GORKA MARQUEZ won’t be competing as a full-time pro on Strictly Come Dancing in 2025.
The fan favourite, 35, is stepping back from the main line-up for the show’s 23rd series because he has a significant commitment in Spain.
Gorka won’t be leading a celeb this year, but he’s far from gone — and he’ll be back when it matters.
It means fewer training-room glimpses of him early doors, sure, but he’ll still bring the energy to group numbers when his diary opens up.
Why is Gorka Marquez not competing on Strictly 2025?
Gorka has signed up to judge Bailando con las Estrellas, the Spanish version of Strictly Come Dancing.
That judging gig clashes with the early part of the Strictly 2025 run, which means he can’t take on a celebrity partner this year.
It’s not a permanent goodbye. It’s a scheduling issue. With studio weeks locked in on both sides, doing the full Strictly journey from Week 1 simply isn’t possible for him in 2025.
Will Gorka still appear on the show?
Viewers will still see him on the dancefloor. Gorka is set to join the ensemble for group routines when he’s back in the UK and not on duty in Spain.
Expect a short absence at the start of the competition. He’ll miss around a month before returning in Week 11, then he’ll be a regular fixture through to the final.
Gorka’s Strictly track record
He’s one of the show’s most consistent pros. Gorka has reached the Strictly final three times, showing off very different styles and partnerships along the way.
Most recently, he finished runner-up with Helen Skelton in 2022.
Before that, he reached the 2020 final with EastEnders star Maisie Smith, and he first made the last two in 2017 with Alexandra Burke.
His life with Gemma Atkinson
Gorka met his fiancée Gemma Atkinson during the 2017 series.
She was one of the celebrity contestants that year, and they’ve been together ever since.
The pair have two children and have been open about waiting for the right time to tie the knot.
As Gemma explained, they’re pushing the wedding so their son can be old enough to take part in the big day. “I think now we want to wait until Thiago is a bit older, so maybe next year or the year after, as he’s only two… If he’s a bit older, he could be involved in it, which would be really nice.”
Who are the Strictly pairings for 2025?
- Balvinder Sopal and Julian Caillon
- Chris Robshaw and Nadiya Bychkova
- Ellie Golstein and Vito Coppola
- George Clarke and Alexis Warr
- Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin
- Harry Aikines-Aryeetey and Karen Hauer
- Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Lauren Oakley
- Karen Carney and Carlos Gu
- La Voix and Aljaž Škorjanec
- Lewis Copa and Katya Jones
- Ross Kind and Jowita Przystal
- Stefan Dennis and Dianne Buswell
- Thomas Skinner and Amy Dowden
- Vicky Pattison and Kai Widdrington
Who is on Strictly 2025?
Fifteen celebs were announced for the new series.
They include model Ellie Goldstein, 23, and social media star George Clarke, 25, as well as big names from sports, soaps, and reality TV.
There’s already been late drama. Dani Dyer was due to compete but pulled out after fracturing her ankle.
She’s reportedly heartbroken to miss out after signing up.
Which pros are benched?
With the final pairings locked, four professional dancers are without celebrity partners this year.
Two of them have spoken publicly about the disappointment.
Nancy Xu told The Sun she was “incensed” after being benched.
Luba Mushtuk also confirmed she was “gutted” to be left out of the pairings this time around.
