Gemma Atkinson's devastating reason for not marrying fiancé Gorka Marquez

Daily Mirror

9 hours ago

Gemma Atkinson has revealed that she believes one of the reasons she hasn't walked down the aisle yet is because her dad won't be there - and getting married means losing the 'last tie to him'
Gemma Atkinson has opened up about why she is yet to marry her Spanish fiancé, Strictly professional dancer Gorka Marquez, with whom she shares children, Mia and Thiago. Opening up in a deeply moving open letter to mark Father's Day, to her beloved das David, who tragically died of a heart attack at just 52, when Gemma, now xx, was just 17.
As she markes her 24th Father's Day without the man she thinks of 'every day', Gemma, in support of the palliative care and bereavement charity Sue Ryder, admits that the thought of tying the knot without him by her side is almost too much to bare - and his painful absence is one of the reasons it hasn't happened yet.
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She said: " 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. Not having you walk me down the aisle... maybe I'll just stay engaged for a bit longer.
Speaking of her future husband, Gemma also said poignantly that she felt her late father would be a huge fan - as well as of the two beautiful children they have welcomed, children she reflects, sadly, it breaks her heart he will never see . "I think you'd be really happy with my choice of fiancé. 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.
She continued emotionally: "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 to o. 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."
But the former Strictly star and radio host admits, she keeps her dad's memory very much alive, when it comes to her little family. "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.
Back in January, Gorka issued a wedding update, reassuring fans that his and Gemma's big day would happen, when little Thiago was more independent. '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?!'
Palliative care and bereavement charity Sue Ryder offers a range of grief support. Visit sueryder.org/GriefDeservesBetter. Gemma Atkinson is the host of the Hits Drivetime show, airing weekdays at 4pm