Hollyoaks actress Gemma Atkinson has surprised and delighted fans with the amazing news that she's expecting her second child with Strictly Come Dancing star Gorka Marquez.
Gemma shared the exciting announcement in a post on Instagram today (21 January) after realising it was 'impossible to hide [her] belly any longer'.
The pair, who are engaged, already have one child together after they first met during the 2017 series of Strictly, where Gorka works as a professional dancer.
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Gemma later insisted the romance didn't begin until after the show, saying it was only when they reunited for the Strictly Come Dancing tour that they 'saw each other all the time and [...] thought, ‘Oh, okay this could work'.' And work it did!
Just a couple of years after first meeting, Gemma and Gorka announced they were expecting their first child, Mia, who was born in 2019.
Then, on Valentine's Day 2021, Gorka popped the question to make Mia's mum his wife.
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"Valentine’s forever... Of course I said yes," Gemma wrote on Instagram as she announced the exciting news to her followers at the time.
Their family is now set to grow again as Gemma confirmed their new arrival will be joining them 'later this year'.
Alongside an image of her holding her baby bump and celebrating with Gorka and Mia, Gemma wrote: "Impossible to hide my belly any longer. I’ve officially “popped.” Our baby boy will be joining our family later this year.
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"We feel so incredibly blessed and Grateful to be on this journey again. Mia is absolutely thrilled! Although we may need to do some negotiating on names, as so far she’s adamant he’s going to be called Barbie."
Gemma and Gorka were quickly flooded with messages of congratulations from fans and followers, with The Saturdays singer Mollie King writing: "Ahhh such lovely news you guys! So happy for you!!"
JLS singer Aston Merrygold added: "Amazing news guys! Congratulations."
Gemma has previously spoken out about her desire to have another child even after a tricky birth with Mia, which saw the mum suffer a haemorrhage after the birth and lose nearly a litre of blood.
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During a Q&A in 2021, Gemma addressed the ordeal and explained: "Lots asking if my experience has put me off having more children. Absolutely not. If we're lucky enough I'd love a sibling for Mia, but when she's older now!"
Well, Mia is older, luck is on their side and it's official, the sibling is on the way!
Topics: Celebrity, Strictly Come Dancing, Parenting
Emily Brown