Strictly legend set to leave show after 7 years in major blow to BBC hit
STRICTLY Come Dancing star Gorka Marquez is set to quit the show after failing to win the Glitterball when he made it to the final for the third time.
The Spanish pro, who partnered Helen Skelton this year, was ashen-faced last Saturday when Hamza Yassin won with Jowita Przystal.
It is understood Gorka, 32, is feeling the BBC show’s infamous “seven year itch” which has seen other pros including Kevin Clifton and Oti Mabuse leave to explore other projects.
A TV insider said: “He looked so devastated last week because he knew the final might be his last chance of taking home the Glitterball, which had eluded him twice before.
“Gorka has become an established figure in the contest and a name in his own right, which could allow him to go on to bigger things.
"There’s no suggestion of any bad feeling between him and the BBC.
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"It remains to be seen if producers will now offer him a deal enticing enough to sign up for next year’s show.”
Gorka and Helen, 39, gave a show-stopping performance of Mein Herr from the musical Cabaret to cap off last week’s final, gaining huge praise from judges.
But it was not enough to win the viewers’ votes and Gorka, who joined the show in 2016, was clearly gutted when Hamza and pro partner Jowita won.
Others commented on how Gorka’s partner, Emmerdale and Hollyoaks star Gemma Atkinson, 38, was tearful as she sat in the studio audience.
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The couple, who have a daughter Mia, aged three, met on Strictly in 2017 when Gemma was a contestant paired with Aljaz Skorjanec.
Gorka will also not be in next year’s Strictly Live tour.
Helen will dance with Kai Widdrington.
Gorka was in the final with singer Alexandra Burke in 2017 and EastEnder Maisie Smith in 2020.
The BBC and Gorka were contacted but declined to comment.
