GEMMA ATKINSON ON Strictly was a blessing and not a curse for me and Gorks

GEMMA Atkinson is showing how romance and Strictly Come Dancing can be perfect partners.

For so many celebs the sizzling performances with their pro partners on the show have carried on off the dance floor.

The number of love lives left in tatters have convinced some that the BBC show is cursed.

But for stunning ex-hollyoaks star and model Gemma, 33, this supposed curse is a blessing.

Last year she and Aljaz Skorjanec were runners-up to glitter ball winner Holby City’s Joe Mcfaden.

Yet all the rumours were about Gemma and singer Alexandra Burke’s partner Gorka Marquez.

On Valentine’s Day she confirmed all the talk was true – by posting a beach snap of herself and hot Spaniard Gorka cuddling.

Gemma said: “In the past I’ve met guys through mutual friends or have been set up.

“So you meet them and start dating. With Gorka I had six months of getting to know him as a friend, that’s what is different.

“I’ve never fallen for a friend before. For us it was a Strictly blessing. We weren’t dancing together and we were both single.

“No one got hurt or trampled on, no one left anybody for anybody else so it was literally a Strictly blessing for me and Gorks.

Sexy

“No matter what job you are in there is always going to be temptation elsewhere if you are not happy at home. But I’m very happy and content with what I’ve got.”

Strictly’s demanding schedules, sexy dance moves and close proximity to partners have led to break-ups and new relationships.

Singer Louise Redknapp’s marriage to football pundit Jamie collapsed following her appearance on the show in 2016.

Her dance partner Kevin Clifton split from wife Karen in March. Louise and Kevin denied anything had been going on.

Former rugby player Ben Cohen announced he was splitting from his wife of 11 years, Abby Blayney, in 2013 after being paired with Kristina Rihanoff. They now have a child together.

Previously Kristina had a relationship with celeb partner and ex-boxer Joe Calzaghe.

Gemma was embarrassed about keeping her relationship with Gorka, 27, under wraps. She was training in Manchester while he was practising in London and they would see each other on their own once a week, on a Sunday.

She said: “I didn’t want him to think I was going round telling everyone that I was his girlfriend – and it was the same for him.

“We hadn’t had the conversation ourselves. When the show finished he said, ‘Do you want to spend New Year’s Eve with me and see what it’s like outside the Strictly bubble?’ So we did.

“And then, come February, we were like, ‘Let’s do it.’

“We just didn’t want to jinx it and I didn’t want to be too keen.”

Gemma, born in Bury, Gtr Manchester, fell for Gorka because he is “very funny and very caring”... and his exotic voice. She said: “I think a lot of it is his accent. He is a bit of a prankster, he’s always making me jump. He can be one of the lads and is very loving with me. He has funny one-liners.

“He cooks a lot of tapas, he has the Spanish music on and he is very good at entertaining. Now I need to learn Spanish. It would be insulting not too.” Gemma has introduced him to her closest pals, including football legend Ryan Giggs. Last year she was linked with Giggs, 44, although he joked: “As if.”

Gemma’s previous boyfriends include Blue singer Lee Ryan, footballer Cristiano Ronaldo, Emmerdale actor Cleveland Campbell and