The programme was a smash hit, returning for a second series in May last year - focussing this time on how they were adjusting to life as a family of four, across six episodes.
The announcement comes as a shock following Gemma's suggestion in November last year that the reality show would likely return - because it did so well
The couple said at the time: 'We're excited to be back on your screens for our second series.
'The messages we received, and are still receiving from the first series, have blown us away.
'We're glad so many families can relate to ours and the crazy, wonderful, and exhausting world of parenthood!'
Gemma rose to fame on Channel 4 soap Hollyoaks and its various spin-offs before roles in BBC medical drama Casualty and rival ITV soap Emmerdale.
She made the move into presenting in 2017, taking the drivetime slot on Hits Radio.
The Greater Manchester-born star was partnered with Aljaz Skorjanec when she appeared on Strictly that same year, making it all the way to final.
She hit it off with Gorka backstage and the couple welcomed their daughter Mia in July 2019, getting engaged two years later, on Valentine's Day 2021.
They appeared as dance partners on the Strictly Christmas Special in 2019, dancing a jive to I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus and coming runners-up to Debbie McGee and her partner Kevin Clifton.
Fans saw Gorka try to balance his dance tour with preparations for his son's arrival - and were even let into the couple's baby shower, before Thiago's arrival in the final episode. Pictured: Their reality show
It comes after the devastating news yesterday that another Strictly star's TV programme has been axed, with ITV cancelling Chris McCausland's chat show in a move away from the studio interview format.
The comedian, 47, landed his own programme The Chris McCausland Show, which aired on Saturday mornings at 8:30am on ITV from June last year.
The programme saw Chris - who is blind due to retinitis pigmentosa - interviewing a number of famous faces including Celebrity Big Brother's Donna Preston, singer Pixie Lott, funnyman Rob Beckett and actress Taj Atwell.
But after just one series, it has been shelved, despite the popularity of the Strictly winner, who won the show with dance partner Dianne Buswell last year.
A source told the Sun: 'ITV appears to be moving away from studio-based chat shows in their weekend schedule.
'In the last number of years they've invested heavily in their daytime programmes and have given new faces an opportunity to shine.
'Chris was a breath of a fresh air, but ultimately there are no plans for his show to return.'
ITV's description of the show said: 'This 11-episode series will feature a brilliant line-up of celebrity guests and will be packed with humour, insights and inevitable shenanigans.
'Chris will immerse his guests in his audio world with interactive games that will have viewers of all ages laughing and playing along at home.
'And to top it all off, he'll have live acoustic performances that will be the soundtrack of your weekend.'
Fans of the show will be happy to know that all 11 episodes are available to watch on ITVX.