Gorka Marquez Departs Strictly Come Dancing to Prioritize Family Life Professional dancer Gorka Marquez leaves the BBC show after ten years to focus on his children and partner Gemma Atkinson following a joint family decision. Gorka Marquez has officially bid farewell to the glittering world of Strictly Come Dancing after a remarkable decade-long journey on the BBC flagship program. The professional dancer, now thirty-five, shared the emotional details of his departure during a recent episode of the podcast Lost In Translation, which he co-hosts with his partner, Gemma Atkinson. For years, Gorka has been a staple of the competition, bringing passion and skill to the ballroom, but the decision to step away was far from easy. He described the experience as bittersweet, acknowledging that while he loves the art of dance and the thrill of the competition, the time had come to close this specific chapter of his professional life.He expressed deep gratitude for the opportunities the show provided, noting that it taught him not only about the technical aspects of dancing but also about life and resilience. The decision to exit the show was not made in isolation but was a collective family choice. Gemma Atkinson, who is forty-one and first met Gorka during the 2017 series of the show, was quick to dispel rumors circulating on social media.Many followers on Instagram had suggested that she had pushed him to quit, but she clarified that the choice was mutual. The couple admitted that balancing Gorka's commitment to the UK show with his work in Spain had become an unsustainable challenge. Gorka had recently taken a role as a judge on the Spanish version of the show, Bailando Con Las Estrellas, which created significant scheduling conflicts.This tug-of-war between two countries left little room for family stability, prompting a serious conversation about what mattered most for their future as a household. At the heart of this decision were their children, Mia and Thiago. The couple revealed that they actually included six-year-old Mia in the discussion, asking her whether she preferred her father to work in Spain during the weekends or be occupied with Strictly in England.In a heartwarming turn of events, Mia expressed that while she loved seeing her father dance, she valued having him home much more. This honest input from their daughter became the deciding factor, leading the parents to seal the deal.Furthermore, the couple noted that their two-year-old son, Thiago, had been struggling significantly with Gorka's frequent absences on tour. Unlike his sister, who became more upset as she grew older, Thiago had been showing signs of distress at nursery, highlighting the emotional toll that a high-profile career in the spotlight can take on young children. Gorka's exit comes amidst a period of significant turmoil and restructuring within the Strictly professional lineup, which some have described as a professional dance bloodbath.The BBC has implemented a brutal cast cull, resulting in the departure of several fan-favorite dancers. Alongside Gorka, other talented professionals such as Nadiya Bychkova, Karen Hauer, Michelle Tsiakkas, and Luba Mushtuk have also been let go. This shake-up signals a new era for the show as production looks to refresh the energy on the dance floor for upcoming seasons.Despite the losses, the network has confirmed a strong roster of returning stars, including Dianne Buswell and Amy Dowden, who both bring their own inspiring personal stories back to the ballroom. Looking forward, the BBC has announced that the judging panel will remain consistent, with Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Anton Du Beke, and Shirley Ballas returning to critique the contestants.While several veterans are leaving, the show is preparing to welcome brand new professional dancers in 2026, ensuring that the legacy of the competition continues to evolve. For Gorka, the end of his Strictly journey is not an end to dancing but a transition toward a more balanced life.He expressed immense gratitude for the friendships he made and the life lessons he learned, ultimately concluding that prioritizing his role as a father and partner is the most important dance of all