Gemma Atkinson opens up on ‘resentment’ towards Gorka Marquez following birth of daughter

Gemma Atkinson has opened up about the challenges her and partner Gorka Marquez faced after the birth their daughter, leading to an intervention by Strictly Come Dancing co-star Giovanni Pernice.

Gemma and Gorka met on the BBC show in 2017 and now share daughter Mia, five, and 17-month-old son Thiago. Gemma has admitted that she was struggling with Gorka working away shortly after Mia was born, but Gorka's Strictly colleague Giovanni told Gemma her partner was having a tough time as well, LancsLive reports.

The actress told the Mum's the Word podcast: "There were times when I felt a bit left out from things. Because I think Mia's dad, because Gorka had to go on the road.

"I kind of felt like he was still getting to live his life and do the things he wanted to do. When I was at home with Mia. So it was kind of more of a resentment to wards him being on the road with the boys, having fun dancing.

"And it was only when he Facetime'd me once. Well, it was actually Giovanni who said: 'You need to FaceTime Gorka, he's not in a great place and I don't know what to do.'

"And I Facetime'd him and they were all out. And he was in his room and he got really upset. And he just said: 'I just want to come home. I don't like being away from Mia and you.'" Gemma said that it 'dawned' on her that Gorka was feeling the same way as her.

The happy couple met when Gemma participated in the 2017 version of Strictly. The former Hollyoaks actress was one of the runners up with professional partner Aljaz Skorjanec.

Gorka also finished as one of the runners up with singer Alexandra Burke. Gemma and Gorka's relationship has gone from strength to strength and the pair are now engaged.

Gemma added: "He didn't want to let anyone down. And he said: