Gemma Atkinson sends message to Nikita Kanda as she speaks out on Strictly Come Dancing exit with Gorka Marquez

Gemma Atkinson has spoken out on Gorka Marquez's Strictly Come Dancing exit as she showed her support for his celebrity dance partner. Gorka was paired with Nikita Kanda following his return to the BBC One dance contest for the 2023 series.

However, after making it all the way to the final last year, it wasn't meant to be this year and Gorka and BBC Asian Network presenter Nikita bowed out of the ballroom during Sunday night's results show (October 8).

The couple faced elimination for the second consecutive week on the BBC show after scoring 21 with their movie week jive on Saturday night (October 7), channelling 90s film Clueless. She faced Love Island star McDermott and her partner Graziano Di Prima who had scored 25 for their Puss In Boots paso doble.

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Both couples performed their routines again in a bid to impress the judges, however, 26-year-old Zara was saved by all four judges with judge Motsi Mabuse saying Nikita made "a few mistakes that were quite visible" while Anton Du Beke agreed "there were a couple of small mistakes".

Getting emotional, Nikita said she did not want to leave and felt she had let her professional partner Gorka, 33, down before describing him as "the biggest support". She then told co-host Tess Daly: "I’ve had the best time and I love all my Strictly family, I’m going to miss you all. This has been a dream come true, I’m so grateful."

Gorka added as he consoled his tearful dance partner: "I am beyond proud of her, for someone that doesn’t have any dance experience or performance experience to come on