Former Emmerdale actress Gemma Atkinson, 33, made it all the way to the grand final with her partner Aljaž Škorjanec, 28, last year.
Since the thrilling 2017 series came to an end, there have been some amendments to the cast of Strictly Come Dancing pros, with both Brendan Cole, 42, and Chloe Hewitt, 22, confirmed to be moving on to other things.
Following the shock news of Strictly stalwart Brendan’s departure — the New Zealander having been on the show since it first aired in 2004 — blonde beauty Gemma spoke out about their departures.
“Chloe and Brendan are amazing, for me,” she praised. “They were both lovely to me.”
Appearing to allude to possible changes to the format of the show, she continued: “Obviously I have no idea what the show format is going to be or whatever but I know whatever you do, it’s going to be amazing.
“It’s BBC and it’s Strictly,” she added simply.
Gemma insisted both Brendan and Chloe have bright futures away from the famous Strictly dance floor, saying: “I do believe everything happens for a reason and I think they’re going to be fine.
“Gorka [Marquez] danced last week with Chloe at a show in Coventry and she’s doing great,” she added.
The fitness fanatic, who was pipped to the post in the final by actor Joe McFadden, 42, revealed Chloe is “massively busy” with other projects despite having been dropped from Strictly.
The BBC declined to comment.
Meanwhile, Gemma also spilled all on her “embarrassment” early in her relationship with Spanish heartthrob Gorka, 27.
The couple struck up a romance after getting close on the Strictly live tour in January following weeks of rumours they were already dating.
Speaking about the media coverage of their relationship before they got together, she said: “It was really embarrassing during the time because I kept reading it and I remember saying to my sister, ‘Christ, I hope he doesn’t think these stories are coming from me because we’ve only had two coffees and he’s going to think I’m telling everyone he’s my boyfriend!’”
“We didn’t really get to know each other until after the show, because I saw him on a Saturday night and then sometimes we’d have coffee on a Sunday but then that was it,” she explained. “Because the rest of the time I was in Manchester and he was down in London.
“So it wasn’t until the show finished and we spent Christmas together and it was only then that we were like okay, this is quite cool.”
Gemma and Gorka just celebrated four months together and she gushed about her dashing beau, saying: “He’s so, so supportive.
“It’s going really good, it’s nice and chilled,” she added. “It’s a nice, fun, happy relationship.”
Gemma recently launched her first ever fitness clothing line, GA by Gemma Atkinson.
The range features stylish basics aiming to make all women feel good while working out.
Gemma’s new fitness clothing range, GA by Gemma Atkinson, is available exclusively at www.gemmaatkinson.co.uk.
