Gorka Márquez

Gorka Márquez (born 4 September 1990) is a Spanish professional dancer, best known for appearing on the British dance show Strictly Come Dancing.

Early life
Márquez began dancing at the age of 12, and in 2010 he represented Spain at the World Latin Championships, before reaching the semi-finals of the 2012 World DanceSport Federation World Cup. In 2014, Márquez joined the touring live dance show Burn the Floor as one of their leads, performing with the dance company all over the world.

Strictly Come Dancing
In 2016 Márquez became a professional dancer on the BBC ballroom dancing show Strictly Come Dancing for its fourteenth series. He was partnered with EastEnders actress Tameka Empson, and they were eliminated in week three of the competition.

In 2017 he returned in the show's fifteenth series. He was partnered with singer and former The X Factor winner, Alexandra Burke. They reached the final, finishing as joint runners-up. With Burke, Márquez holds the record for achieving the most tens in a single series with 32, surpassing Danny Mac and Oti Mabuse’s previous record of 26 tens.

In 2018 he participated in the show's sixteenth series, where he was partnered with television presenter and campaigner Katie Piper. The couple were eliminated in week four of the competition, finishing in 13th place.

The following year, Márquez announced that he had been demoted from the main professional line-up, but explained that he would still participate in the weekly group dances.

In 2020 Márquez returned as a professional for the show's eighteenth series, reaching the final with EastEnders actress Maisie Smith.

In 2021 he returned in the show's nineteenth series, reaching week three with Coronation Street actress Katie McGlynn.

In 2022 he returned in the show's twentieth series, reaching the final with television presenter Helen Skelton.

In 2023, in the show's twenty-first series, he was partnered with Nikita Kanda and in week three the couple were second to be eliminated.

Dance tours and other professional engagements
In August 2023 Márquez announced he would be teaching & performing with Karen Hauer at Donahey's 2024 Dancing with The Stars Weekends.

Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special
He danced with his partner, Gemma, for the 2019 Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special. It was announced he would dance with Keisha Buchanan for the 2023 Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special.

Personal life
Márquez got engaged to the British actress Gemma Atkinson on Valentine's Day 2021. They have two children.