Gorka Márquez has hilariously revealed that his young daughter Mia wants her unborn baby with girlfriend Gemma Atkinson to be named Barbie.
The Strictly pro, 32, announced she was expecting her second child, a baby boy, with her fiancee, the 38-year-old actress, on Saturday later this year.
And while appearing on BBC Morning Live on Monday, he explained how the three-year-old is “very excited” to welcome a sibling into the family.
‘She wants to call him Barbie!’ Strictly’s Gorka Marquez has revealed the hilarious name that her three-year-old daughter Mia hers suggests for her baby with her pregnant fiancée Gemma Atkinson
She told Gethin Jones and Kym Marsh, her former co-star on the ballroom dance show: “Yes, very good news, we are expecting baby number two, very excited.”
When asked about Mia’s reaction, she replied, “She’s so excited.” We told her, she keeps kissing the bump and saying “Hello” and “Good night” and everything, she’s super cute.
Kym chimed in: ‘I like that she wants to call him Barbie,’ to which Gorka said: ‘I know, ‘Can I call him Barbie? “Or Ralph, she likes Ralph too. I’m not sure about that.”
The soap opera star and professional dancer took to Instagram on Saturday to announce that they are expecting a baby boy, due later this year.
Family: The Strictly pro, 32, announced she was expecting her second child, a baby boy, with her 38-year-old actress fiancée on Saturday later this year (pictured with Mia)
She shared a series of stunning black and white photos showing off her burgeoning baby bump while confirming her jovial news.
The Emmerdale star cut a casual figure in sweatpants and a black tank top as she lovingly cradled her growing baby bump.
In an instant, she was joined by Gorka, who flashed a big smile, while in another image her daughter Mia was seen lying sweetly on her stomach.
In a caption, Gemma said her three-year-old daughter Mia is “thrilled” by the news and joked that her son will be called “Barbie” if it’s her daughter.
Lindo: And while appearing on BBC Morning Live on Monday, he explained how the three-year-old is “very excited” to welcome a sibling into the family
Exciting: She told Gethin Jones and Kym Marsh, her former co-star on the ballroom dance show: “Yeah, great news, we’re expecting baby number two, so excited.”
She wrote: ‘Impossible to hide my tummy any longer. I have officially “exploded”. Our baby will be joining our family at the end of this year.
“We feel so incredibly blessed and grateful to be on this journey again. Mia is absolutely delighted!
“Although we may have to negotiate a bit on names, as so far she’s convinced she’s going to be called Barbie.”
Gemma and professional dancer Gorka got engaged in February 2021, four years after they met on Strictly Come Dancing. They welcomed their first daughter, Mia, on July 4, 2019.
Congratulations! Gemma revealed that she is pregnant with her and Gorka’s second child last week
Sweet: In a caption, Gemma said her three-year-old daughter Mia is ‘thrilled’ by the news and joked that her son would be named ‘Barbie’ if it were after her daughter
Last year, Gemma revealed that she postponed her wedding to Gorka due to their busy schedule, after saying she’d rather try for another baby than plan a lavish wedding.
In May, he recounted that Gorka was busy for the rest of the year with the Strictly tour schedule, which means they can’t fit in this year.
She told New magazine: ‘Gorka is literally on tour this whole year. We only have four days off together.
He has the two Strictly tours back to back, and then he’ll follow up with Strictly in the fall. We don’t even have a minute to sit down and start making plans!
Adorable: She shared a variety of stunning black and white photos showing off her blooming baby bump while confirming her jovial news.
However, when they finally make it to the altar, Gemma said that they don’t intend to go all out.
“We said we’d rather try for another baby than have a big, fancy wedding,” she said during a recent appearance on Vicky Pattison’s podcast, The Secret To.
‘There are people who will spend £50k on a wedding and you’re like, ‘Oh my gosh.
“Twice we thought about going to the registry office and doing it and then throwing a big party.”
Relationship: They met on Strictly Come Dancing in 2017, when Gemma teamed up with Aljaž Škorjanec. In the picture: Gemma and Gorka in the 2019 Christmas special
He added on the podcast that they would like to have a small wedding abroad, but admitted that he has done “zero planning” so far due to Covid.
Gemma also said that she has not yet chosen her bridesmaids or her wedding dress.
The mother-of-one, who is currently a presenter on Hits Radio, said she and Gorka have almost gone to the registry office twice and “they just did it” but added that her family would be upset if they did that.
Family: Gemma and professional dancer Gorka got engaged in February 2021 and welcomed their first daughter, Mia, on July 4, 2019.
Elsewhere last year, Gemma also opened up about her experience of PTSD following the birth of her daughter Mia.
Speaking in a film for Steph’s Packed Lunch on Channel 4, the star reflected on her birth experiences, admitting she blamed herself for “failing”.
Gemma needed an emergency C-section when Mia’s heart rate dropped suddenly during labor. She suffered a hemorrhage after delivery, losing almost a liter of blood.
Plans: Last year, Gemma revealed that she postponed her wedding to Gorka (pictured in March 2019) due to their busy schedules, after saying she’d rather try for another baby
Gemma describes Mia as “the best thing that ever happened to me” and after her birth, she took to social media to share her experience.
Speaking on Channel 4, he said: ‘All these things were going through my mind, what did I do that caused all of this to happen? She told myself for weeks and weeks that she had failed the birth.
‘I had horrible dreams that someone was going to take Mia away from me. I remember my mother running into my room and I was sitting there screaming, sweating.
Wedding bells: Gemma (pictured with Gorka in 2019) said they’d like to have a small wedding abroad but admitted she’s done “zero planning” so far due to Covid
Gemma spoke her mother’s words that eventually changed her thinking, adding: “We went out with the pram and a lady said, ‘Oh, I do. [the birth] It wasn’t a hit, you know? What happened?”
“My mum jumped in and said, ‘It was a big hit, Mia’s there, Gemma’s here, big hit.'”
Gemma also opened up about her plans to have another child, saying: ‘I’m at the stage where I want a sister or a brother for Mia. The first months of Mia’s life I told my partner, Gorka, I’m not going to go through that again. Now I’m over it and I feel like I could do it.
Candid: Last year, Gemma (pictured with Gorka in September 2019) also opened up about her experience of PTSD following the birth of her daughter Mia.