Gemma Atkinson – Biography, Career, and 2025 Updates

Gemma Atkinson is an English actress, former glamour model, and radio presenter whose career has spanned soap operas, reality television, and broadcast journalism. Best known for playing Lisa Hunter in Hollyoaks, she later reached the final of Strictly Come Dancing in 2017 and now co-hosts a national drive-time radio show. She lives in Greater Manchester with her partner, professional dancer Gorka Márquez, and their two children.

Atkinson began her public life as a lingerie and glamour model, appearing in lads’ magazines such as Nuts, Zoo Weekly, and FHM. A brief relationship with footballer Cristiano Ronaldo in 2007 brought wider tabloid attention, as did a later engagement to the footballer Marcus Bent. Yet it was her acting work, first on Hollyoaks and later on Emmerdale and Casualty, that cemented her as a familiar face in British television. For readers interested in other figures who have moved between soaps and reality television, see our profile of Anita Rani – Life, Career, Family and Net Worth.

In recent years, Atkinson has shifted her professional focus away from full-time acting and towards radio presenting and fitness content. She hosts the drive-time slot on the Hits Radio Network alongside Mike Toolan and runs her own podcast network. Her Instagram account, which she uses to share workouts and family life, has attracted more than 800,000 followers.

Who Is Gemma Atkinson? A Complete Biography

Key Insights

• Atkinson remains a household name thanks to her portrayal of Lisa Hunter in Hollyoaks from 2000 to 2005, one of the soap’s most iconic characters.
• After leaving Hollyoaks, she transitioned to primetime reality TV on Strictly Come Dancing in 2017, where she met her now-partner Gorka Márquez.
• She pivoted to radio and fitness presenting, becoming a regular on the Hits Radio Network and building a strong fitness-focused Instagram presence.
• Her net worth is estimated at between £2–3 million, generated from acting, endorsements, radio, and brand deals.
• She balances motherhood with a busy career, frequently sharing fitness and family content with more than 800,000 Instagram followers.

Snapshot Facts

Born in Bury, Greater Manchester, on 16 November 1984, Atkinson was raised in the North West of England. She began modelling in her late teens before transitioning to television. Her early career included appearances in The Bill and Casualty before she landed the role that would define her early stardom.

Gemma Atkinson’s Career: From Hollyoaks to Radio Presenting

Hollyoaks and Early Acting

Atkinson’s breakout role came in 2001 when she joined the cast of the Channel 4 teen soap Hollyoaks as Lisa Hunter. She remained with the show until 2005 and also appeared in three spin-offs: Hollyoaks: After Hours, Let Loose, and In the City. In 2022 she returned briefly to reprise the same character.

After leaving Hollyoaks, she took guest roles on The Bill and played Tamzin Bayle in Casualty from 2011 to 2014. She then joined Emmerdale as Carly Hope, appearing from 2015 to 2017. Film credits include the horror Devil’s Pass (2013) and a voice role in Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3 (2008).

Strictly Come Dancing

In autumn 2017, Atkinson competed in the 15th series of Strictly Come Dancing, partnered with professional dancer Aljaž Škorjanec. The couple reached the final on 16 December and finished as runners-up, losing to Joe McFadden.

Her time on the show had a lasting personal consequence: she met Spanish professional dancer Gorka Márquez, who was also a contestant that series. The two began a relationship shortly after the competition ended.

Radio and Podcasting

Atkinson moved into radio in February 2017, co-hosting the Key 103 breakfast show with Mike Toolan. She remained there until May 2018. She now hosts the drive-time slot across the Hits Radio Network, again alongside Toolan. She also founded her own podcast network, serving as president, and produces shows including Lost in Translation and Gemma & Tonic.

Who Is Gemma Atkinson’s Husband or Partner?

Relationship with Gorka Márquez

Atkinson is engaged to Gorka Márquez, the Spanish professional dancer who appeared on Strictly Come Dancing from 2016. The two met during her time on the show and announced their engagement in 2018. No wedding date has been publicly confirmed.

Márquez has noted in social media posts that he is often recognised primarily as “Gemma’s husband” or partner, a reflection of her higher public profile in the UK. The couple share a home in Greater Manchester and frequently post about their family life.

Children

Atkinson and Márquez have two children together: a daughter, Mia Louise Márquez, born on 4 July 2019, and a son, Thiago Thomas Márquez, born on 19 July 2023. Atkinson has spoken openly about the realities of motherhood and often shares images of the children on her Instagram feed.

What Is Gemma Atkinson Doing Now in 2025?

As of 2025, Atkinson is not undertaking regular acting work. Instead, she focuses on her radio show, her podcast network, and her fitness-related social media content. Her Instagram account, @glouiseatkinson, features daily workout videos, healthy-eating posts, and glimpses of family life.

She has not announced any plan to return to full-time acting. Her public appearances are largely linked to her radio role, brand endorsements, and fitness collaborations. She continues to live in the Manchester area with Márquez and their children.

When Did Gemma Atkinson’s Career and Life Milestones Happen?

1. 1984 – Born in Bury, Greater Manchester.
2. 2001 – Joins Hollyoaks as Lisa Hunter; stays until 2005.
3. 2005 – Leaves Hollyoaks; appears in The Bill, Casualty, and other guest roles.
4. 2011–2014 – Plays Tamzin Bayle in Casualty.
5. 2015–2017 – Plays Carly Hope in Emmerdale.
6. 2017 – Competes in Strictly Come Dancing; finishes as runner-up. Meets Gorka Márquez.
7. 2018 – Becomes engaged to Márquez. Begins co-hosting on Key 103.
8. 2019 – Gives birth to daughter Mia Louise.
9. 2020 – Launches radio presenting on the Hits Radio Network.
10. 2023 – Gives birth to son Thiago Thomas.

What Is Confirmed and What Remains Unclear About Gemma Atkinson?

How Did Gemma Atkinson Transition from Soap Star to Media Personality?

Atkinson’s career arc is notable for its deliberate shift away from television drama. After leaving Emmerdale in 2017, she did not pursue another major acting contract. Instead, she used the platform provided by Strictly Come Dancing to build a profile in live radio and digital media. Her engagement to Márquez, himself a Strictly professional, kept her connected to the show’s audience.

Social media has played a key role in sustaining her public presence. Atkinson’s Instagram feed blends fitness content, parenting posts, and behind-the-scenes looks at her radio work. This mix has attracted brand partnerships and kept her name in circulation without the need for acting roles. Compared to many Hollyoaks alumni who continue in acting or move into reality TV competitions, Atkinson’s path toward radio and fitness branding is distinct.

Where Do the Facts About Gemma Atkinson Come From?

“She is often recognised primarily as ‘Gemma’s husband’ or partner, highlighting their shared life where work and family intersect.”

— Gorka Márquez, via Instagram (2025)

Atkinson competed in the 15th series of Strictly Come Dancing in autumn 2017, partnered with professional dancer Aljaž Škorjanec. The couple reached the final on 16 December and finished as the 2nd place runner.

— Wikipedia entry for Gemma Atkinson

Her estimated net worth is reported as $5 million as of 2023, with an earlier estimate from 2012 listing it at $3 million.

— Multiple celebrity wealth sources

Biographical information about Atkinson is drawn from her Wikipedia entry, her IMDb biography, and her Instagram profile. Her Strictly participation is documented by the BBC Strictly profile, and her radio work is listed on the Hits Radio website. Net worth figures are estimates from celebrity finance sources and are not independently verified.

What Is the Key Takeaway About Gemma Atkinson?

Gemma Atkinson remains a well-known figure in British media, but for different reasons than when she first rose to fame. She has moved from soap-opera stardom into a sustainable career in radio, fitness content, and digital media, while raising two children with her partner Gorka Márquez. Her story illustrates how public figures can reinvent themselves by using reality television exposure as a launchpad rather than an endpoint. For readers interested in similar celebrity profiles, see our article on Anita Rani – Life, Career, Family and Net Worth.

Frequently Asked Questions About Gemma Atkinson