Strictly’s Gorka Marquez joined the BBC show in 2016 (Image: Rowan Griffiths / Daily Mirror)
star has revealed what job he would be doing if he couldn’t be a professional ballroom dancer.
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 the show 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.
Now, in an exclusive interview with Express.co.uk, the dad-of-two has revealed what job he would be doing if he hadn’t found fame on the ballroom competition.
He told us: “I think it would be something with sports fitness, like even sports massage therapy or personal training. I am a personal trainer so anything with fitness or health, something that has to do with moving my body.
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The pro dancer also works as a personal trainer (Image: Instagram)
“I am passionate about health because I want to be as healthy as possible not just even from an aesthetic aspect. Obviously, that’s a compliment but it’s more about having that longevity and being healthy for as long as you can.”
The TV favourite explained how fitness and a healthy lifestyle have always been important to him and his family. Gorka went on: “I want to keep running and playing with the kids, like when I have grandchildren, I want to be able to play with them and take them to the park.
“Growing up, my family have always been very active. For example, I was speaking to my mum and dad for New Year’s and my grandma was there and she’s 89 and she wakes up every day, has breakfast and goes for an hour-long walk.
“So, I just want to be able to be healthy in the long run, not just for now. I’m doing it now so that in 30 or 40 years’ time I’ll still healthy and active.”
He is set to embark on tour with co-star Karen Hauer this spring (Image: No credit)
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: