BBC Strictly star Gorka Marquez reveals real reason he won’t appear on BBC live tour

favourite has revealed the real reason he won’t appear in the Live Tour.

The Spanish dancer – who is set to embark on his nationwide with his co-star Karen Hauer – has been a firm favourite on the beloved ballroom competition since he joined back in 2016.

Since then, the 34-year-old has made it to the final twice during his nine years on the show – once in 2020 with former star Maisie Smith and once again in 2022 with Helen Skelton.

This weekend, the star-studded cast of the long-running show are preparing to launch their infamous Strictly Live tour, which will be opening at the Birmingham Utilita Arena on Saturday, January 18.

But the dad-of-two will not be joining the cast on the road this year. In an exclusive interview with Express.co.uk, the TV star has shared the heart-warming reason why he turned down the opportunity this year.

He told us: “The last time I did the live tour was in 2017. Strictly takes up half of the year and it’s so intense and busy. I have to leave Gemma [Atkinson] at home with the kids and be wherever my celebrity is.

“So, I feel like after Strictly, I just want to be at home for a couple of months so I can spend some time with Gemma and the children.” Gorka went on to reveal how he and Gemma manage parenting whilst juggling their work commitments.

He explained: “It’s good because we have a good routine and obviously, Gemma’s incredible with the children when I’m not there. Sometimes, I don’t even know how she can do it on her own, you know?

“We’re very lucky that we have a very good support system, like her mum and dad and my sister live nearby and they help us when I’m away with everything.

“So, we are very lucky, but also the children are very good. Mia and Thiago, especially Mia whose five, she is such a calm, kind young girl, so she understands and she’s very good.

“But obviously, it is hard to go away. You miss them and you miss things like singing Christmas songs or the first day in a play or their first day of swimming, so it’s just one of those things.”

The professional dancer admitted that being apart from his family is tough when he is on the road and is often itching to get home to be with them in their Manchester home.

Gorka continued: “It hurts a little bit but then you realise that you’re doing everything for them to provide and give them the best life. Also choosing the right jobs at the right times also helps to have the balance between being at home and on the road.”

Now that his daughter Mia is getting a little older, the star admitted that it is getting easier to leave his family to finish his work commitments.

He explained: “It is and it is not. It is easy on them because obviously they are more used to it but at the same time it’s harder because they understand that you’ve got to go away.

“So, for example, Thiago, he doesn’t even know yet, he’s so little still that he’s not aware of anything. Whereas Mia knows that I’m going away and I’m not going to be home for two weeks.

“But then she knows that she can see me on the telly so it kind of compensates in that way, but for Thiago, none of it makes sense yet. Mia loves Saturday night with a pick and mix watching papa on Strictly.”

It comes as the pro-dancer prepares to go on his nationwide dance tour titled Speakeasy with his co-star Karen Hauer. Speaking about his upcoming tour with his TV co-star, he said fans will be treated to a “delicious dance experience” where they can “Mamba, Salsa, Charleston, Foxtrox and Samba the night away.”

Gorka gushed: “I’m so excited to be going back on the road with Karen and seeing everybody across the UK. We’re going to immerse the audience in an undercover world of dance, and I can’t wait!”

Karen Hauer and Gorka Marquez’s Speakeasy Tour starts February 2025 and runs through to April in theatres across the UK. Tickets and more information here: